As of 2024, all Malibus models come with a tire filling kit as standard. Chevy also adds Lakeshore Blue Metallic to the Malibu’s color options.

Pros

• A smooth ride.
• Pretty much any remote start.
• Exterior style that stays the same.

Cons

• Only one choice for an engine.
• It needs to keep up with the competition.

There is only one powertrain choice for the 2024 Malibu, which is different from many other family sedans. It has a solid 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 160 horsepower that drives the front wheels through a CVT. The average time at 60 mph for our 2019 Malibu test car was 7.8 seconds. Our tests of acceleration show that this combination does worse than similar rivals. The Hyundai Sonata N Line and Kia K5 GT are both great options for families who want a fast car. They both have 290 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds.

The Chevy car has all the latest safety features that help keep families safe today, and many of them can be turned off if you don’t want them. Check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about Malibu’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are:

• You can now get automated emergency braking that can identify pedestrians.
• There is a lane departure indicator and a lane-keeping aid.
• You can get adaptive speed control.

There is nothing particularly quiet or luxurious about the Malibu’s cabin, but it is comfortable and well-designed for comfort. The cabin has a good amount of space and amenities for passengers, but most other choices offer better views outside. The Malibu’s large cockpit is made possible by its symmetrical dashboard and big opening under the center stack. Some riders think the back cushions of the front seats are too small, even though the seats have a wide base and comfy side supports. There was less space in the back seat than in the Accord, but it was still big enough for our bodies. The Malibu could be better in its class, but it does have a big trunk for carry-on bags and a lot of storage space inside.

The Malibu’s single engine gets worse gas mileage ratings from the EPA than the base engines in the Accord and Toyota Camry. On average, the Chevy gets about 30 miles per gallon. However, we still got a reasonable 34 mpg from the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine in our highway test at 75 mph.

The Chevy Malibu comes with an entertainment system and a tablet that has many useful features, such as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The tablet interface is easy to use, but the system isn’t as good as the competition, and there isn’t a handy rotary control knob for other system functions.

The LT trim has more basic features than the LS trim, so we suggest you choose that one. The LT comes with 17-inch metal wheels, remote engine start, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a driver’s seat that can be adjusted to fit your needs. On all LT models, there is automatic emergency stopping to help keep you in your lane. For an extra $250, you can get a blind-spot monitor and a back cross-traffic alert system, even though they are clearly not included.