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2021 Chevrolet Malibu 2.0L Turbo Gets Improved Fuel Economy Rating

The Environmental Protection Agency has released the official estimated fuel economy figures for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu with the available turbocharged 2.0L LTG four-cylinder engine.

When equipped with the 2.0L turbo and nine-speed automatic transmission, the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu will see fuel economy returns of 22 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. This compares with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, which was rated at 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined.

General Motors seems to have made some small calibration improvements to the midsize sedan’s powertrain for 2021, in addition to other vehicles like the Chevrolet Blazer and the Cadillac XT5, for example, that also saw slight fuel economy improvements with their 2.0L LSY engine between the 2020 and 2021 model years.

The only 2021 Chevrolet Malibu trim level available with the 2.0L engine is the range-topping Premier, which starts at $34,295. All Premier models come with chrome exterior trim, 19-inch wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen display with navigation, Bose premium audio system, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, power tilt-sliding sunroof, a wireless charging pad and other high-end creature comforts.

As a reminder, GM’s 2.0L LTG engine produces 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. Meanwhile, the base turbocharged 1.5L engine is good for 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. The 2.0L engine comes standard with GM’s nine-speed automatic, while the 1.5L engine comes paired to a CVT. The LTG engine is now only available in the Malibu as well as the Chevrolet Camaro, since the motor is being phased out in favor of the newer LSY four-cylinder unit.

As it stands, the Chevrolet Malibu’s future is uncertain. It is believed GM is preparing to drop the nameplate outright following the 2023 model year, as sales of the sedan have been dwindling in recent years. The larger Chevrolet Impala also bit the dust earlier this year for the same reason, while the compact Chevrolet Cruze was axed last year.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. So it goes back up to what it was rated for the 2016/2017 model years. They need to re-rate the 1.5T as it’s highway figure is far short of what these actually get.

    Reply
    1. City yes, hwy on the other hand needs to see an improvement. I’ve made multiple 300+mile loops since I’ve had my car. The best I’ve gotten is 54.2 mpg. If you subtract about 15% it’s sitting around 46 mpg hwy. I did the math at the pump it was 47.3 mpg hwy. That’s getting its hybrid mileage. I’ve made trips to Alpine, WY. About 130 miles from where I live. Made trips to SLC, UT which sits at about 620 mile round trip. Most of the time its sitting at 49 to 50 when I go to SLC and back.

      City on the other hand, the best I can muster is 18. That’s with me being gentle on the gas. I tried it for about a week. That’s the best I can do. My normal driving sees it at about 14. That’s my real world experience. You can either take it as it is or just ignore it which ever which.

      Reply
  2. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and my 2020 Impala is averaging 30 plus for over 3000 miles

    Reply
    1. Was it the four or six?

      Reply
  3. John DeGrace my Impala is a V-6 My first new vehicle was a 1959 Impala 2 door hardtop V-8. Now have one of the last 2020 4 door Impala great vehicle. I sold our 2015 outright to a lady that loves it.

    Reply
    1. I used to have a 58′ Impala, It was a tank but I loved that car. I think it was a 3speed on the column, used to smoke those tires,lol

      Reply
  4. My 2018 Malibu premier easily gets on average 36 to 38 mpg on the hwy. Maybe if GM would throw a little money into their cars instead of their trucks you can steal in less than 3 minutes people might pay attention instead of looking at foreign midsize cars.

    Reply
  5. Our 2017 Malibu 2.0 Premier routinely gets 38+ on a 210 mile loop between Ventura and Bakersfield if I stick more or less to the speed limit.

    Reply
  6. What is the point. Is the US buyer for passenger vehicles really crying for a diesel? Gasoline is still cheap, gasoline ICE get fantastic MPG nowadays with 8-10 speed transmissions. Most women would not like the stinky fuel pumps with diesels oil stains all over the ground. How many passenger car buyers know about DEF? The effort and money should have been put in a new gas engine or a hybrid before GM goes all EV.

    Reply
    1. I don’t know what happened but I thought I read it was a diesel. Sorry for my rant! I own some GM stock and you want money well spent.

      Reply
  7. “Hey, battter, a swing and miss again by Chevy/GM.”
    They cry that their sales are dwindling. True, when your competition offers things that are
    optional on that Malibu. True, when your competition offers a V6 as compared to putt putt
    Malibu engines.
    They came out with an acclaimed new Impala in 2014. And for remaining did nothing with it
    including zero advertising in the years that followed. Then they wondered why it wasnt selling.
    The same fate goes the Malibu.

    Reply
  8. I have a 14 impalla and 19 regal gs both with the 3.6 and get better millage than the 4 cylinders and could do better if i tried harder. And gm can’t sell cRs. They wnder why.

    Reply
  9. I have a 2018 ‘BU with the 1.5L T and if I have to go from a standing start up a hill I worry someday I’ll be rear ended ,, especially if the ac is running . On the other hand my gal pal has a 2016 Premier 2.0 L T and it’s a world apart from mine . No hesitation on takeoff and gives all the power you ask for . I try not to drive min around her for fear of a match that she would best me at

    Reply
  10. This is the only Chevrolet I would consider buying. The interiors of Chevrolet trucks and SUVs are dreadful. I have seen 20 year old Korean cars with better quality interiors.

    Reply
  11. It boggles my mind how GM continues to act surprised when their cars don’t sell? Let me ask you something. When was the last time you actually saw a Chevy commercial featuring a car? I don’t remember, it’s been that long. Keep shooting yourself in the foot GM. The Malibu is a damn good car, but they abandoned it a long time ago. I drive a Sonic LTZ turbo now and want to upgrade to a Malibu, but why bother. Why should I believe in a product line they themselves don’t believe in. I guess it’s a new Honda Accord for me. Dumb asses!!

    Reply
  12. It’s really hard to believe how stupid GM can be with this getting out of the car business kick they are on. They must have the dumbest marketing people in the world, to say nothing of the top people making the decisions. Gradually Americans are going to tire of SUV’s, they are all ugly, they do not ride as well as car, and are simply not as pleasant to drive as a car. I have had two SUV’s, so I know of what I speak, in both cases it did not take long before I wished I had bought a car instead. So now GM, and Ford also, are turning over the future car market to the Japs, and if you can afford it, the Germans. GM is going to wish like heck that they had listened to consumers rather than their accountants.

    Reply
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    Reply
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