Published: 05/17/2012
What's New for 2013
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has been completely redesigned. The mild-hybrid Eco model debuts first, while the regular lineup of trims and their standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder arrive in the summer of 2012. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder upgrade engine should arrive some time later in the year.
Introduction
"Close but no cigar." This saying could be applied pretty easily to the most recent Chevy Malibu, a family sedan that was pretty good in most respects but never went far enough to receive "best-in-class" status. The fully redesigned 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, however, with its added refinement, feature content and efficiency, finally becomes a top-tier model.
The Malibu's improvement is immediately evident once you take a seat inside. Even lesser-equipped Malibus enjoy an abundance of sound deadening, soft-touch materials, high-quality switchgear and an attractive appearance. The controls -- dominated by a touchscreen in all but the base LS trim -- are a bit more complicated than the outgoing car's, but then the 2013 Malibu is also available with a lot more equipment to control. Chevy's new MyLink system connects your smartphone to the car via a USB jack and/or the Bluetooth system, allowing for not only hands-free calling, but audio connectivity and Internet music streaming as well. The Malibu is also available with a navigation system for the first time.
In terms of size, the new Malibu is wider than the outgoing car, which results in more shoulder and hiproom. However, the wheelbase has shrunk, and that means a little less rear legroom than most other midsize family sedans provide. Still, we can't say many people will notice. Overall, the Malibu is more spacious than before, and only the tallest drivers will leave rear occupants with squished knees.
As for what's under the hood, the new Malibu will debut first with a new "Eco" setup. This pairs a rather unrefined 2.4-liter four-cylinder with a mild-hybrid system that adds some electric-motor assistance during acceleration, but primarily powers an auto stop/start system as well as certain vehicle accessories that would normally draw power from the engine-run alternator. This, in addition to aerodynamic improvements, allows the Malibu Eco to achieve an impressive 29 mpg combined fuel economy estimate from the EPA. Still it's worth noting that this figure is only 1 mpg better than what the four-cylinder-powered Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry achieve.
However, the 2013 Chevy Malibu will feature a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder as standard equipment starting in summer 2012, with an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine arriving later in the year. (The turbocharged engine will likely serve as the car's V6 equivalent.) Official horsepower and fuel economy numbers were not available at the time of this writing, but with more power and likely more refinement than the Eco can muster, these should be the engines to get.
Given the wealth of other benefits that come with the 2013 Malibu, we think Chevrolet has risen to become a top choice for a midsize family sedan. It joins the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat as a model to consider heavily. Quite simply, the new Malibu feels like a more premium product. Forget "close but no cigar." The new 2013 Chevy Malibu will easily be taking home a Cohiba or two.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan is currently available in a single Eco trim. However, there will be LS, LT and LTZ trims that debut in the summer of 2012.
Standard equipment on the Eco includes 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, OnStar, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Chevrolet MyLink smartphone integration (includes voice controls, Pandora and Sticher Internet radio compatibility), a touchscreen infotainment interface and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.
A sunroof is a stand-alone option. The Power Convenience package adds remote ignition, an eight-way power driver seat (with four-way adjustable lumbar), a rearview camera and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Premium Audio package includes the Power Convenience items along with foglamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an upgraded Pioneer sound system. The Leather package includes the contents from both of the previous two packages and adds leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Navigation package includes all of the above, along with a navigation system and driver memory functions. This all-or-nothing packaging method means it's tricky to keep the price down and get exactly what you want.
Powertrains and Performance
Eventually, the 2013 Chevy Malibu will come with a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder or an optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder.
The Malibu Eco model comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired to a six-speed automatic transmission and a small electric motor. It produces 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Unlike full-hybrid models, the mild-hybrid Malibu Eco cannot propel itself using electricity alone. Instead, the motor modestly aids acceleration, powers vehicle accessories instead of the alternator and enables an automatic stop/start system that shuts off the car at traffic lights to conserve fuel.
The 2.5-liter engine (late availability) generates 197 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. It, too, is paired with a six-speed automatic. Specifications for the 2.0-liter turbo engine aren't yet available.
In Edmunds performance testing, the Malibu Eco went from zero to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which is quicker than average for a four-cylinder family sedan. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. These numbers are slightly better than the thriftiest four-cylinder family sedans, but far less than what you'd get from a full hybrid sedan.
Safety
The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front knee airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and OnStar emergency communications. Rear side airbags will be standard on all Malibus starting in the summer.
In Edmunds brake testing, an Eco stopped from 60 mph in 119 feet, which is a few feet better than average. As for crash safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Malibu its best possible rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.
Interior Design and Special Features
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu stands out from the crowd with a cabin that verges on entry-level luxury territory. The look is attractive, there is an abundance of soft-touch materials and the various buttons and knobs feel substantial. The control layout may be more complicated than the outgoing Malibu, but it's actually been simplified considerably compared to other recent Chevrolets, such as the Equinox and Volt. The touchscreen standard on most models supports GM's new MyLink system, which works pretty well and allows the driver to customize the menu structure (just as you would on an iPhone) and stream music using Internet radio services.
In terms of comfort and space, the new Malibu is a mixed bag. The front seats are comfortable and the available power driver seat provides a wide range of adjustability for even tall drivers. In back, the Malibu's increased width for 2013 creates more shoulder and hiproom, but the shrunken wheelbase means less legroom. Unlike in most of its competitors, taller drivers will have to scoot their seat up a bit in order to make room for folks in back. To be fair, it'll be big enough for most, but rivals are nevertheless superior in terms of maximum rear legroom.
The Malibu Eco's trunk boasts 14.3 cubic feet even with the rearmost portion taken up by the car's compact lithium-ion battery. This is an acceptable number, but the trunk's space is oddly shaped. Also, while the Eco still manages to provide a pass-through into the interior, the aperture is small and located in the upper left corner of the trunk. We suppose it's better than nothing, but we also can't imagine how useful it would be.
Driving Impressions
Chevrolet put a lot of effort into giving the new 2013 Malibu a supremely quiet cabin, and it was certainly a successful mission. This on-road serenity is particularly appreciated on the highway, where the Malibu offers a well-composed ride that dampens bumps without making you feel isolated from the driving experience. Handling is about what you'd expect for a family sedan -- confidence-inspiring, but we wouldn't call it fun. The steering is responsive enough and offers an appropriate amount of weighting, but provides little in the way of feel.
The Eco model's quasi-hybrid system operates seamlessly, rarely reminding the driver of its part electrification. For instance, when the engine shuts off automatically when the car comes to a stop, you don't get as much of the telltale shudder when it turns back on as is common to most auto stop/start systems. Unfortunately, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder that provides a majority of the motivation here (the electric motor provides limited assistance) sounds unrefined and feels sluggish, despite acceleration numbers that are strong for the class. The culprit is the transmission, which is eager to reach top gear and recalcitrant to kick down when needed. While this model's fuel economy is impressive, we'd probably stick with the 2.5-liter.
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