2021 Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet sells a wide range of sedans, coupes, compact SUVs, large SUVs, EVs, and pickup trucks. Most models have roomy interiors and come with standard safety and convenience technology. Several models, however, have poor visibility and lack steering agility. Many Chevrolets rank average or below average for reliability in CR’s rankings. The brand stands out for selling historically significant and category-defining vehicles. The Suburban and Tahoe can keep three rows of passengers comfortable within their enormous cabins. The Silverado pickup truck competes with the best-selling Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 by balancing interior comfort with towing and cargo capability. In the past and today, the Camaro and Corvette are performance car bargains. The rear/mid-engined “C8” Corvette can be as thrilling as much more expensive European supercars. With some exceptions, used Chevrolets can have reliability issues, but are often less expensive to maintain and repair than competitors.

Completely redesigned for 2016, the Malibu is much sleeker than the boxy sedan it replaced. A new 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine became the base engine, improving fuel economy to 29 mpg overall. A 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder remained the up level engine choice until it was dropped in 2023, and was mated to a new eight-speed automatic. The hybrid powertrain is all new, with dramatically improved fuel economy. Rear-seat room is also much improved, while the car's composed and compliant ride and quiet cabin remain. For 2019, the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Chevrolet dropped the hybrid model for 2020. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity was new for 2021. For 2023, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection became standard. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning became optional. Updates for 2024 included standard rear park assist, which provides alerts identifying nearby objects behind the vehicle. 2025 is the final model year for the Malibu.