Used 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews
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Thrilled with this car
I am absolutely thrilled with this car inside and outside! The first thing I noticed was how nicely finished the car is from the outside and how quiet it is on the inside. Having grown up with Corvette's, I opted for the V6 engine, which is plenty of power. Actually, my previous car had 200 horsepower and this is 252. I owned 1997 and 2004 Monte Carlo's and put 100,000 on each without requiring repairs prior to turning them in. Chevy certainly did their homework with this car! It's first rate! My father owns a DTS and always buys Cadillacs, but he thinks this car is fantastic as well.
Holy Cow, What a car
My early impressions of our 09 Malibu is very, very positive. Not only does the 4 cylinder do a good job at pulling this car, it gets very good gas mileage (26 city and 35 highway). Yes there are a couple of "blind spots", however, they're not severe enough to detract from the overall look, inside and out. Plus, the dealership I bought from came up with an aftermarket "SS KIT" and installed it on our car. The kit includes ground effects all the way around, a non working 2nd tailpipe with chrome tip, rear deck spoiler, extra dark tinted windows, and the all important (SS emblem on both front doors and on the trunk. These few cosmetic additions makes it look like a european sports sedan. WOW!
Dissapointed
Purchased car to support American economy and ingenuity after 25 years of foreign purchases. Found that the car has hidden flaws. Rear side panels become detached by a slight push inward. Took it back to dealer and I was told it was designed to come apart at impact. Cannot believe engineers would think this way after decades of safety improvements. The dealer also found out the most of its other Malibus on the lot had the same defect. I am very dissapointed, especially after what I had heard about the vehicle. I am very hesitant to buy "American" again, especially after the local dealer has been very deceptive after discovery of this problem.
Excellent Car
I have owned my Malibu for about two months now.I had wanted one for awhile and we got a good deal on it. It feels like a luxury car for a reasonable price. It has a lot of great features and I haven't had any problems. I've always had GM vehicles and I have never had a reliability problem. This includes an Oldsmobile with 240k miles on it. It has a good amount of pick up (in the v6). In summary this is a great sporty car with a good amount of space in it. It is good for someone with or without children.
Upgrade to the 6 speed
I bought the LS1 version but if I had to do it again (and had more money to spend!) I would buy the 6 speed. The 4 speed is adequate but I think the 6 speed might be peppier. Carefully check your fit and finish. I've discovered that my passenger door isn't properly aligned and that my folding rear seats don't latch properly. All in all it's a pretty smooth riding car and adequate for the usual day to day driving. I wouldn't want to take it on an extended journey though. Maybe the LTX model is more comfy?
Great little car
I like all aspects of this car, mileage ,comfort,quality,reliability instrumentation,etc.
Beats the Imports
Shopped the Malibu against the Fusion and found the LT1 4Cycl 6Auto to be much better; better gas mileage, standard features, interior/exterior look. Thought I had to have the 6 Cycl, but after driving the 4cycl 6auto knew that it was enough. Love that Electronic Stability Control is standard. Even though the Fusion cost a few dollars less, the Malibu had everything I wanted, standard, whereas I would have had to add options to the Fusion. The Malibu feels like a "luxury" auto for under $25,000.
Deceiving
This car is very deceiving. You might read great reviews on this car, but in reality I own this car and I would take back the purchase in a second. I understand where the "Great" reviews come from, but after owning this car after 4 months, it breaks down so quickly. My friend also owns this car and he told me his front console is vert lose and shakey and that his front seat ripped. The SAME exact thing happened to me and my mother. We are also are not happy with the leather/suede in this car. The suede wears down so quickly and stains very easily. The audio system loses its frequency often causing way too often static and loss of the channel. There is an up to this car, the trunk is big!
Really nice car!
We traded in our '03 Malibu LS with 104,000 miles on it. No problems with the car, just miles. Our 09 Malibu 2LT is really nice. I can't get over how much better it handles and how quiet it is. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a well built fun to drive car. Chevy has really put together a nice vehicle!
Try it you'll love it.
This has to be one of the best cars I've ever owned, including a Cadillac CTS. Everything is just perfect on this car. The V-6 has real go power, and I'm averaging 23 MPG in mixed driving. The fit and finish is wonderful. The car is so quiet that I sometimes have to look at the tach to see if it is running at stoplights. All of you import buyers are really missing out on a great car. I tested Toyota and there is no comparison.
