The Chevrolet Malibu started as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) hot rod in 1964, and the muscular Malibu went through a few generations with rumbly V8 engines and 300-plus horsepower. In the 1970s, Chevrolet successfully campaigned the Malibu in NASCAR, but the car was made noticeably smaller in the late 1970s thanks to stricter fuel economy standards. In 1983, Chevrolet halted the production of the RWD Malibu.

However, in the late 1990s, the Bowtie realized it didn’t have anything to compete in the midsize sedan market, and Toyota and Honda were walking away with the sales. So, in 1997, Chevrolet brought back the Malibu nameplate, this time as a front-wheel drive (FWD) model positioned as a family sedan. This is the era we’ll concentrate on.

The Malibu was introduced to much acclaim. It is currently one of only two cars offered by Chevrolet, sitting next to the tiny Chevy Spark. It’s offered for 2022 in LS, RS, LT, and Premier trims. The three lower trims get a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the Malibu Premier gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mill with a nine-speed automatic. For 2022, the Chevy Malibu starts at $23,400 not including destination.

Generations: Five

• Chevrolet Malibu 5th generation
• Chevrolet Malibu 4th generation
• Chevrolet Malibu 3rd generation
• Chevrolet Malibu 2nd generation
• Chevrolet Malibu 1st generation

Pros: Good value, roomy cabin, intuitive infotainment (current generation)
Cons: It’s never looked good, less refined than competitors, engine options can be sluggish

Chevrolet Malibu Fifth Generation: (2016-2022)

The latest generation was met with strong reviews, but some people thought the Malibu wasn’t quite as refined as competitors like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Still, the FWD Malibu got a sleeker design with a longer wheelbase and overall length. Three power plants were offered for 2016, as well as a plethora of new technology. The Malibu was available in L, LS, LT, and Premier trims, and also as a hybrid model.

The Malibu Hybrid paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 76-kW electric motor for a total output of 182 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. As an added bonus, the hybrid delivers an EPA fuel economy rating of 46 miles per gallon combined. Also on tap for this year was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, this engine only returned 26 mpg combined.

The standard engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This power plant returned 30 mpg combined, but reviewers found this combination produced lackluster acceleration.

The 2016 Malibu offered a decent array of safety and driver-assistance features, though none were standard. Depending on the trim, the Malibu had lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and front and rear park assist.

The Chevy MyLink infotainment system ran on a 7-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but an 8-inch screen was optional on upper trims and standard on Premier trim. Curiously, only Apple CarPlay was compatible on the 8-inch screen at the beginning of 2016, with Android Auto coming later.

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu started at $22,500 including destination.

In 2017, Chevrolet added a nine-speed automatic transmission to the Malibu’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, and the Redline Edition appearance package became an option for LT models in 2019. The 2019 model year also saw the revision of front and rear fascias and the introduction of the sporty Chevrolet Malibu RS trim. The new Infotainment 3 system made its debut on a standard 8-inch touchscreen, and the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine got a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Chevrolet dropped the hybrid powertrain in 2020 and added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity in 2021.

Chevrolet Malibu Fourth Generation (2013-2015)

Chevrolet said the fourth-generation Malibu had the DNA from its muscle-clad siblings, the Camaro and Corvette, though that seems to be a bit of a reach. Available in LS, LT, and LTZ trims as well as the Malibu Eco, the midsize car was an improvement from the last generation, but it still lagged behind heavy hitters like the Camry and Accord.

The Malibu Eco mated the eAssist technology, a kind of hybrid technology with a 15-kW motor-generator and a 115V lithium-ion battery, to a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine. Together they produced 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. While it returned an EPA-estimated 36 miles per gallon on the highway, that dropped to 29 mpg combined.

Other engine options included a 2.5-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder engine with 197 ponies and 191 pound-feet of torque or a 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec 4-cylinder engine with 259 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All three power plants were mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

For 2013, the Malibu had a few cool safety features, like available lane-departure warning and forward-collision alert. A rear view camera was also available. Inside, the 7-inch radio display on the upper trims flipped up to reveal a storage cubby, and the MyLink system offered navigation.

