The 2022 Chevy Malibu is set to discontinue to the base-model L trim level, making the LS the new entry-level variant going forward.
Compared to the L trim level, the 2022 Chevy Malibu LS includes (relevant RPO code listed in parentheses):
- Teen Driver mode (TDM)
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot capability (VV4)
- Buckle to Drive (T8Z)
- Outside temperature display
- Covered driver and front passenger vanity mirrors
Additionally, the following optional extras are available on the 2022 Chevy Malibu LS, but were not available on the now-discontinued L trim (relevant RPO code listed in parentheses):
- Remote vehicle starter system (BTV)
- Driver Confidence 1 Cloth Package (PDM)
- Driver Confidence I & II Package (PDN)
- All LPO-level (installed by dealer) items and accessories
To note, the Chevy Malibu L was only available with the Dark Atmosphere / Medium Ash Gray interior color combo, whereas the LS is also available in Jet Black. What’s more, the L was only offered in two exterior paint options, namely Silver Ice Metallic (GAN) and Summit White (GAZ).
The 2022 Chevy Malibu isn’t the only Chevrolet model to drop the base L trim level for the 2022 model year. As GM Authority covered previously, the 2022 Chevy Equinox also drops the base-level L, once again making the LS the new entry-level trim for the 2022 model year.
The 2022 Chevy Malibu is one the last remaining General Motors sedans offered in the U.S., with the other two being the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5.
For now, the future of the Chevy Malibu nameplate remains uncertain, as GM Authority has learned that the Malibu sedan will likely be dropped following the 2023 model year. The Chevy Malibu is currently in its ninth generation, receiving a mid-cycle refresh for the 2019 model year, and only a few minor changes for the 2021 model year.
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Comments
Taking bets on when the deletion of the 2 liter turbo will be taking place. I would be surprised if its still offered through to 2023
This move by GM doesn’t bode well for the Malibu nameplate’s future beyond 2023. A pity!
This pretty much tells me I will be trading in my 2015 Impala for a Honda next year. To bad because I had a 08 SS and a 14 Impala and a 16 Impala and would have likely bought a loaded Malibu. GM is making a big mistake I think.
The L trim was pretty much fleet only. It had a lower MSRP than the LS but the L was not eligible for for retail rebates and programs. If you take retail incentives into account the LS actually costs less than an L.
How sad. Remember when Malibu was a great nameplate. I never understood why GM didn’t come up with a Super Sport version for the current iteration, giving the consumer something if they couldn’t afford a Cadillac CTS V.
What’s up with the weak engines? Turbo’s or not, seriously a 1.5? Yikes
I have a 2016 LS Limited with a 2.5 liter engine that runs damn good
I agree with Gary about making an SS version of the Malibu.That would be awsome,or possibly some parts to upgrade ie,bigger swaybars,spoiler,and other accessories.
Right on GM. Keep sending buyers over to Toyota, Honda and Nissan that still offer a full line of sedans. And then watch them stay with the brands as they move up to buying crossovers – never considering a GM vehicle again.
You can tell that GM has simply given up on the Malibu and sedans in general. This company has no dedication to anything that doesn’t sell well it seems. Instead of making the Malibu truly competitive and keeping it on par with the competition, they easily just give up. What GM doesn’t sell well, they instead rather walk away from a problem instead of solving it and improving upon what is wrong with its product.
Why would anyone purchase a new or used Malibu is beyond me, when you can get a much better made car overall in the Impala. I rented a 2019 Malibu on a Vegas trip 2 years ago, and I couldn’t wait to get back into my 2017 Impala since the feeling of the Malibu was cheap and the car road very poorly in comparison.
