2018 Chevrolet Malibu

2018 Malibu Photos
The Chevrolet Malibu has come a long way from its roots as the name of the top-of-the-line Chevy Chevelle in the 1960s and '70s, and even from its debut as a stand-alone model starting in 1978. Resurrected in 1997 after more than a decade in hiatus, the Malibu has gone through multiple iterations, body styles and sizes. Redesigned for the 2016 model year as the ninth generation, Chevrolet updated its midsize sedan by lengthening it, giving it a sleeker, more upscale design and putting it on a 300-pound diet, thanks to an aluminum hood and the use of high-strength steel in the frame, among other things. There are a host of new tech features, such as a MyLink touch screen atop the dashboard. Chevy offers the 2018 Malibu in five trim levels: L, LS, LT, Hybrid and Premier. The former three come standard with a new, efficient 1.5-liter turbo engine and six-speed automatic transmission, while the standard engine on the Premier is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to GM's new-for-2018 nine-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid version shares parts with the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid and Bolt battery-electric. With this buyer's guide, Autoblog aims to help you make an educated decision about whether to buy the 2018 Chevy Malibu. We'll include safety and reliability ratings, engine specs, horsepower, fuel-economy ratings and pricing, and we'll conclude with a summary of Autoblog's most recent test-drive of the Malibu. Is the Chevy Malibu safe? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2018 Chevy Malibu an overall top rating of five stars for protecting the driver and passengers against injury for both frontal and side crash protection, and four of five stars for rollover crashes. It earns a coveted "Top Safety Pick" nod from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the second-highest award possible from the organization. IIHS gives the Malibu "good" ratings for all crashworthiness tests save for the passenger-side small overlap front crash, where it gets a "marginal" mark. Front crash-prevention measures earn it a "superior" rating, with optional equipment, while headlights were rated "poor" and child-seat LATCH anchors got a "marginal" rating for ease of use. Ratings may differ for Malibus from other model years, so be sure to visit the NHTSA and IIHS websites to review ratings on the specific vehicle you're researching. Is the Chevy Malibu reliable? J.D. Power issued ratings most recently for the 2017 Malibu, which isn't materially different from the 2018 model. It gave the Malibu three out of five possible stars — "about average" — for both overall quality and overall performance design, and four stars — "better than most" — for predicted reliability. It gave the vehicle two stars in a metric that evaluates reported problems with the engine, transmission and driving experience. We should note that Autoblog has voiced some concerns with the way J.D. Power weighs serious and less-serious reliability issues, which you can read about here. There have been no recalls of the 2018 reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety …
Full Review
The Chevrolet Malibu has come a long way from its roots as the name of the top-of-the-line Chevy Chevelle in the 1960s and '70s, and even from its debut as a stand-alone model starting in 1978. Resurrected in 1997 after more than a decade in hiatus, the Malibu has gone through multiple iterations, body styles and sizes. Redesigned for the 2016 model year as the ninth generation, Chevrolet updated its midsize sedan by lengthening it, giving it a sleeker, more upscale design and putting it on a 300-pound diet, thanks to an aluminum hood and the use of high-strength steel in the frame, among other things. There are a host of new tech features, such as a MyLink touch screen atop the dashboard. Chevy offers the 2018 Malibu in five trim levels: L, LS, LT, Hybrid and Premier. The former three come standard with a new, efficient 1.5-liter turbo engine and six-speed automatic transmission, while the standard engine on the Premier is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to GM's new-for-2018 nine-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid version shares parts with the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid and Bolt battery-electric. With this buyer's guide, Autoblog aims to help you make an educated decision about whether to buy the 2018 Chevy Malibu. We'll include safety and reliability ratings, engine specs, horsepower, fuel-economy ratings and pricing, and we'll conclude with a summary of Autoblog's most recent test-drive of the Malibu. Is the Chevy Malibu safe? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2018 Chevy Malibu an overall top rating of five stars for protecting the driver and passengers against injury for both frontal and side crash protection, and four of five stars for rollover crashes. It earns a coveted "Top Safety Pick" nod from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the second-highest award possible from the organization. IIHS gives the Malibu "good" ratings for all crashworthiness tests save for the passenger-side small overlap front crash, where it gets a "marginal" mark. Front crash-prevention measures earn it a "superior" rating, with optional equipment, while headlights were rated "poor" and child-seat LATCH anchors got a "marginal" rating for ease of use. Ratings may differ for Malibus from other model years, so be sure to visit the NHTSA and IIHS websites to review ratings on the specific vehicle you're researching. Is the Chevy Malibu reliable? J.D. Power issued ratings most recently for the 2017 Malibu, which isn't materially different from the 2018 model. It gave the Malibu three out of five possible stars — "about average" — for both overall quality and overall performance design, and four stars — "better than most" — for predicted reliability. It gave the vehicle two stars in a metric that evaluates reported problems with the engine, transmission and driving experience. We should note that Autoblog has voiced some concerns with the way J.D. Power weighs serious and less-serious reliability issues, which you can read about here. There have been no recalls of the 2018 reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety …
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Retail Price

$21,680 - $31,020 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 1.5L I-4, 2.0L I-4
MPG Up to 27 city / 36 highway
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 6-spd auto w/OD, 9-spd auto w/OD
Power 160 - 250 hp
Drivetrain front-wheel
Curb Weight 3,086 - 3,388 lbs
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