Excellent value
I downgraded to this car from a big luxury car, thinking it was time for something more economical and greener. I'm very happy, the car has all of the features as my other car and more, it drives very smoothly and handles very good. I'm amazed with the fuel economy, I haven't average less than 27 mpg, of course I drive mostly highway miles. A part from being smaller than my trade, its very comfortable inside with supportive seats and plenty of room for a car this size, the back seat is comfortable enough, assuming the front seats are not all the way back. So I can safely say I don't miss my old car, I do occasionally miss the power, but that's the compromise you have to make.
6 times in Shop
I have been stranded when vehicle quit w/o warning 4x and acted up 6x. It is going to shop again tomorrow for the 6x. They have replaced wiring harnesses, computer, fuel press. Gauge, engine oil pan, engine cam & actuator valves, air intake assemble, ecm replaced. Car literally lunged forward one night when I was in driveway. Luckily I had my foot on brake or it would of went through my garage door. More problems than the car is worth. Loved it when it runs, but I drive 90 mi. Rt a day and I am getting real tired of all the break- downs! No Wonder gm is going down! Would never buy another gm again. Wife bought used 06 Toyota rav month before and no problems with it. Go figure!
2009 Malibu 2LT 4 cyl
Excellent Car. Rides and handles well. Fuel economy exceeds EPA estimates. It gets an honest 36 mpg on the open road and has an overall average (50/50 city/highway) of 29.5. It is exceedingly quiet from both road and wind noise. Minor gripes are: trunk opening size and no seat height adjustment on passenger seat. Prospective buyers for Camrys and Accords are well advised to drive the Malibu.
A Great Buy
The last three new cars I purchased were Toyota's. But after driving a new Malibu which I had rented from a car rental place for a trip, I fell in love with it. Confort is important for me since I am disabled. After completing our trip, I knew that when it came time to purchase a new car, The Malibu would be the one.
I'd Buy One Again in a Second!
I replaced an old Jeep Cherokee with the Malibu because I needed something with more room and much better gas mileage. I don't regret it for a minute. It drives so much better than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonatas that I test drove. The interior is vault-like quiet, the 2.4 with the 6 speed transmission has plenty of power. The quality feel of the switch gear is first rate! I've been getting 22 mpg in town and between 31-35 on the highway depending on conditions and speed. So what's not to like? I love the looks of this car (LT1), but when I bought this, there was no aluminum wheel option. I understand there is now.
As good as advertised, if not, better.
It is very quiet and comfortable. The interior is top-notch. The ambient lighting is just right. Gas mileage is good, I can get 34 highway, 24 city. The stereo sounds great, great channel separation. I keep hearing bad things about the trunk... the opening is smaller than most, but is large. I fit two adult bikes in the trunk, when I folded the seats down! I don't have to use a bike rack:) If you are thinking of a Camry, or Accord, take a look at this one, because it is indeed quieter than those. The build quality is excellent. The gaps in the body panels are minimal and consistent. The paint job is perfect, with not too much orange-peel, like I've seen on the camry and accord.
So far, So good.
I did a lot of homework and drove a lot of cars before purchasing my Malibu. I am very pleased so far with most everything. It doesn't ride or acclerate like my Caddy, but it is fun to drive, and I can afford to drive over the mountain without taking out a loan for fuel. I don't know what to expect over the long haul with the 6 speed, it does a lot of shifting, but I have 100 K to decide if I want to keep it. I spent more on it than I intended, but I couldn't find some features that I wanted on the LS. Overall, a nice American product.
2009 Malibu LTZ V6
Well have had this car for 3 weeks now and it is impressing me more and more. We looked at all the sedans and chose the Chevy. Exterior is great interior is very good fit and finish (wish it had a rear arm rest) The two tone color grows on us its ebony and brick. QUITE ver Quite much more so than the 04 accord i just sold. engine is strong and gas mileage seems to be in line with the accord v6 25 or so in my commute 70/30 hwy city. would recommend to anyone looking at the accord camry esp with the pricing now. Drive them all and see trust me we were surprised that we ended up at the chevy.
Couldn't be happier
This is the second Malibu we have purchased and we are as happy with this one as previous. Quiet ride with exceptional interior room. Love all the aspects of the car. Have not had any problems with it.
I know why people DO love this car
Everything with this car has been a pleasant experience up to now. We love the interior of this car. The 2 tone look is very elegant looking. The ride is exceptionally quite. The car handles with ease. So far we are getting over 25mpg with mixed city and highway. We have not had any problems with the car up to now.