I am about sell my Impala and purchase a used Lexus LS 460 since they are a bargain and are truly amazing cars to drive. So much of a better car than my Impala, yet my Impala is newer, the old Lexus out performs, out rides, and overall is a hundred times better of a sedan than any car I’ve owned so far. That’s how well built and luxurious the LS is. You feel the heft of the car and power of that 4.6L V8. The ride quality is serene and very soft, I rarely felt harsh bumps on the road, the same stretch of road driving in my Impala I easily felt the impacts and vibrations coming into the cabin even with brand new tires installed! But on a 128,000 miles 2008 Lexus LS 460 that I test drove over the weekend on the same street, those impacts never entered the cabin. That is how well insulated and isolated the interior is. Plus i have always wanted a V8 RWD luxury sedan again after selling my old Cadillac Fleetwood. And the LS is the answer. The LS is what Cadillac should have built, Lexus took the lead back then in technology, sophistication, quality of materials, luxuriousness of the cabin and ride quality. It’s the modern Fleetwood Brougham without the great styling as the older gen LS is rather boring and plain. Who cares, the car is wonderful to drive and that matters the most to me.
Back on topic, if anyone buys a Malibu today, you are an idiot, plain and simple. The sedan options from competitors is vast, and you’ll get a much nicer, better equipped car as well.
Well you are comparing a car that sold for more than double the price new and still sells used with 80K miles for what a brand new Impala was sold for. I would expect a car in the 60-70K price range to be considerably better. I have a new style Epsilon Impala and think it is an awesome car considering what I paid for it and the features it has- backup camera, pano roof, real leather seats with power and heat, remote start, a powerful smooth V6 and a smooth solid quiet ride. I can drive it 5 hours straight with zero fatigue. I agree the Malibu is an inferior vehicle to my Impala.
I agree comparing large lux isn’t useful. The mid-size sedan segment has grown to where some technically have full-size seating. An overlapped Malibu and same platform Impala, means the Impala goes. They should make sure there are attractive RS and Premier trims. Plusher seats may be a difference maker.
Mid-sizers have to start as econoboxes for growing families. Ones with better resale get more sales. Maybe the best strategy would be: an entry retail LS and an LT that’s rental/fleet to CPO.
Shrinking doesn’t mean the segment will die. A new gen isn’t unjustified. Of this fwd gen, the Malibu styling isn’t as well executed as the Traverse. A next gen could even ape the Tesla S, especially the rear hatch and side windows. Chevy could say they reclaimed the 69 Malibu belt-line.
Good to see they have abandoned the L trim model for the LS trim which is what I wanted GM to do all along. A L trim Malibu should have been equipped with a 2.5L engine and heavy duty suspension upgrade for service fleets only in the first place.
I understand that the Impala isn’t a $70,000 luxury car, but brand new, my Impala was around $36K and it’s still a very nice car for the money. But I’ve made it a point that I really want a RWD V8 luxury sedan now and FWD cars will never ride as nice and isolated like a RWD one. I live in a city with terrible road conditions and I’m just so sick and tired of being beat up by them. A better riding car will help with that.
Reason being is because FWD cars have limited wheel travel and McPherson strut suspension which is very limited in its movement and ability to to control bumps unlike the double wishbone or Short-Long Arm suspension of RWD sedans that do allow for much better wheel travel and, control. The car stays flat on uneven surfaces much better as well.
Plus with a heavier more solid car, I definitely notice the additional weight, about 400-500lbs in the Lexus to be exact than the Impala and strangely the Lexus, is like 2 inches shorter than the Pala, yet has much more interior room and the seats are so much softer and thickly padded. There’s simply no comparison.
It’s strange because I’m starting to see more Malibu’s on the road, maybe Chevy is desperately trying to give them away since I see so many with new paper dealer license plates on them. The Kia Optima is a better car than the Malibu and I don’t even like Kia vehicles. The Optima actually rides and feels pretty nice.
This is a typical cost cutting move by GM, The L series wasn’t very well equipped so no real loss. I just keep hoping that they would stop doing the just trim packages and actually do something with the engine. What is the point of an RS without the 2.0L engine, It looks nice but would sell better with the optional engine, Some of us don’t want to upgrade to the most expensive version with all the extras just to get a performance(ish) engine. Now if they would offer the Malibu in the RS package with the 2.0L engine and a manual, I would be at the dealer tomorrow ordering one. (A person can dream can’t one)
Chevy should’ve kept the Impala instead of the Malibu. I own an 2018 Impala Premier, which I like…would’ve been sweet if it were an SS. I’m all for saving gas, but getting rid of V8 engines is corny