The Malibu is an endearing Chevrolet nameplate that has ridden highs and lows of design and come and gone since it hit the street in 1964.
With a mild redesign for 2019, the front-wheel-drive midsize Malibu is at the top of its styling cycle. But even its crisp lines and spacious interior have not caught on with buyers who by it for a comparably sized SUV, of which GM has plenty of choices. Consequently, its future is again in question, with current corporate plans keeping it alive until at least 2024 with an update possible in 2022, according to Automotive News.
That is good and bad news for shoppers.
This versatile sedan is sold in five gasoline models and a gasoline-electric hybrid. All have turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder engines.
Entry models have a 160 horsepower 1.5-liter with a continuously variable automatic transmission. And there is a 250-hp 2.0-liter with 260 foot-pounds of torque from 2,000-5,000 rpm; it is paired with a nine-speed automatic.
Now in its seventh generation, the Malibu is an apple-pie flag-waver, built in Kansas City, Kan. Pricing starts at $22,965 and ranges to $32,695, including the $875 freight charge. The Hybrid starts at $30,090 and has fuel economy ratings of 49 mpg city, 43 highway and 46 mpg combined, on 87 octane.
New for 2019 is the Malibu RS, today’s tester, a sportier-looking and value-priced model, with the fuel-sipping 1.5-liter and CVT powertrain. The RS treatment includes a blacked-out grille and bowtie emblems, a rear spoiler, 18-inch black-finish wheels and dual exhaust tips. Inside, there is a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and black cloth seats.
The Malibu RS tester was $25,740 with options for the gorgeous Cajun Red tintcoat paint and the convenience package, $350, which adds a remote-start capability and a trunk cargo net.
At the height of the fuel crisis, this RS would more likely have been named FE, for fuel efficiency. But rather than emphasizing a panacea for pain at the pump, the RS soothes with style.
For the daily commute, the Malibu is a roomy midsize with the price of a compact. Despite the sporty RS tag, it is not about performance, which is dutiful at best and somewhat moany from the CVT, but it is about the mileage.
The RS curb weight of 3,135 pounds is as much as 161 pounds less than others in this group. And fuel economy is within one or two mpgs up or down of the comparable Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry.
With the lowest horsepower of the competitors, Malibu RS fuel economy ratings are 29 mpg city, 36 highway and 32 mpg combined, on 87 octane. Around town, my average was 20 to 24 mpg, but on the highway it was easy to reach 35.5 mpg and by setting the cruise control at 65 mph, I expect it could easily crest 36 mpg. With the 15.8-gallon tank, there is a comfortable range of 500 miles.
Another Malibu asset is the roominess of the cabin. Compared with its closest competitors, the roofline is as much as inch taller (57.9 inches) and it is about 2 inches longer (194.2 inches).
Its incremental dimensions translate to a cabin for the big and tall. Tall front headroom of 40.1 inches meets a very long 45.3 inches of legroom and the best shoulder room at 58.5 inches. In back, it has some of the tallest headroom in the segment (37.5 inches), with shoulder room that meets or exceeds the others at 57.1 inches and long legroom of 38.1 inches second to the Accord at 40.4 inches.
Trunk space is wide and square at 15.8 cubic feet, also second only to the Accord at 16.7.
The cabin has contemporary styling, but some of the lower plastics have a budget sheen. ive fabric seats have comfortable entry, without a big drop. Sightlines are open at the side mirrors and acceptable over the shoulder — and much improved in parking situations with the wide rearview camera. And there are fully functioning storage areas, including a roomy shift console and charging area with a USB, aux-in port and a 12-volt plug, plus another USB in the armrest box.
Safety features include 10 air bags, stability and traction controls and four-wheel disc brakes, with 11.8-inch vented front rotors and 11.3-inch solid rotors at the rear. But advanced safety technologies, such as rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front-collision alert or side blind-zone alerts, are offered only on higher trim levels.
Overall, you don’t get the “surprise and delight” details of a more expensive model, but you get the necessities. Budget cuts also are noted in the front seatbelt anchors that have no height adjustment and can rub on the necks of shorter drivers. There is no automatic up to the power windows, but there is auto down. And the center back seat has no head restraint.
On the road, the ride quality is comfortable and the cabin is reasonably soundproofed. But there is some hardness and tire noise from the 18-inch Continental Pro all-season tires.
The Malibu RS is practical transportation with blacked-out style. But it should be allowed more access to safety options — and even the 250-hp engine — to make it the safest long-distance commuter it can be.
2019 Chevrolet Malibu RS
- Body style: midsize, front-drive, 5-seat sedan
- Engine: 160-hp, turbocharged and direct-injection 1.5-liter 4-cylinder with auto start-stop at idle; 184 lb.-ft. torque from 2,500-3,000 rpm
- Transmission: CVT
- Fuel economy: 29/36/32 mpg city/hwy/combined; 87 octane
SPECIFICATIONS
- Fuel tank: 15.8 gal.
- Trunk space: 15.8 cu. ft.
- Front head/leg room: 40.1/45.3 in.
- Rear head/leg room: 37.5/38.1 in.
- Length/wheelbase: 193.9/111.4 in.
- Curb weight: 3,135 lbs.
- Turning circle: 37 ft.
FEATURES
- Standard equipment includes: smart-key locking and push-button ignition, rearview camera, 8-way power driver seat with lumbar, manual 6-way front enger seat, 8-inch touch-screen infotainment screen, Bluetooth phone and music connectivity, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 60/40 folding back seat, steering wheel radio-cruise-audio controls, 4G LTE Wi-Fi internet hot spot,
- RS treatment: black grille and bowtie emblems, trunk-lid spoiler, dual stainless steel polished exhaust tips, black-finish 18-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, black cloth seats
- Safety features include: 10 air bags, stability and traction controls, 4-wheel disc brakes
PRICING
- Base price: $25,975, including $875 freight charge; price as tested $25,740
- Options on test vehicle: Cajun Red tintcoat $395; Convenience package 1 $350, adds remote start kit and a cargo net
- Where assembled: Kansas City, Kan.
- Warranty: 3-years/36,000-miles bumper to bumper with free first scheduled oil change, tire rotation and inspection; 5-years/60,000-miles powertrain with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
