2006 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews

Good Car for the Price After 2 years

Written by: lizzard on 05/19/2008

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 4A)

Review

This car is a nice size and the interior looks better than my Geo. I really like the faux wood look. I like the boxy look better than the previous Malibus. The MPG (about 26/32) has served me well in the last several months. I mostly drive to and from work and church and have only gone on 3 or 4 long trips. I have the bare bones version, so no OnStar or sunroof or ABS, but the car still runs very well. There is a rattle in the dash and my friend told me she heard a rattle in the back on top after she sat back there. The sun visor on the driver side does not go up properly. I haven't asked about getting anything fixed though. I miss manual trans sometimes, but overall this car makes me happy

Favorite Features

Cruise control, price, MPG, comfortable, roomy, dependability, power windows and locks

Suggested Improvements

Rattling noise fix, sun visor fix

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I have 2

Written by: rcran on 05/08/2008

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I have 2 '06 LS models bought a month apart. The only difference on mine is traction loc and ABS. I get 32mpg ave. city/hywy combined. My other one gets 34mpg combined. Mine has 35k the other is a little over 40k. Only problems have been to replace a sensor, and turn the front rotors on one and a replacement rod in the steering on the other, oh and one tail light...all covered by warranty. Great little car, lousy Bridgestone OE tires. Barely enough grip, the one with 40k+ will get new shoes soon.

Favorite Features

Easy to steer and steering wheel tilts and goes in and out. Front and side air bags.

Suggested Improvements

Better OE tires, both of mine have the same Bridgestones and they are barely adequate. Needs two more speakers and lumbar support for both front seats.

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Nice car but has some problems

Written by: bryan on 04/10/2008

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)

Review

Have 70k miles on it, has a rattle that wont quit, remote start works most of the time but is getting worse, turns over just isnt firing. Electric power steering has completely quit working on a 250 mile trip, started working 10 miles from the dealership, quit working again today from work to home, they said since I have been reporting lots of the same problems they will fix it. They also told me one time at 40,000k that my injectors were leaking, they don't even now how the car works that they make, it idles high in mornings or when it's cold to warm up faster, and they wanted me to pay for it, it also eats the inside of the front tires like candy since it was new.

Favorite Features

Sunroof, gas mileage

Suggested Improvements

Fix the problems they know about

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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not a good deal in the long run

Written by: horribu on 04/08/2008

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I leased a 2006 Malibu in July of 06 and have currently only put 18,000 miles on it. It has already had significant transmission problems and suspension and steering problems. The windshield leaks, the cd player broke, the interior trim was gouged by a cardboard box! I am dissappointed in every way with this car. Initially I liked the exterior styling and the price, but I truly wish I had gotten something else. Now I am stuck with this car that is not as good as used cars I drove in college until my lease is up. I recently purchased a 2nd car from Nissan that is vastly Superior in quality and was the same price

Favorite Features

If I have to pick a "favorite" thing about this vehicle it would be exterior styling.

Suggested Improvements

It doesn't matter what improvements were made with the 08 Malibu, since I am not planning on purchasing another GM vehicle (even though I get the employee discount) I suppose it all comes down to poor quality though.

0 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Doesn't stand out, but very good overall

Written by: Submariner on 01/05/2008

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)

Review

After six months of ownership, I am very pleased with my 2006 Malibu LT V6. My two previous cars were a 1998 Malibu LS V6, and then a 2002 Ford Taurus SE. Compared to the 98, this picks up where they left off, the engine, going from the 3.1L to the 3.5L is great! The fuel mileage is fantastic (I average 450 miles out of a 16-gal tank on pure highway driving, whereas the Taurus was lucky to get 400 out of an 18-gal tank, and the Taurus had a smaller engine!) I thought the engine-transmission combination on the Malibu could use some extra gears, to keep up with the competition, but the transmission in the 2006 Malibu mates beautifully and provides excellent power on demand.

Favorite Features

Interior fit & finish is a step in the right direction, the 2006 refresh steering wheel, chrome gauge & radio/climate control trim really set off the all- black interior. Ergonomics are great as well as the tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Great for long trips, awesome gas mileage.

