2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs, Release Date, Interior

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs, Release Date, Interior   –    My senior editor and I both used the same strategy when deciding whether to look into the 2026 Chevrolet Malibu. We were equally taken aback. We were both curious as to whether Chevrolet will keep making the Malibu. Although it has been there for quite some time, it appears to have slipped people’s minds. The Malibu is Chevrolet’s sole remaining sedan model due to the company’s shift in focus from cars to crossovers. The reason for this is the rising popularity of crossovers.

With a starting price of $25,248 for the LS, you should work your way up to the RS, LT, and finally the Premier, which costs $37,848. I went with the LT, which started at $27,748 but came with option packages that increased the price to $33,818 (not including taxes and shipping).  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

As long as the Malibu is there, only the most realistic individuals will be able to make it through each day. The Malibu is quite attractive to fleets, which is why this is the case. To give you an idea of how it compares, the trunk is bigger than that of the Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry, but smaller than that of the Hyundai Sonata and the Honda Accord. This vehicle’s class is characterized by sedans with trunks located about in the middle of the pack. When it comes to storing little items, the Malibu does a decent job. The use of an open console cubby and very long and wide door pockets allows for this to be done.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

In spite of the Malibu’s reputation as a speedy warrior, even the entry-level LS trim level is very well-appointed with plenty of useful features. Among the features included in this package are air conditioning, automatic headlights, tire pressure monitoring, Wi-Fi hotspot, keyless entry with push-button start, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, if you want to keep using one of these services after the trial period ends, you’ll have to pay a subscription fee. Every month, this amount will be deducted.

The LT model I purchased came with a plethora of extra standard features. A motorized driver’s seat, heated mirrors, LED headlights and taillights, satellite radio, heated seats, and remote starter were all part of the package. When you go up to the Premier trim, you receive every single safety assist function that was an option on my car. A sunroof, heated and ventilated leather seats, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, an adaptive cruise control system, an auto-dimming mirror, a 120-volt outlet, and a premium radio round out the package. The Premier includes all of these characteristics.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

Engine and Performance

With its continuously variable gearbox (CVT) and turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can generate 163 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, the Premier is one of the rare vehicles that doesn’t follow this pattern. The Premier has 260 pound-feet of torque and 250 horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbocharger, in addition to a nine-speed automated transmission.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

The smaller engine provides sufficient performance at first stroke and then settles into a quite smooth cruising mode when you press down on the accelerator. It doesn’t sound strong because the continuously variable transmission (CVT) has a nasty drone that makes everything seem like it’s trying too hard to make anything happen. Because of this, it does not come across as particularly powerful.

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel Economy

As to the official rating, the 1.5-liter Malibu achieves 8.2 liters per hundred kilometers in urban areas, 6.6 liters per hundred kilometers on highways, and 7.5 liters per hundred kilometers in mixed driving. I believed the fuel economy was excellent for a vehicle of this size after a week of driving it, getting 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers. The way everything worked as expected was just remarkable.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

However, manufacturers have been achieving good results with cars in this class generally. While the Malibu’s overall fuel consumption of 7.5 liters per hundred kilometers ranks among the most among its rivals, most of them also come close to or below 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers.

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Features

In terms of crashworthiness, the Malibu received a four-star rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Malibu was awarded this rating. The Malibu’s frontal crash received five ratings, while its side collision and rollover received just four.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

On the other side, if you’re looking for more up-to-date safety assistance systems, you’ll only have the LT and Premier trim levels to choose from. None of the other trim levels offer them for sale. In my test vehicle, you might find several safety features as lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic warning, and emergency front braking with pedestrian identification. The bundle had all of these features. The LT Plus Package, on the other hand, included leather upholstery, automatic dimming mirrors, and a power sunroof. Customers may purchase this bundle for $4,500. Conversely, the Premier level is where you’ll get adaptive cruise control, which was missing from our model.

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Price and Release Date

The basic price of almost everything else in its market segment is far lower than the starting price of the Malibu, which is $25,248. Here are a few examples of such vehicles: the $26,620 Toyota Camry, the $26,999 Hyundai Sonata, the $28,705 Honda Accord, and the $27,350 Mazda 6.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

I paid a starting price of $27,748 for my test vehicle. If I were to spend that much, I would definitely go for the $4,200 LT Plus Package; but, the $995 blacked-out trim would not be in my budget. That would allow me to have the more luxurious interior and driver assistance features for a price that is still around $32,000. In addition, the price covers oil changes at the planned intervals for twenty-four thousand kilometers, or two years from the date of purchase.