2026 Chevy Malibu Specs, Redesign, MPG – When selecting whether or not to investigate the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, we followed same procedures. We were both surprised. Whether Chevrolet would continue producing the Malibu was a question that both of us wanted answered. Even though it has been present for a while, it seems to have gone unnoticed. Chevrolet has shifted its concentration from sedans to SUVs, leaving just the Malibu as a sedan model.
The increasing need for crossovers is the main cause of this. There are a few different trim levels to choose from, beginning with the $25,248 LS and progressing up to the $37,848 Premier. My order for an LT came to $33,818 (not including taxes or delivery) after adding a variety of upgrades to the $27,748 basic price.
Table of Contents
2026 Chevy Malibu Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Day after day, only the most grounded among us will be able to weather the Malibu. The Malibu is appealing to fleets, which is why this is the case. The trunk is larger than the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, but smaller than the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord, to give you a sense of how it compares. Sedans of this class often have their trunks positioned somewhere near the center of the vehicle. When it comes to storing little items, the Malibu does a decent job. This is made possible by utilizing an open console cubby and extremely long and broad door pockets.
2026 Chevy Malibu Specs
From the driver’s seat, the Malibu appears to be a more vintage vehicle. It complies with your commands even if it has a severely damaged sense of direction. Even if it doesn’t look or feel like a sports sedan, it might have a more engaging and genuine ride with better computerized steering. A loud and clunky noise is produced by the undercarriage whenever there is a bump on the road, however generally speaking, the ride is very smooth. According to my chosen passenger, my tester sounded like an old-fashioned taxi. 2026 Chevy Malibu Specs
Engine and Performance
The Premier is an exception to the rule thanks to its continuously variable transmission (CVT) and turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The Premier’s 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque are produced by a 2.0-liter turbocharger and a nine-speed automatic gearbox, respectively.
With its little engine, you get enough of power at initial push and then settle into a silky smooth cruise mode, which is a joy to maneuver. Because of its unpleasant drone, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) lacks power and makes everything seem to be straining too hard to achieve nothing. That is the reason it doesn’t exude any kind of charisma.
2026 Chevy Malibu Fuel Economy
The fuel economy estimates for the 1.5-liter Malibu are 8.2 L/100 km in city conditions, 6.6 L/100 km on highways, and 7.5 L/100 km in mixed-use situations, according to official figures. After one week of driving it, I thought the fuel economy was great for a car of its size, obtaining 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers. It was just astounding how everything functioned according to plan. 2026 Chevy Malibu Specs
Overall, the Malibu has some of the highest fuel consumption of its rivals at 7.5 liters per hundred kilometers, although most of them are also around or below 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers. However, in general, automakers have been excelling with vehicles in this category.
2026 Chevy Malibu Safety Features
Overall, the Malibu was rated four stars for crashworthiness by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US. The Malibu was given this grade. The Malibu was awarded five stars for the frontal crash, but only four ratings for the side impact and rollover. We rated it “marginal” for the ease of using child-seat tethers and “good” for the passenger-side front overlap, out of a possible six tests. This was the maximum possible score for their vehicle, as stated by the IIHS. 2026 Chevy Malibu Specs
If you’re interested in more modern safety aid technology, though, you’ll have to upgrade to the LT or Premier trim levels. They are not for sale on lower trim levels. On my test car, you could find a number of safety features like lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic warning, and emergency front braking with pedestrian recognition. The package included all of these features. Alternately, it was available with the LT Plus Package, which included motorized sunroof, automated headlights, and leather interior. At $4,500, this package was available to customers. The Premier trim level is the only one that comes with adaptive cruise control, though.
2026 Chevy Malibu Price and Release Date
Starting at $25,248, the Malibu is significantly more expensive than the majority of its competitors in its market group. Some examples of such cars are these: the $27,350 Mazda6, the $28,705 Honda Accord, the $26,999 Hyundai Sonata, and the $26,620 Toyota Camry. 2026 Chevy Malibu Specs
My test car had a base price of $27,748. In that case, I would go for the $4,200 LT Plus Package without a doubt; but, the $995 blacked-out trim isn’t even close to being considered. Even with the option’s more plush cabin and driver aid features, the price would be around $32,000. Costs for oil changes every twenty-four thousand kilometers, or two years from the purchase date, are also included in the purchase price.
