2013 Chevrolet Malibu Review by Cars.com Staff

2013 Chevrolet Malibu

Starting MSRP $21,995–$29,700

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By Cars.com Staff

Cars.com National May 7, 2012

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet's Malibu midsize sedan received a complete redesign for the 2013 model year. It features three new powertrain choices, a fresh appearance and selection of new safety and entertainment features. The all-new Malibu is Chevrolet's first global midsize sedan, sold in nearly 100 countries around the globe. Available in LS, LT, LTZ and Eco trim levels, the five-seat Malibu competes with the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.

(Skip to details on the: Malibu Eco)

Exterior

The 2013 Malibu has a completely new exterior. Compared to the previous generation, the new Malibu is slightly shorter but has a broader stance as it's nearly 3 inches wider. Carrying design elements from the Camaro and Corvette sports cars, the Malibu can have dual exhaust tips and high-intensity-discharge headlights. Available active shutters behind the front grille automatically close when conditions allow to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. Exterior features include:

Standard 16-inch alloy wheels; available 17- and 18-inch wheels
Power-adjustable side mirrors with available heating feature
Available rear parking sensors or backup camera
Available power sunroof
Available fog lights

Interior

The Malibu's cabin features a dual-cockpit design with optional blue ambient lighting. Noise-deadening glass and materials help the new Malibu claim the title of the quietest car Chevrolet has ever made.

A unique feature of the 2013 Malibu is its available 7-inch touch-screen display, which can flip up to reveal a hidden storage area for a mobile device, sunglasses or wallet. Trunk volume is up from last year, as the 2013 Malibu has 16.3 cubic feet of cargo room (13.2 cubic feet for the Malibu Eco). Interior features include:

Standard steering-wheel controls for cruise control and stereo
Standard CD stereo
Available heated leather seats
Available power-adjustable seats
Available dual-zone automatic climate control
Available Pioneer premium stereo
Available USB connectivity and Bluetooth streaming audio
Available navigation system
Available MyLink smartphone connectivity

Under the Hood

The Malibu is available with two conventional gas four-cylinder engines, both of which drive the front wheels through an automatic transmission. Mechanical features include:

Standard 197-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that uses regular gas
Available 259-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that prefers premium gas for maximum performance but it's not required
Six-speed automatic transmission

Safety

The 2013 Malibu features 10 standard airbags including knee, side curtain, front-seat side-impact and rear-seat side-impact ones. Additional safety features include:

Antilock brakes
Electronic stability system and traction control
OnStar system
Available lane departure warning system
Available forward-collision alert

Malibu Eco

The Malibu Eco uses a gas/electric powertrain GM calls "eAssist." The mild hybrid system is a re-engineered version of the hybrid powertrain in the outgoing 2012 Malibu. The new system debuted in Buick's LaCrosse for 2012 and combines a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor. Regenerative braking and engine stop-start functionality also help save fuel, but the Eco cannot run solely on battery power. EPA estimates for the Malibu Eco are 25/37 mpg city/highway.

Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, active grille shutters and a 7-inch touch-screen stereo with MyLink. Back to top

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