2017 Chevrolet Malibu Sedan

• Spacious interior with tall-person-friendly front seats

• Fuel-efficient Hybrid also has respectably brisk acceleration

• Responsive and intuitive 8-inch touchscreen interface

• Sporty handling around turns

• Mediocre acceleration from base 1.5-liter engine

• Some low-speed lurches from the six-speed transmission

• Base L trim is too sparsely equipped

• Limited outward visibility

The Malibu LT with the Convenience and Technology package is well-priced and gets you a nice assortment of luxuries, though we're not big fans of the 1.5-liter engine. Happily, the Malibu Hybrid is equipped similarly to the LT, and it too can be outfitted with the Convenience and Technology package.

The base six-speed automatic transmission can feel sluggish and isn't always smooth, with occasional clumsy downshifts and lurches as it rolls to a stop. We prefer the generally seamless powertrain of the hybrid version, especially at city speeds.

Standard 1.5T engine feels just adequate. Those who want more can get the Premier model's 2.0T, which accelerates quickly when you stomp on the gas. The Hybrid's smooth acceleration makes it feel more like an electric vehicle than other hybrids; its gasoline engine is mostly noticeable when accelera...

Pedal action is smooth and predictable around town and firms up in panic situations. Our non-hybrid test car stopped from 60 mph in 113 feet — excellent for all-season tires. Confident-feeling hybrid brakes are the best in the segment, lacking the odd uneven pedal feel common to competing hybr...

The steering is low on feedback, and its initial turn-in is a bit rubbery, but the turning effort is consistent and appropriate for this type of car. It's responsive enough to instill confidence and can keep up with those who drive exuberantly.

Despite its size and non-sporty positioning, the Malibu corners with more athleticism than most family sedans. The all-season tires howl loudly when pushed, but the car remains composed and predictable. It's confident in evasive maneuvers and even provides some fun for the driver.

The base six-speed automatic transmission can feel sluggish and isn't always smooth, with occasional clumsy downshifts and lurches as it rolls to a stop. We prefer the generally seamless powertrain of the hybrid version, especially at city speeds.

The Malibu's ride is smooth and composed, and it deals well with rough roads and undulations. Some might also describe it as firm, but that doesn't make it uncomfortable — it's just not a Camry-esque couch. Strong air-conditioning, and the seats and interior quietness won't disappoint.

Firm, supportive front seats with sufficient side bolstering. Held up well during our three-hour evaluation route, and we could happily have driven longer. Rear outboard seats are comfortable for average-sized adults, but the center seat is better suited to smaller passengers.

Really impressive control over choppy, undulating pavement. Remained poised where some others might bound about or transmit sharp impacts. Isolates you from unpleasantness but not from the driving experience. Not pillowy, though. Could be too firm for some.

Engine and wind noises are nicely muted, and even the Hybrid's sometimes-on engine doesn't drone excessively and call attention to itself. Road noise can be intrusive on coarse asphalt, though. In total, a little quieter than average.

A/C kept the car cool on a very hot day, even in the Hybrid, whose engine shuts down when the car stops at signals. And we never felt the need to constantly fiddle with the system. Ventilated seats are optional.

The Malibu benefits from a pleasant, modern and uncluttered dashboard design and a simple layout of controls. Its space is on par with most in the segment, which means there's an abundance of it. The Accord's best-in-segment backseat is just incrementally better.

Excellent climate controls are placed right at hand, with buttons and knobs of a just-right size. MyLink screen is prone to harsh reflections and fingerprint smudges, but high placement makes it easy to see and reach. Manual shift button on top of the shifter needs a rethink.

Front passengers are able to get in and out with ease thanks to a large opening and relatively tall ride height. Average or taller rear passengers will have to stoop a bit to clear the sloping rear roof line.

Ample adjustability when equipped with eight-way power seat. Seat motors far enough down and back for tall drivers. Steering wheel has good telescoping range. Pedals are naturally placed.

Front seats are quite spacious, even for larger occupants. Rear seat is typical for the segment, providing enough head- and legroom even for tall adults. However, the sloping roof line makes that space feel more confining than it actually is.

As with many sedans in the class, the thick roof pillars and high rear decklid obstruct outward visibility. The available beige dash top also causes distracting reflections — we'd get black. A rearview camera is standard on all but the base trim.

Acceptable but far from a class leader. Hard plastics up front are at least nicely textured and don't look cheap. (Those in back do and are scratchy.) Other surfaces are covered in lightly padded cloth or pleather. Feels sturdy and well put together.

If you have stuff to carry around — big or small — the Malibu is far from the best family sedan. The trunk is simply average, and the various interior bins are not ideal for the smartphones and the odds and ends we all carry around these days.

For a midsize sedan, the Malibu's small item storage is poor. Tiny glovebox, merely average center armrest bin, smallish door bins, one-size cupholders without grippers and a media bin too small for even an iPhone 5. Rivals are better, more clever.

The Malibu's 15.8-cubic-foot trunk is average for the segment — good enough for golf bags and luggage. The much smaller Hybrid trunk is too narrow for golf bags, and the batteries fill up its aft portion. Still OK for a hybrid sedan, though, and there's technically a 60/40 pass-through.

Four LATCH anchor points and three upper tether mounts are arranged to serve all three rear seating positions. Anchor points are easy to find under a flexible flap in the crook of the seat.

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu might have as much available technology as any car in the segment, with most trims including a MyLink touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, onboard Wi-Fi and the range of OnStar services. A full gamut of high-tech driver aids is also available.

The Chevy MyLink touchscreen system is much quicker than earlier iterations, and we appreciate its large virtual buttons and general system layout. We think most users will find it easy to use. There are 7- and 8-inch MyLink screens available.

Up to four USB ports are available, along with an auxiliary jack and Bluetooth phone and audio (though the base L is phone-only). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the LS and above; they work as expected.

Typical blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems are unobtrusive. Optional adaptive cruise control can bring the car to a full stop, but at slower speeds in slow-and-go freeway traffic it makes awkwardly abrupt throttle and brake adjustments.

Standard voice controls are a bit stilted and require the use of specific phrases, but if you are using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you can push-and-hold the same button to get to Siri or Google Voice, both of which are much better at responding to natural-language requests.