Used 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Malibu, so we've included reviews for other years of the Malibu since its last redesign.
Surprisingly Nice!
Cory, 09/09/2019
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
108 of 112 people found this review helpful
I rented a 2020 Malibu with the base 1.5L engine and the CVT transmission which I had initially expected to perform horribly on the highway. I was wrong and this car was a pleasant surprise in almost every regard. I averaged 37 MPG in mixed city/highway driving, the car rode very smoothly and handled better than expected. The seats were comfortable, even on a 5 hour drive and there was enough space for 4 adults to be comfortable the whole time. The android auto worked flawlessly and the heated seats were quick to warm up and the settings allowed for optimal comfort. Overall, I was highly impressed with this car, particularly because I expected to be disappointed. My lease on my Terrain ends in a few months and I may replace it with a new Malibu. The Malibu handles better, gets better MPG and overall was more fun to drive.
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Sticking with the Malibu
Rick katai, 01/31/2021
updated 02/05/2024
2020 Chevrolet Malibu Premier 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
53 of 55 people found this review helpful
I am a car guy. I absolutely do not like, or need an SUV. It is getting more and more difficult to find a car made by an American manufacturer. That being said, I am very pleased with my Chevy Malibu with the top of the line Premier trim package. It basically loads up the car with all the goodies. I chose the black cherry metallic color with a black and gray interior that garners many compliments. The 4 cylinder turbo along with the 9 speed transmission gives good performance along with about 30mpg combined city/highway mileage. It is a very comfortable long distance road car. The Bose sound system is very good. My only complaint and warning to new car buyers is the totally worthless spare tire inflater system instead of an actual spare tire. It does NOT work. My dealer quickly got me an actual tire and jack at no charge.
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Love my Malibu
Barry Cantor, 02/05/2021
2020 Chevrolet Malibu RS 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
28 of 29 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2020 RS, the gas mileage is amazing (37 on the highway), the 1.5L engine has plenty of power and the cvt tranny is very smooth. The black bow ties, grill, and spoiler are a great addition to this model. This car looks sharp. The Apple CarPlay is great for all iPhone users. I would recommend this to anyone as a daily commuter.
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Wow!
Gary Gottschalk, 11/19/2020
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LS Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
I recently rented a vehicle for an extended trip. Given the option of three different makes and models I ultimately selected a Chevrolet Malibu. I’m a SUV owner and haven’t purchased a sedan in quite sometime. I was extremely impressed with the Malibu. The driver’s seat was one of the most comfortable I’ve experienced in some time. My last day of driving was approximately 13 hours in duration with minimal short breaks. I was more relaxed after that drive than I was a week later in my own car after two drives of three hours in duration with an extended lunch break. I was also very impressed with the gas mileage. While most of my driving was “Highway” driving I was getting 36+ miles per gallon. Amazing! Comfortable and fuel efficient both.
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Love Mine!!! No Regrets!
PALT, 04/25/2019
2019 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
44 of 47 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2019 LT trim level. Decided there were a few things I could live w/o, for the price differences. Few hybrids available in TX, so I went with the standard engine. NO Acceleration deficiencies! In fact, I have to be Very careful Not to speed! I can easily move in & around traffic on our 70 mph tollways, merging w/ ease, onto a busy highway! I find the interior pleasant, comfortable, and nice enough. I Needed the 8 way adjustable leather seats for a bad back & neck that is ever so much more Complex, re MY issues, than Just lumbar support! I still loved my old Cirrus! It was Only the inevitability of major repairs that forced me to look @ new cars. I'm still in overwhelm, because of the massive data dump in moving from a 19 yr old car to current tech, and Thought I'd be disappointed that this Didn't have the 10 speaker sound system available in the Premier trim. I'm an audiophile, and I'm Not @ all disappointed! This car is very responsive, brakes well, and the rear camera is Wonderful on my Very bad, Very limited range of motion neck! There Are NO Blind spots in this car! With the side view mirrors and rear view mirror properly adjusted, I can see everywhere! I've only had it for less than a week, but, especially w/ the dealer incentives offered rt now, in Apr, on this car, I'm thrilled with my final payment on this! Why Only 4 stars? The One thing available on the Premier trim that would have Really been Usefull for me, given my height, & my back, would have been the memory function on the driver's seat! I'm still working to get everything Perfect for Me, @ 5'3" in ht, & with short legs. Once anyone else drives it, it's going to take alot to get it Back to where it's perfect for ME! I test drove one for 45 mins, to make sure I wouldn't hurt Anywhere, after driving it! The one I bought isn't the one I tested. I'll be back @ the dealership later this week, for help in getting this one adjusted Just right, for Me! And, in figuring out how Not to let Anyone mess MY settings up for Me! My Next Car Will have That Memory feature! And, btw, I Also love the trunk! Both size, still have a spare! And, the height & ease of getting that spare Out. Should I need to! I've had a couple of blow outs on Sundays, when no one is open, to buy a new tire! Thanks, but. I'll Pass on just having that temporary fill & patch kit! We have Really Bad Heat, radiating from TX highwsys, when it's 208 degrees outside, and the roads are even hotter! It doesn't always take a collision on the side of a tire for it to blow like That! Yes, I'm keeping OnStar, because the offset in my insurance Pays for that! But, I Do, frequently travel alone, & still Need to be able to change a tire myself, on occasion. Yes, I Am a woman, & I don't want to be stuck, anywhere, when I Could tske care of something myself, instead of waiting for someone. There's still alot of open soace on roads in TX!
