4 out of 5 stars
Safe, Reliable, Great Car
by Randy
from Bismarck, ND
on Mon Dec 20 2010
It's been an excellent car overall. Have 58K miles right now and the only problem I've ever had is some exhaust gasket that needed to be replaced for $50 (which included labor).
This is actually my second Malibu. - had an '04 that was totalled before my '06. Both cars were identical, except the look of the steering wheel.
I feel very safe in my Malibu after personally experiencing it during a serious crash that totaled my '04. I was hit from the rear and passenger side, but barely even felt the impacts.
It does have kinda bland styling, especially the exterior, but it's not ugly either.
It handles very well, even during North Dakota winters. The 3.5L V6 has more than enough power for merging and passing and gets as good of gas mileage as many 4 cylinders do.
It has many features that weren't so common back then, like an oil life monitor, average fuel economy, exterior temperature display, etc. I also love the TAPShift manual shifting ability. I use it a lot during winter to downshift when going downhill and turning corners.
The factory stereo is one of the best I've ever heard for a family sedan - although the rear speakers aren't the greatest. They sound a bit "spongy". I find that the smaller front door speakers actually have better sound.
I do wish it has an Aux input jack, and replacing the factory stereo isn't cheap if you want to keep the DIC - which is used through the stereo.
Just a side note... most of the bad reviews I've read are about the Maxx. Not sure why there'd be that big of a difference, but it is something I've noticed.
I can't give it a perfect 5-star rating because no car is perfect, but it's definitely close.
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
4 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
4 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
34 out of 34 people found this review helpful. Did you?
4 out of 5 stars
Love it so much I bought it twice!
by Chevygirl
from Indiana
on Tue Mar 12 2013
I absolutely ADORE my 2006 Malibu. I had one once before, but someone mixed antifreeze in the wrong part under the hood and caused a head gasket issue, so not Chevy's fault. Before that, it had 166k on it and rolled like a champ.After that, I bought the one I drive now, which is great too. Fast, great on gas, even when the gas prices go up I have no problem getting a half tank with like 15 dollars. No one talks about this much, but these cars have an awesome factory sound system. It sounds great! I would definitely recommend this car to anyone!
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
3 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
22 out of 22 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
Reliable Car!
by Colts1812
from Versailles, IN
on Mon Jun 05 2017
Overall this has been a good car! I bought it used with 163,000 miles on it! Nothing but regular maintenance! Three recalls which were fixed at no cost to me! This is a good little car! I have over 245,000 miles on it now owning it for over 4 years now!
4 out of 5 starsComfort
4 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
4 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Did you?
4 out of 5 stars
Not a bad used car
by Malibu Owner
from Ceredo, WV
on Sat Aug 20 2011
I bought my 2006 Malibu used in 2009. The car has been very reliable since I bought it. It has a peppy
four cylinder engine that allows me to quickly pass
cars. However, the interior quality is on the cheap
side, and the fuel level sensor has gone bad which
leaves the fuel gauge useless. The sensor problem
is supposedly typical for 04-06 Malibus.
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
3 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
4 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
06 malibu LT V6
by gman
from Columbia, tn
on Mon Mar 22 2010
bought the car new in 2006, have 42000 miles on it and still love the car. Average 25 mpg in town driving and have gotten as high as 39 on long freeway trips, Car is comfortable and Quiet. Great Car
5 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
5 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
4 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
As good as the imports
by LikeGM
from Chanhassen, MN
on Thu Jun 11 2009
We just purchased a used 2006 Malibu LT V6. So far we love it, the first tank of gas we got 27 mpg in mixed driving, 3 mpg better than the 1998 I4 Malibu we traded in.
The car looks great very attractive design, the build quality is as good as Hondas and Toyotas that friends have. The engine is smooth and quiet, the ride is very controled and comfortable. I like the interior design very much, I do think the seat fabric isn't very attractive but does look better in person than it does in pictures. Between the tilt and telescopic steering wheel and height adjustable seat anyone should be able to find a comfortable position.
The interior is very spacious, more so than the previous Malibu and the newest Malibu. The electric steering has a little numb but very effortless. I really like the inovations, the electric steering, the drive by wire throttle, a truly modern car.
It has a lot of nice comfort touches, the automatic headlights, the remote start, auto locking doors, exterior lighting on door unlock. So many nice touches it's almost on par with my Buick Rendezvous CXL.
All told we love this car and highly recommend it.
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
4 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
greaaaattt
by jazzy
from mi
on Tue Aug 03 2010
Love it! Great on gas and very comfy! Can't wait to drive it in the winter time. I would recomment this car to anyone
5 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
5 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
Will always be a chevy person
by Jacob
from North Alabama.
on Wed Jan 09 2013
I've put 155k miles on my 2006 Malibu and the only thing I've had to do to it was replace the struts. This is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I would recommend this car to anyone!
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
4 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
4 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
4 out of 5 stars
Love my Malibu
by Big Blue
from New Jersey
on Tue Nov 01 2011
I am very happy with my purchase, the car is comfortable and reliable, has power and looks good. I would definately buy another Chevy my favorite brand, nothing like American engineering.
4 out of 5 starsComfort
4 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
3 out of 5 starsInterior Design
4 out of 5 starsReliability
4 out of 5 starsPerformance
3 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
283,000 miles and still running just fine.
by Beckidge
from NC
on Sun Nov 26 2017
Best car I have ever owned. It has 283,000 miles and never had a major problem. Keep my oil changed. Not as pretty as it once was due to hauling grandkids and my dog but still going.
4 out of 5 starsComfort
5 out of 5 starsValue for the Money
4 out of 5 starsInterior Design
5 out of 5 starsReliability
5 out of 5 starsPerformance
5 out of 5 starsExterior Styling
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?