Used 2016 Chevrolet Malibu for Sale nearColumbia, SC

Compare 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Trims in Columbia, SC

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu offers a range of trims that balance affordability and efficiency, with the LS FWD being the standout choice for budget-conscious shoppers.

• Starting at $9,900
• Best MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 37 hwy
• Most Popular: LS FWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

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Trim Deep Dives

LS FWD — "Who It's For"

The LS FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped sedan without breaking the bank. It's the most popular trim, offering great value.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 37 hwy
• Inventory: 91 listings
• View LS FWD listings

LS Fleet FWD — "Who It's For"

The LS Fleet FWD is ideal for buyers seeking a reliable sedan with essential features at a competitive price. It's a solid choice for fleet use or personal driving.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 37 hwy
• Inventory: 67 listings
• View LS Fleet FWD listings

Limited LT FWD — "Who It's For"

The Limited LT FWD is for those who desire a touch of luxury with leather seating and advanced navigation features without a hefty price tag.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 6 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Limited LT FWD listings

1LT FWD — "Who It's For"

The 1LT FWD is perfect for shoppers wanting a blend of modern tech and comfort features, including a sunroof, without going over budget.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 27 city / 37 hwy
• Inventory: 51 listings
• View 1LT FWD listings

2LT FWD — "Who It's For"

The 2LT FWD caters to those who want a more powerful engine and additional luxury features, making it a great choice for a more spirited drive.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 9 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 2LT FWD listings

Premier FWD — "Who It's For"

The Premier FWD is for buyers seeking a fully loaded sedan with all the latest tech and comfort features, perfect for those who want the best.

• Avg. market price: $9,900 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 27 listings
• View Premier FWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — LS FWD

With 91 active listings, the LS FWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup, offering great value and features.

Browse LS FWD listings

Best Budget Option — LS FWD

At $9,900 avg market price — below the lineup median of $9,900 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse LS FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — LS FWD

The LS FWD offers the best fuel efficiency in the lineup with 27/37 MPG/MPGe.

Browse LS FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu cost?

Prices have softened 4.27% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,390 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu earns a 4.3/5 user rating and a 7.7/10 expert rating, which points to a well-liked used midsize sedan. You get a redesigned cabin, a more modern feel, and a stronger mix of tech and safety features than the Malibu had before. Reviewers also repeatedly praise the smooth ride, useful everyday practicality, and features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Malibu’s 9/10 Technology score is the standout strength. With 26.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Owners rate it 4.3/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

Drivers commonly describe the Malibu as a decent, dependable everyday car with a smooth ride and useful features, and some call it a solid choice for a secondary car. The expert review also emphasizes that the redesign brought a more modern, better-equipped package that should be easier to live with over time. The performance write-up adds that the base engine is wholly capable and benefits from the car’s weight loss, which supports confidence in day-to-day use. Chevrolet also includes a maintenance perk in the ownership experience through OnStar-connected support features.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that some owners have raised concerns about build quality and acceleration, so condition and maintenance history matter.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

At 50.2% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has had any bodywork or airbag-related repairs. Focus on overall condition, how the car drives, and whether the tech and safety features work as expected. Because this model year was redesigned, you’ll want to make sure the car still feels tight, well assembled, and free of warning lights or electronic glitches.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base L trim keeps things simple with keyless entry and ignition, cloth upholstery, cruise control, air conditioning, and steel wheels, while the LS adds alloy wheels, automatic headlights, 4G connectivity, MyLink, a rear-view camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 1LT adds LED running lights, heated mirrors, an 8-way power driver’s seat, satellite radio, rear ventilation, and 17-inch alloy wheels, while the 2LT and Premier bring the larger engine and more upscale equipment. If you want the best value, the LS and 1LT are the trims that most clearly add everyday usefulness without pushing too far upmarket.
• Powertrain: The base 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is paired with a 6-speed automatic and is tuned for efficiency and adequate punch, while the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the 2LT and Premier is the stronger choice if you want quicker acceleration and a more energetic feel.
• Safety package: Two Driver Confidence packages add automatic headlights, parking sensors front and rear, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure intervention, forward collision intervention, and a self-parking system. Some of those features are not standard on every trim, so check carefully before you buy.
• Infotainment: Lower trims use a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Premier gets an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the Malibu’s tech story, but you should verify that the system works properly in the specific car you’re considering.
• Fuel efficiency: The base engine returns 27 mpg city/37 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, while the 2.0-liter turbo returns 22/33/26.

Which 2016 Chevrolet Malibu trim should I buy?

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is offered in 5 trim levels: L, LS, 1LT, 2LT, Premier.

Here's the short version:

• L: This is the simplest way into the Malibu, with keyless entry and ignition, cloth upholstery, cruise control, air conditioning, and steel wheels. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost entry point and do not need much beyond basic transportation.
• LS: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds alloy wheels, automatic headlights, 4G connectivity, MyLink, a rear-view camera, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you want the Malibu’s modern tech without stretching too far, this is the trim to target.
• 1LT: This trim adds a more upscale feel with LED running lights, heated mirrors, an 8-way power driver’s seat, satellite radio, rear ventilation, and 17-inch alloy wheels. It suits you if you want a nicer daily driver and are willing to pay a bit more for comfort and convenience.
• 2LT: This is the step up for buyers who want the stronger 2.0-liter engine, an 8-speed automatic, dual exhaust tips, and 18-inch wheels. Choose it if performance matters more to you than maximizing fuel economy.
• Premier: This is the most luxurious version, with leather front seats, full power adjustment, heat and ventilation, driver memory settings, remote ignition, a heated steering wheel, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, wireless charging, navigation, and a Bose stereo. It is the right pick if you want the most features and the most upscale Malibu experience.

The safety packages add meaningful equipment, so check whether the car you’re considering has the Driver Confidence features you want.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 26.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,390 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.27% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 50.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $9,503, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu's resale value?

The current average of $9,614 sits slightly below last year's $10,043.

That softer pricing suggests the Malibu has already absorbed some of its depreciation, which can help future resale stability if you buy at the right price. If you shop carefully now, you may have less downside left than a buyer who paid closer to the prior-year average. The model’s broad appeal as a practical midsize sedan should help keep demand steady, especially for well-kept examples with desirable equipment.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.3/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu safe?

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu earns five-star ratings overall from NHTSA, with a four-star rollover rating.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Malibu includes a standard safety suite with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, dual front knee airbags, front and rear side airbags, side curtain airbags, and OnStar with automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door-lock access, and stolen-vehicle assistance and recovery. The available Driver Confidence packages add automatic headlights, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure intervention, forward collision intervention, and self-parking. If you want the most advanced driver-assistance features, make sure the specific trim you’re considering includes the right package.

Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 26.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 50.2% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.27% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.3/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The redesign brought a more modern cabin, stronger tech, and better safety features.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $10,602, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $9,614 average.
• It builds on the redesign with a more refined, well-rounded family-sedan feel.

The bottom line: If you want the lower price and a strong value proposition, the 2016 is the smarter buy. If you can spend more for a slightly newer example, the 2017 is the better path for shoppers who want to stay closer to the model’s refined redesign.

How does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu compare to the 2016 Toyota Camry?

Our experts score the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 7.7/10 and the 2016 Toyota Camry 7.2/10.

The Malibu gives you the lower average used price, stronger city and highway fuel economy, and a higher expert score. The Camry counters with more horsepower, a higher good-and-great-deal share, and a larger pool of listings. If you want the better value and more modern tech feel, the Malibu is the more compelling pick; if you want a pricier but more powerful mainstream sedan, the Camry is worth a look.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.