A win for GM!
This car is absolutely amazing. After taking a long road trip (over 1000 miles)in a Camry recently then driving this Malibu, I have to say there is no comparison. The Malibu felt 10X more premium and was so much more comfortable. The Camry just felt way too cheap in comparison and had no power at all especially when trying to merge on a highway. Highly recommend this car...GM has been on a roll lately!
Expect more from the Malibu
After driving the new Chevrolet Malibu for three months I feel that it is truly a better car than I expected. It is comfortable, quiet and has good road handling characteristics. The fuel economy is good and the 4 cylinder engine is very smooth and quiet. I found the Malibu by accident when renting it for a trip. I am happy I did before buying another foreign car.
Pleasantly Surprised
Looked at Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, and Volkswagen Passat. For the money, this was the best car. More than adequate power for a 4 cyl., extremely quiet at highway speeds, and a very smooth, comfortable ride. Suspension not too hard or soft, just right. Plenty of technology and luxury like comforts in the car (Bluetooth, OnStar, heated seats). First road trip was over 600 miles, averaged about 30-32 mpg, but I tend to drive a little fast. Car was at 80 mph, tachometer wasn't even at 2500. Putting a 6 speed trans in this car was the smartest thing GM ever did. Oh, did I mention, car is just beautiful to look at. This is my first American purchase, and I am extremely impressed.
Love by New Malibu
I am a young married professional that just made my first "new" car purchase in Feb 2009, while upgrading from a small model car. I love this car. It is great to drive, its comfortable in the interior, everything is convenient to get to, the trunk seems huge, and I think the exterior design is amazing. This does not look like a Chevy. After owning a Honda Civic, I told myself I'd never buy a domestic car again, until they started building better quality. Well, the Malibu actually answered this maxim before I thought it would. The fuel economy is just okay, but that's also coming from someone that just got out of a '97 Civic that was still getting 31mpg. I 100% recommend the Malibu.
Extremely impressed and satisfied
The Malibu was the perfect choice for me. Quiet 4cyl., smooth ride,and love the electric steering (seems more precise to me). This car is heavier perhaps that explains why it feels more solid than it's competitors. I prefer the four speed Auto (two less gears to worry about)this car shifts smooth and lack of road noise is delightful. All new car buyer reviews are generally good I hope I still feel this positive about my choice after 30,000 miles but that would apply to any choice you would make.
can't see!
i like most things about this car but I'm SO frustrated with the visibility i'm looking for something to trade for. i can't believe the reviews for this car r so good with the visibility so bad. I'm 5',boyfriend 6'2 and he complains about the visib. also.its hard to get in and out of and half the time the door starts to close and pushes u back into the side of car. don't like how the center air vents in dash blow harder than outside vents.i have stated confidently to friends that i WILL have a wreck in this car because i can't see. its a shame that the visib. issue outweighs all its other pluses.if you r considering this car do some serious test-driving(lots of parking and changing lanes,etc
Very happy with my new Malibu
I got the LTZ V6. I got it for college and life after. So far I love everything about it! It's fun to drive and handles very well in any situation. Even with the V6 i get great MPG.... on the Highway i was getting 31.7!!! and its rated at 26. In town about 19, rated at 16, I believe. You can't go wrong with the malibu. I was comparing the altima, impala, and the malibu. This car feels so solid and responsive compared to the others.
This is the nicest car I have ever owned
Great on gas, quiet, great looking, handles like a dream. Very nice car. Looks like a BMW.
WONDERFUL CAR!
This is a wonderful car. Until test driving this car I could never truly say that any car called my name like this one did. You know when it feels right it just feels right. It's comfy, fun to drive, and plenty of leg room in the back for those growin' kids. Lots of trunk space and I can go all week on a tank of gas in town. Handles well, also has more power than I would expect for a 4 cyl. As for the style, it oozes "cool", especially the interior and the car's silhouette and rear styling. Can't find one thing wrong except my husband says he has poor visibility when driving it. I love it!!! While on the test drive the kids were like, "Yeah Mom, this one!".
Great Car
I am not a buy American for the sake of it being American consumer. This car is extremely smooth, has great pick up, and is a great car. I have owned 2 Camry's and this car is every bit as good if not better than those cars.
I Love it!
