2019 Chevrolet Malibu: Hot Or Not?
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Chevrolet debuted a slew of refreshed cars for the 2019 model year, and one of them is the brand’s mid-size offering: the 2019 Malibu.
For 2019, the Malibu wears a new front fascia and other slight design tweaks, so we want to know if the new looks are good looking, or not so great in today’s hot or not poll.
The new front fascia is the big news surrounding the 2019 Malibu. The grille becomes more fluid and less rigid than the outgoing car, and a new pattern replaces the horizontal lines within the grille itself. The headlights also move closer to become more integrated with the sleeker grille shape.
At the rear, it’s less drastic. Chevrolet designers updated the taillights with a new dual-element design, and the exhaust outlets have been pushed to the furthest edge of the bumper to give off a wider stance.
The newly optional RS package also adds 18-inch wheels, a black sport grille, black bowtie emblems, a rear spoiler and a dual-outlet exhaust to spice things up a bit.
In our opinion, the current-generation Malibu was never a bad looking car, but the design updates help keep things fresh. We don’t think the Malibu is drop-dead gorgeous, but it’s a safe and handsome look overall.
But, it’s your turn. Talk to us in the comment section and vote in our poll below.
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I didn’t like the storm trooper front end before. Such a sporty, sleek and sexy car from the sides and rear… and then you’d look at the face and it was a total turn off. The face didn’t match the body at all. This one is marginally better but it still doesn’t match the rest of the body just like the one before. it. It’s not storm trooper’ish anymore but instead has this big mouthed smile. Buick has their front ends right, the Impala has it’s front end right, the other cars in Chevrolet’s line need a new design stylist IMO.
When people outside of Chevrolet are photoshopping front end fixes onto things like the Camaro and SIlverado (fixing the front fender into front bumper area) and making these vehicles look awesome again, something’s wrong. Everybody else see’s major issues right away and can fix them, why can’t the manufacturer do this as well?
The front end is much improved.
It will look really stupid in states that require a front plate.
Looks great
It reminds me of Honda done on a budget. A beautiful front facada shouldn’t be this hard: Dodge, Chrysler, and Mazda have all done stellar jobs.
Simcoe has failed his first test.
It looks better than the current model. But honestly, I think the last generation Malibu (2013-15) looks better; I prefer its harder angles.
You are in the national minority. 2013-15 Malibu was
such a sales disaster hence it’s short shelf life. There were months where Chrysler 200 beat that Malibu gen not to mention Sonata.
The current Malibu handles well, is a quiet ride with good looks.
If anything very lukewarm. This was a cheap MCE and even the wheels on the grey car in the second picture were already offered by Chevy as a dealer install. The fact that a customer could buy a 2016 Malibu LT or Premier with the 2.0T but the new sportier RS model being restricted with the lowest power in it’s class 1.5T is very lame and Chevy failed to fix the issues this car really had and instead offers us a CVT, a sporty model with a lame low revving engine and heated rear seats instead. I wouldn’t expect sales to improve at all and in fact wouldn’t be surprised if this car moves down another spot on the mid size sedan scale. I so wish the Impala got a 2019 MCE that is so deserved
I want the Impala to be refreshed as well but I’m afraid Chevy will f**k up such a beautiful car
It looks great. Now give it all wheel drive to better compete with the likes of the Nissan Altima, etc. Nissan just unveiled their new Altima and gave it AWD and hit the nail on the head. They are trying to win back some of the defection that has occurred to the crossovers which offer… All Wheel Drive. Makes sense to me.
Without more variants (wagon, coupe) and an all wheel drive option, the best the Malibu can hope for is to maintain its current sales.
It was never a bad car. It just takes so much more to compete these days with so many crossovers on the market.
LOVE IT….
Love it…..
. . . but I guess (the only way I’ll buy one), an optional V-6 is still just a dream.
It looks much better than the outgoing model and better than the Camry and Accord. They corrected the catastrophic front end styling mistake of last year’s car.
Unfortunately I don’t see any real effort to put this car on top of the sales chart beyond the styling updates. The Malibu needs all wheel drive to even be considered as an alternative to a crossover. It needed all wheel drive two years ago.
