2017 Chevy Malibu Hybrid Visits the Garage - Leaves A Big Impression

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
8-10-2017

The GM-Trucks.com team was fortunate to find some seat time in a new, 2017 Chevy Malibu Hybrid this month. General Motors has cut its media fleet for 2017 and the Malibu was the only GM car we’ve driven in recent memory. Simply put, it blew us away.

Reviewing any car or truck requires focusing the mind in two ways. First, what do owners of this type of vehicle want and look for? Second, could this vehicle be so good that it transcends its segment and may attract buyers from similar segments? With our brain re-set from trucks, we found this midsize green sedan hits the mark for its target audience and definitely would make conventional midsize family shoppers very happy given a chance.

The Malibu Hybrid’s defining feature is comfort and refinement. We’ve driven the Camry Hybrid, Kia Niro, Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and others in recent months and the Malibu Hybrid doesn’t just meet the bar, it exceeds it in almost every way.

If you like a smooth comfortable ride over bumpy roads (the GM-Trucks team spends considerable time on dirt roads, so we do), then the Malibu is tuned for you. The “normal” profile tires on our mid-trim Hybrid were compliant and kept the ride very mellow. The Malibu handles like most other midsize family sedans in all other respects. If you want a Car and Driver breakdown of skidpad adhesion and handling “at the limits” good luck. You may be better served by a Cadillac CTS-V. This car is for daily driving and it excels at its mission.

The drivetrain is outstanding, but only if quiet, smooth operation with outstanding fuel economy is your preference. In this segment, that is exactly what buyers want and expect and the Malibu Hybrid delivers better than either the Kia or Hyundai we recently tested (which are about the same size as the Malibu in passenger volume, in case you wonder why they are in this story for reference).

We managed 49 MPG in our real-world suburban and highway driving, better than the 46 MPG the EPA estimates most drivers will see. On regular gas. That means they Malibu Hybrid costs about the same per mile as an EV would, in our expensive electricity market. In our testing of the new Hyundai Ioniq, which boasts a much higher EPA Combined estimate, we saw 48.2 MPG. In the Niro, we saw 44 MPG. The low-key Malibu Hybrid topped them both.

Inside, our mid-trim Malibu was drab. The flat-back, unheated, cloth seats were a let-down and with no moonroof, the interior was dark. Our $31,235 tester lacked a few things, but if you want leather, Nav and a moonroof they can all be added in for customers with a $35K budget. The trunk is small for the class as well, due to the battery pack behind the passenger seatbacks.
On the plus side of the Chevy frugality, the Malibu Hybrid did have Android Auto which we put to good use. Apple Car Play is also included of course, and this allows buyers to skip Nav and save some money while being able to get the best Nav possible via one’s phone (which you already own).

The Chevy Malibu line is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, only its headlights' rating held it back from the top score possible. Our tester had emergency auto braking but did not offer adaptive cruise control. An odd combination.

Conclusion

Overall we feel that the Chevy Malibu Hybrid deserves more attention. This is a fair-priced, super-safe, fuel-sipping car with outstanding comfort. Isn’t that what family sedan and mid-sized green-car shoppers put at the top of their wish list?

[Colossus]

So.. your conclusion is that it deserves more attention. It certainly comes across as a great car. BUT... the sad thing is that like any other GM sedan out there for the past 20+ years, it won't sell well. And why do you folks think that is?

[Colossus]

FYI the last Malibu I drove was a dealer loaner 2014 2.5L Ecotech. I actually really liked it.

[j-ten-ner]

So.. your conclusion is that it deserves more attention. It certainly comes across as a great car. BUT... the sad thing is that like any other GM sedan out there for the past 20+ years, it won't sell well. And why do you folks think that is?

 

The Price?

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[Imcrazy]

We have a 2016 Malibu LT with the 1.5L turbo.. We're pretty pleased with it, I leased it for 39 months, once the lease is up I might lease another one, the only thing I'd change is to get the 2.0 Turbo because once you're used to the big 5.3 in the Silverado driving the 1.5 in the wife's Malibu feels pretty wimpy.

[Colossus]

Saw a new Malibu today. Ugly ugly ugly ass end. decent looking front end.

[Imcrazy]

Saw a new Malibu today. Ugly ugly ugly ass end. decent looking front end.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think mine looks good from all angles...

[Colossus]

Back end reminds me too much of what Infiniti is slapping on their vehicles right now. But hey while I would not get one because of my thoughts on how ugly it is, a select few like em. What do you like most about your Mali?

[DCazares]

Wife has a 16 Malibu LT with the 1.5t and we do like it a lot. It gets 30 mpg in the city and is great on the Hwy.

[Arth]

Had a 17 Malibu as a rental for the past few days with the 1.5T. Seemed adequate to the task and got pretty good fuel economy. If I was going to buy one I would opt for the 2.0 for the extra power on tap.

 

Personally though I am going to wait until they upgrade the headlights from halogen projectors.

[Imcrazy]

Back end reminds me too much of what Infiniti is slapping on their vehicles right now. But hey while I would not get one because of my thoughts on how ugly it is, a select few like em. What do you like most about your Mali?

Yeah it is kinda like an infinity.... It's just a nice quiet comfortable ride, it has the same controls and infotainment system as what my truck does so that is nice and the interior has IMO a premium feel for a mid level car.... I do wish I hadn't been so cheap and gone for the 2.0, at the time one of the local dealers hand an LT2 that they wanted to move bad, has alot of the premium pkg features including the 2.0 but cloth interior... Coulda leased it for like 10 a month more but, what kept me from doing it was that it was gonna run on 89octane and between that an the monthly payment difference its saved us like $40 a month to get the 1.5T LT w/Convenience Pkg... Certainly not gonna win any 'fun to drive' awards after coming from a mazda 6 but, it's worth it for the comfort.... What I really wanted to buy was a used CTS but, twas not in the budget this time around lol