This car is great looking, safe and fuel efficient... What more can you say. It has great balance on the road and makes you safe as you drive.... Thank you for the best car from chevy
Outstanding Buy
Anyone who believes that GM can't build a quality, fun-to-drive car at a resonable price should try the new Malibu. I've had a lot of cars but nothing this good for the money. I had no intention of getting a Malibu until I test drove it (I was set to buy a Camry.) The Chevy won in ride and performance, and interior styling was way better than the Toyota. And the deal being offered made it thousand less. I know everyone talks about how the Camry delivers more on resale, but you're paying way too much up front. And the Malibu is way more fun to drive. If you're on the fence about buying a mid-size car, do yourself a favor an drive the Malibu.
Lovin' every mile of it!
We've got the 4 cylinder, with 6 speed automatic transmission. Owned it 9 months now. Plenty of power, great mpg. Love the interior lighting, the auto headlights, Onstar, the hands-free phone with the option of using our Verizon minutes. Hwy mpg was always over 30 on a 1200 mile trip. Husband says he likes all the info he gets from the Driver Info Center on the dash as well as the traction control here in snowy MN. With all the airbags and the crash test ratings, I feel very safe driving it. The sunroof, 18" chrome wheel package and the optional spoiler really make it a head-turner.
Pleasantly Surprised
Even though I just purchased this car a few days ago I am totally amazed. I'm 58 yrs. Old and have had many new cars in my driving years. In the short time I've had it I have never felt about a car like this Malibu. It not only looks like a more expensive car it rides like one too. It's so comfortable and quiet. It has lots of extras as standard equipment. And geez, it's so quiet on the road. I actually call it my limo. Great job Chevrolet ! Oh yes, it gets great gas mileage too. I traded a 2005 corolla for this and on the average my average mileage for the corolla was 31-33 mpg. For the Malibu in similar driving I'm averaging with the 4 cylinder just over 27 mpg.
Good Choice
Purchased 2009 LTZ V-6. The V-6 has outstanding performance. Mileage is avg 19. The fit and function are top notch. It has too many features to list. The Malibu is a smooth, quiet 1st class automobile. I would stack it up against Honda, Toyoda, and Ford any day of the week. I have 1800 miles on my Malibu. Changed the oil recently. Filter is reachable from top of engine compartment.
Best all around car for the money
What's not to like about the car. It has great looks, great interior, and great on gas. This is the first car we have owned in years (Its been all SUV's for 10 years) and we love it. Nice features on the LT2. Love the dash and blue accent lights. The only down side is that after only 2 days, we had all 4 rims stolen of the vehicle! So we had wheel locks and a "tilt" sensor added to the factory alarm.
Not 'all that'
I was dazzled by the shiny wheel covers when the salesman whipped it around the lot, and was tired of shopping for cars so I decided to buy it. The performance is okay, and as stated before,the car is nice to look at, the factory stereo sounds okay, and the car is a smooth ride. I had heard about the cheap plastic on the interior, but didn't realize how CHEAP it is. It scratches very easily. Also, the front window scratches easily too. The right front headlamp gets condensation behind the lens, and there is a rattle in the dash that happens when the gas is applied. The windows are too 'skinny', reducing visibility greatly. Yes, the trunk opening is too small. Paint is blotchy in spots.
My new Malibu
I have done alot of research before I got this car. When Chevy brought out the new Malibu in 08', I knew I had to have one. I love my car, I got the 2lt with the engine package, so fuel economy is not that great, but it is so fun to drive. I plan on driving it to Arizona all the time from Vegas, it is so comfortable too, GM did a great job with this car. I bought it because it has done so well in the first year.
Solid Car for the price
Very happy with the car. I did a lot of research and test drove many makes and models. Was able to get this for 7k under MSRP. Best value for the price. No problems as of yet
One Classy Family Hauler
The model we bought is not as indicated since the drop down menu did not let me select the V6 LTZ. We bought this Malibu with all of the options available including even the extra cost Red Jewel Tint paint that has a nice subdued gold metal flake built into the paint color. This is one very classy and upscale looking car especially with the two tone (mocha w/cashmere)leather interior. The car has gotten many compliments especially once people have ridden in it. It is very quick for a family sedan and the V6 seems to always be loafing unless pushed.
May the best car win? Uh, not this one.
The 09 Chevy Malibu is a huge leap forward for GM, and it is world better than past GM cars I have driven. However, now that I have had it for 18 months or so, the problems have begun to appear, and the dealer (Royal Chevy in NJ) has been zero help. Now my dash lights don't work and that means NO speedometer. The right turn signal doesn't cancel itself, and it sounds like something is loose in the left front wheel well. Are these terrible, debilitating problems? Nope. But as I also drive a 3y/o Honda CR-V and 4 y/o Mazda Miata, the comparisons are striking. No problems at all with the Honda or Mazda and both drive much more smoothly.