It also needs better interior materials and more variants, such as wagons and coupes. The hybrid needed to be available in more than one trim.
It takes so much more to compete in this segment today. You really have to do more than just a standard front drive sedan these days. Nailing the basics (as the Malibu does) will only go so far.
And that damn auto start/stop feature needs a defeat switch. All of the German and Japanese competitors with that awful feature have at least an “off” switch.
Honestly even if it were to have drastic improvements all around it won’t jump to the top of the sales charts. That will systemically belong to the Accord and Camry.
The rear of the car looks similar to the Impala. Will this be the Impala replacement?
Let’s hope not as Chevy would lose me as a sedan customer is that were the case. The Impala is superior in many ways and badly deserves a good MCE.
I think it looks even better than last years Malibu..
I think Chevy should’ve spent more time working on the defective headlights on the Malibu! It’s sad you have to pay up to $200 for a headlight simply because they have to remove the front bumper to do it… I’ve been a Chevy Chick since day 1 I had an impala with minor
minimal issues & now a Malibu I think it’s time I try the new Honda’s
I like what I see, I just wish they’d offer a real station wagon model, not a hatch back like the Cruz. I was completely disappointed in the Cruz Hatch Back. Look at the European version of the Cruz wagon, it’s great. GM, stop listening to the U.S. focus groups and give us what you’re selling in Europe. Why was I disappointed in the Cruz Hatchback … no real storage room. My wife’s wheel chair (with the foot rest removed) stores nicely behind the back seat, and has enough room for 4 adults weekend luggage (think two nights) in our Ford C-Max. GM, Ford, Chrysler … we don’t need another SUV, bring back the tried an true, humble station wagon.
Station wagon! Yuck! This is what the problem is with the automotive industry, customers want one car to be everything all in one model. And what that creates is the manufactures producing cars that aren’t great at anything just ok at a few things.
People want utility and that means packing to much into one car, go back to the way it use to be when they built type specific cars and if they dont fit your needs buy something bigger!
Member12 gets it, why don’t you. Different “Malibu” models means more sales. Station Wagons, Sedans in the Malibu means increased sales. You don’t get it, SUV sell only because that’s all that’s out there. Everyday Europeans drive station wagons, not suv’s. Station wagons in Europe are close to 70% of their business. Look at the Kia Optima Wagon, the Chevy Cruz Estate Wagon, same from Ford with the Focus. The suv = a jackedup 4wd station wagon, no more, no less … which have turned into mama-mobiles. Are you driving a mama-mobile? And you mentioned people want utility … suv’s are long on sport, short on utility, two of GM’s suv models can’t tow a five gallon bucket in a radio flyer wagon without voiding the warranty.
The point is that if you need more space then what your current car has then you need to go find the next larger size that fits your needs. Instead of altering the current car.
So instead of having one car that kind of hits most of the Mark’s, having multiple vehicles that cover each specific need. Then you have dedicated cars and trucks that do those specific things great and not just have one car that does a bunch of things ok.
So if a normal Malibu is to small for your needs then asking for a station wagon is not the answer. The correct answer is open up your wallet, stop being cheap, and go by a larger car, or cuv, or SUV that has enough cargo room that you are looking for!
This same conversation can be said about the Camaro.
I think this front end is a significant improvement. Why do only the Premier and Hybrid get the updated tail lamp design? Why is the RS models limited to the LT model with cloth?? And the worst part of this car, the interior, is untouched. My Cruze Premier has more nicely grained upper dash/door panels and as many soft-touch inserts as a Maibu Premier. The new Camry and Accord interiors (and even the Fusion) completely blow the Malibu away.
Would like to see an Impala refresh.
Nice Malibu. Chevy should of added more standard features with there base models. Like Cruze. Car with hubcaps ( which all auto makers should of abandoned long ago) i brought a Cruze premire that now has dual temp control, safety lane change. Mine has nothing! And now im under the water on my car and dont have enough down payment to get a 19 Malibu. Its just not fair!!!
GM cars handle well, Malibu bests Fusion and Sonata for sure. The standard features as well as interiors generally suck.
The Korean brands offer a lot of content on base models. For interiors, FCA wins! Bargain Chrysler 200 base trim looked better than Buick.