Even though the Malibu had just been revamped for 2013, the following year brought a few new features. In 2014, the 2.0-liter turbo engine was retuned to produce 295 pound-feet of torque and the 2.5-liter engine offered stop/start technology, the first for an American midsize sedan. Chevy retuned the chassis and suspension a bit to improve the ride, while the front end got a bit of an appearance tweak. Finally, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert were available this year, as were Siri Eyes Free and Text-to-Voice features for easier communication on the go.

With 2015 came 4G LTE and a built-in WiFi hotspot.

Chevrolet Malibu Third Generation (2008-2012)

Chevrolet was partnered with Saturn at this time, and the fifth-generation Malibu shared its platform with the Saturn Aura. It was available in four trim levels: LS, 1LT, 2LT, and LTZ. The base model was outfitted with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 169 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque, with a four-speed automatic. However, higher trims could get a 3.6-liter V6 with 252 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic. At one point, Chevy offered the six-speed with the smaller engine on the LTZ trim only.

2008 also marked the debut of the Malibu Hybrid. This model sported a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a tiny electric motor that together produced only 169 horsepower. It wasn’t particularly efficient, with an EPA combined fuel rating of 29 miles per gallon, just three more than the non-hybrid Malibu.

Reviewers praised the 2008 Malibu for its myriad improvements over the previous generation but still noted that it faced heavy competition from the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry. The fifth generation got better interior materials and improved fit and finish, but there was no dual-zone climate control or navigation system.

In 2009, Chevrolet added Bluetooth connectivity to the Malibu and expanded the availability of the six-speed automatic transmission. By 2010, the six-speed was standard on all but the base model, and in 2011, it was standard across the board. Some new option packages were added in 2012.

Chevrolet Malibu Second Generation (2004-2007)

For 2004, the Malibu rode on the Epsilon platform shared with the Saab 9-3 and was available in Base, LS, and LT trims. The lowest model was equipped with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 145 ponies and 155 pound-feet of torque, while the Malibu LS and LT got a 3.5-liter V6 with 200 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. Both were mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Malibu was widely praised for its roomy cabin and its nifty remote start feature. However, the car was one of the lowest-powered vehicles in the class. In 2004, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Chevrolet Malibu started at $18,370 not including destination.

In the same year, Chevrolet also introduced the Malibu Maxx, a kind of long-wheelbase, station wagon-esque version of the sedan, paired with the 3.5-liter engine.

2005 saw no changes to the Malibu, but Chevy shuffled its trims around the following year. The base was now the Malibu LS, the middle model was dubbed the Chevrolet Malibu LT, and the top trim was the LTZ. The Malibu also gained a performance SS trim with a 3.9-liter V6 that made 240 horsepower and 241 pound-feet of torque. In 2007, the 3.5-liter V6 got a power bump to 217 horsepower and an equal amount of torque.

Chevrolet Malibu First Generation (1997-2003)

The first generation of the front-wheel drive Malibu arrived to great acclaim. It was a contender for the North American Car of the Year, Motor Trend named it the Car of the Year for 1997, and AAA dubbed the Malibu the best car to buy in the $15,000-$20,000 range.

For 1997, the Malibu’s base model came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that made 150 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The LS trim got a 3.1-liter V6—that only produced 155 ponies, but it went big on torque, with 185 pound-feet. This larger engine was also available as an option on the base model.

The Malibu was nothing great to look at, but it had a few innovative standard features, like automatic daytime running lights and headlights, a dash-mounted ignition switch, and a cupholder on the left-hand side of the instrument cluster.

The Malibu remained largely the same for the next two years, but got a bit of a facelift for the millennium. The front fascia was revised with some styling cues similar to the Chevrolet Impala. The 3.1-liter V6 was the only engine available, bumped to 170 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, and mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 2001 Malibu got automatic headlight on/off, but the car remained largely the same for the 2002 and 2003 model years.