2019 Chevrolet Malibu review

What We Like

Driving: The best experience behind the wheel of a 2019 Malibu is with the hybrid, oddly enough. Since it operates more like an EV at slow speeds, thanks to a Chevy Volt-derived hybrid setup, there’s always a healthy dose of instant electric torque before the gas engine kicks in. We recommend it. Regardless of engine choice, the Malibu remains surprisingly agile in turns and can be legitimately fun to drive.

Interior: Rivals like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6 offer exceptionally nice interiors in the wake of redesigns, but the Malibu is no concession prize. The dash and cabin design may feel a bit dated alongside some competitors, but the material quality and soft-touch surfaces are what you’d expect in a more expensive, full-size sedan.

Comfort: A quiet, hushed interior is a signature Malibu trait, aided by ample sound insulation. It’s an often overlooked quality, but one you’ll endlessly appreciate during a stressful commute. A longer wheelbase than the last-generation Malibu helps open up rear seat legroom, but competitors also enlarged their backseats since the Malibu’s redesign. The Accord and Malibu are the same length, for example, but the latest Accord manages two more inches of rear legroom.

What Needs Improvement

Transmissions: Malibus from 2018 and before had a sluggish and clumsy feeling transmission, which Chevy fixed by eliminating the six-speed automatic and replacing it with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the base engine. It helps eke out a few more mpg, but it’s not an upgrade. Chevy’s product isn’t as refined as some competitors, and exhibits the kind of unnatural and noisy acceleration feeling typical of lower-end CVTs. Meanwhile, the nine-speed automatic paired with the 2.0-liter engine is still clumsy at low speeds and while braking.