Suggested Improvements

Could benefit from standard power seats and foglights on the LT trim at the least. Also, would be nice with more gears on the transmission.

7 out 8 people found this review helpful

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Snow white dream

Written by: midlife love on 11/09/2007

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu SS 4dr Sedan (3.9L 6cyl 4A)

Review

This gem was the end result of a trade-in after a recent purchase of a mini-van. I can’t say enough about this car. Super reliable and low maintenance. Great interior and exterior. Spoiler, sunroof, remote start, aluminum rims with 18” tires, 6-disk cd changer with XM radio, cruise control, leather/ cloth seats, leather steering wheel, and room for 5. Great car for any age. Sporty and family friendly. Great & fun drive. Super comfortable. 23-mpg city and 29-mpg highway driving 65 mph. I would buy this Super Sport again and again.

Favorite Features

Great interior & exterior. Low maintenance. Super Sassy (SS).

Suggested Improvements

Could improve on gas mileage. Wouldn't mind trading the XM radio for a HD system.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Totally surprised

Written by: chev fan on 10/28/2007

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I'd would like to say if you want a v6 with power that doesn't clean out the wallet. The Chevy Malibu LT v6 is the way to go. We get about 34.5 mpg going 65 mph on the highway. Great quality sound and remote start you can't beat specially in the cold. Sharp looking car and great gas miliage. New body style is totally upgraded from last. I would buy this car again.

Favorite Features

Solid ride. Great gas mileage

Suggested Improvements

Power seats

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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What a disappointment

Written by: Hate Chevys Now on 10/14/2007

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu SS 4dr Sedan (3.9L 6cyl 4A)

Review

Wow! I loved the style. I loved the deal. But like mama always said "that which is too good to be true, probably is". After 8 trips to the dealer, they are finally replacing the steering colunm, brake rotors, tie rod ends, ball joints, and brake rotors. These have all gone bad within the 16215 miles I have driven this year. This car rattles, shakes and shimmys its way down the road with great style. Too bad it has a four speed auto when most others have a 6spd auto. I cannot wait to get rid of this car, but its value is still plummeting like a comet falling from the sky. If build quality and rattles with no hint of dealer help do not bother you, please buy mine, it is for sale.

Favorite Features

XM radio, Sunroof, exterior style.

Suggested Improvements

Bad quality, poor dealer support, poor reliability.

5 out 6 people found this review helpful

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2006 Malibu-"Just a Car"

Written by: dannielle boilard on 08/24/2007

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I traded my 2002 Olds Intrigue for the 2006 Malibu which is a roomy small car. It is very light and blows around on the highway...over 100 kph is almost dangerous. I don't drive on the freeway because I can't keep up with the regular flow of traffic which is faster than that. I saved some money by trading in my Olds, but I know that I traded my Automobile for "just a car". It is way below the standard of comfort and performance that I was used to. I can't wait for the lease to end so that I can get rid of it.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Make the Malibu heavier, more aerodynamic so that it is not all over the road when being driven at highway speeds.

5 out 11 people found this review helpful

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Fastest Mid Size Car I Ever Drove

Written by: steve,douglass on 08/13/2007

Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I had the car a month. I love it. I like the handling, the style, the performance, and the quick pick up on the highway. And all the standard features which got me the most. It is a very sporty looking and very classy looking as well. The interior is very comfortable, more comfortablel than the Camry. For a 6 cyclinder car the gas mileage is not as bad as I thought it would be. Bottom line it's a great car and I highly recommend it.

Favorite Features

Auto start heated seats. OnStar steering wheel mounted audio controls. It is so much safer to change the station and select the songs on the CD you want. The fog lamps, the automatic climate control. The rearview auto-dimming, with the eight-point compass. Heated outside mirrors, the adjustable pedals.

Suggested Improvements

The steering wheel on the LTZ and the on on the SS should be both the same 3 spoke sport wheel. Also i thing the LTZ should come with a standard 6 disc in dash CD changer.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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