Source: Chevrolet.com
The all-new 2016 Chevy Malibu 2LZ definitely turned some heads while I had it earlier this month. Styled in ‘Blue Velvet Metallic’ (the name is very accurate) with an ash gray leather interior and dark wood grain had one person asking me if it was a Jaguar. The sleek lines and shortened back end certainly stand out and create a look that is elegant yet slightly sporty.
I love that this car has come around again with an even better design than previous models. Almost ten years ago now I started writing about cars and the Chevy Malibu was my first foray into this arena. We have both come pretty far since that time.
Source: Victoria Mason
Exterior
Right away there is a noticeable difference to the newly redesigned Chevy Malibu. It sits lower to the ground and no longer looks like a boring family sedan. No, it has sleek exterior lines that asks to be noticed and 19-inch alloy wheels that offer a comfortable ride. To me, this Malibu is all about the details. The door handles with the chrome trim feel nice to the touch and look fabulous.
Interior
On the inside the same flow and superb style shines through with soft leather heated seats and a leather wrapped heated steering wheel. The gear shift knob is comfortable to the touch while the cup holders and console storage are adequately sized for two upfront passengers. I loved the slightly hidden phone charging station set just underneath the console storage. It worked quickly and kept my phone from sliding around or being a distracting temptation while driving. Smart move, Chevy.
I quickly fell in love with the 8″ touchscreen display. It was not only easy to use, but attractive and there were no glitches during my use. The car has Bluetooth streaming and Apple CarPlay capability in the Malibu too and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi HotSpot as well as Sirius XM radio. The Bose 9- speaker audio system was pure joy. Add in the fact that the Malibu offers a quiet ride with little outside noise and you can really enjoy whatever it is you are listening to at any time.
The backseat (60/40 split) has ample leg room for adults. The wheelbase is now 4 inches longer than the previous model making it a serious competitor with other cars in this segment. I found the removable inserts in the door storage areas to be an added bonus when you have little hands that like to store tiny toys or snack crumbs in them. Cleaning was a snap.
Can we talk about the trunk now? Its size surprised me. I forgot that it was my daughters preschool bike day and I was on carpool duty. I had to load two bikes (see photo above) into the trunk of the Malibu and I still had room on the sides to fit a few small bags. Call me impressed.
Drive Factor
I’m a fan of sedans so long as they offer a ride that is smooth and quiet. The Chevy Malibu 2LZ delivers. While I found acceleration to be slower than I anticipated it wasn’t a deterrent. The longer I drove the car the more I enjoyed driving it. It offers pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and semi-automatic parking assist. The blind spot alert with lane change alert was incredibly helpful without being distracting. There is also a sensor indicator for following distance.
In the End
The 2016 Chevy Malibu 2LZ created a peaceful driving atmosphere that my whole family enjoyed. This midsize sedan is available in four main trim levels: L, LS, LT and Premeir (the one I tested). Engine options of a standard turbocharged 1.5 liter, 4-cylinder or a turbocharged 2.0 liter both offer better fuel economy. A hybrid model is also available. MSRP as tested is $34,285 with a base model starting at $21,625 MSRP. As far as midsize sedans go there is a lot of value and enjoyability to be had in this new Chevy Malibu.
*Disclosure: TMC was not compensated for this post. All opinions are 100% my own. Cars provided by esi.