Superior Ride comfort but overlooked by
The Malibu LTZ is unbelievable ride and comfort. It appears to be overlooked by most. I can compare this to previous cars that I've had in the past and this is simply one of the best and perhaps the best car that we have owned. I've owned Honda Accord, Prelude, Cadillac SRX and others. It has luxury, style, power, high fuel efficiency, it handles well, on and on. I would clearly purchase this over most of my other cars and would be hard pressed to select any other car. I highly recommend this car to anyone
2009 LT2 4 cylinder 6 spd. automatic
We had a 2007 GM with a V6 so we were a little worried the 4 cyliner would not have enough power. To our surprise the 4 coupled with the 6 speed automatic has enough power but is also very quiet. The downshifts are subtle. Car runs 70 to 75 easily, gets excellent gas mileage getting 25 average with mostly intown so far and its only got 450 miles on it. I think when on a trip car will easily get in the mid 30 MPG range after full break in. Car is very comfortable
GM finally gets it right this time
Purchased this vehicle about a month ago and now have 1300 miles on the odometer. Fuel economy in combined city/highway driving has so far been below expectations at about 24 MPG. - the same as on my 6-cylinder BMW which is much more powerful. The car handles well and is very quiet. The black suede cloth interior is attractive and comfortable. The faux wood trim is tastefully done and understated. The dashboard controls are easy to use but I would have preferred to have the trip computer information made accessable and cleared by pushing and holding in the headlight stalk instead of looking for the right buttons to push.
Excellent Vehicle -Drive one!
Excellent vehicle - good fuel economy, power (for a 4 cylinder), rides and handles excellent, comfortable seats, and is quiet! Drive one - see for yourself how nice it is! 4 cylinder engine and 6 speed auto rans are matched well - vehicle shifts smoothly and is very quite for a 4 cylinder. trans is always in teh proper gear, it don''t hunt like other competitiors I drove. Radio controls are very intuitive, I didn't even have to read the manual to program the stations - which by the way you are not limited to one set of AM, one set of FM , and one set of XM - you can mix and match your presets in the order you want- very nice!
Brake Woes and other defects
First week problems with the brakes, noisy, spongy. Dealership didn't take the wheels off to look. 3 trips later finally heard the noise, next trip replaced the drums. Wheel alignment out on all 4 wheels. After fixing still pulls to the left. Found out there was a recall on brakes and a transmission problem. Was told to bring it in to fix the trans problem and they would look at the alignment again. When the trans problem was fixed - asked about the alignment. Was told we were making things up and escorted out of the building. Contacted gm in Detroit who sound interested but don't hold out much hope they will do anything. Won't buy another gm product again.
2009 Malibu 1LT 4cyl 6speed
We bought this car with trading in our Minivan cash for clunkers. The back seat fits our Britex carseat very well with plenty of leg room for our son. I like the controls easy to reach. The radio has 6 memories with 6 stations each which can be changed on the steering wheel. The remote start is great and easy to use with locking the keypad twice (turns on the alarm) & then pushing the remote start. The back seats fold down. We got a cargo net & mat package. The nets are great to keep items from rolling around. The driver seat has power seating.I was worried about the pick up and go and it does have this. Great rebates for 2009 models. For only owning it for less than 24hrs it is Great!
Love it - (the 3.6L V6 model)
I owned a base model Malibu previously - and knew that they were reliable cars. This time, I wanted the nicest car I could get. Heated leather seats, remote start, and sunroof were on the top of my list. I expected to pay $30K for this car. Husband got it for $24K. It's quiet, looks classy, and is fun to drive. A good choice all around.
Happy with the purchase
I have owned this for about 4 months and am very happy. Smooth/quiet ride, good gas mileage, good price. I got this after leasing a 07 Cadi CTS. I think the ride is just as good. If you drive between 55-60, I seem to easily exceed the 33mpg on the car sticker for highway miles. No complaints about the car, and really glad i made the purchase (and really glad this is an AMERICAN Car)!!!!
great car
This is an update. 26,000 miles and no problems. wonderful car. As good or better, than any import can be. Wife drives it 40 miles each way every day to work, and it is a great car. Could ask for none better.