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water in trunk
Kenw, 03/15/2020
2019 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2019 Malibu LT in October of 2019, felt like I got a good deal. got very good MPG 38 on hwy. In February 2020 got to noticing a musty smell & windows would fog up on inside while driving. Opened trunk to find items in trunk had mold on them, carpet was extremely wet. looked where spare tire was only to find 1" of water in wheel well. took back to dealer, they said they fixed it, it rained a few days later and found more water in trunk. I called dealer where I got car from and worked out a deal to buy a new 2020 Malibu. Went to pick it up, looked in trunk and found water there. Evidently Chevy has a serious problem with the Malibu.
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The car I didn't know I wanted
Glen, 03/06/2020
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
39 of 44 people found this review helpful
I went to Auto Nation Arrowhead to look at a 2019 Impala LT I had been checking on line and when I sat down with Debbie Ponticelli, who I was referred to by a friend who has bought a few from her over the years. She sat me in this white Malibu with a four cylinder engine, everything I thought I didn't want. No color and a small motor. But took the car for a test ride which I was fairly impressed with, so I went through with the deal. Now that I've had it for a couple weeks, I'm getting the feel for how it drives and the car is starting to adapt to my driving style. I'm very happy with my purchase. Mind you I put down a minimum of 300 miles a week. Have about 1200 on it now. Would most definitely recommend a new Malibu to anyone who's looking for a spacious and zippy daily driver. NICE CAR
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Great ride and gas saving
Dao, 07/14/2019
2019 Chevrolet Malibu LS Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
19 of 21 people found this review helpful
I have rented this car for a week and driven both local and high way in Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. The performance is too bad for a little 1.5 liter turbo engine. It has smooth performance and make no difference compared to my 2016 V6 Toyota Avalon. Of course it is not fair to compare the luxury and more leg room and comfortable ride of my Avalon. However, it can easy pass and smooth ride on both in city and highway. There is little engine noise at the high RPM when climbed up the hill with over 70mph but that was acceptable for 1.5 liter. In addition, good gas mileage for my road trip with 4 family members. The Car Play connected to my iPhone for using the GPS has no issue. Since the car is new, so I cannot rate the reliability. In general, it is great car and I consider one for my son for his college.
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Broken electrical system warning
Christian, 11/17/2021
updated 03/10/2022
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
While driving my 2020 car with 36k miles on it, my car randomly stopped in the middle of the road and would not turn back on. This was 2 months ago. After getting help at Jim Ellis Chevrolet, they "fixed" the problem. A faulty AC compressor caused my car to stop driving in traffic, with no warning or problems with my engine. They diagnosed the problem as "AC compressor clutch plate and pull completely seized. Seized compressor resulted in overheating and damaged starter". They said they replaced all the parts and fixed it. and because the car was a 2020 car and should not be breaking this soon, Ellis Chevrolet paid for it. Yesterday, November 16th 2021, my car did the exact same thing while I was driving. Stopped in the middle of traffic, while I was driving. This could have easily caused an accident. It is currently sitting at the same certified repair shop until they can guarantee my car will not randomly stop while I am driving. I write this as a warning to anybody buying a new or used Chevy Malibu, don't. Sure, when the car is working it's fine; nothing special, just ok. However, the risk of getting in a car accident presented by this car is disturbing. I refuse to drive it again until they can guarantee that the problem is fixed. If you are in the market for a new car, or a used car that is relatively new, do NOT get a Chevy Malibu. 3/9/22: The first problem I had happened 600 miles after the bumper to bumper warranty ended. The car stopped while I was driving and would not turn back on. The certified dealer said the fuse box blew too much electricity in my car and shot everything. They fixed the car. 2000 miles later, the same problem happened. The certified dealer and corporate Chevy were unable to duplicate the problem and sent me on my way after telling me to turn off the auto stop function. the 3 problem my car has is the check engine light and the fuel gage. It read that I was good on oil, but I was not. I took it to the chevy dealer, got an oil change, and they insured the oil sensor was fixed. the 4th problem I have is with the car's battery. The Battery voltage varies wildly from 9.5 to 14.5. One day the check battery light came on, and then turned off 5 mins later. A battery check at an auto zone showed that the voltage regulator in the alternator was not charging my battery correctly. I am now in the process of paying hundreds of dollars, on top of car payments and regular upkeep, to fix a 2020 car in 2022. including hundreds on just diagnostics at certified Chevy service centers. This is a 2020 car that acts like a car built in the 90's. When it works, the car is fine, some might even say great. I would strongly recommend not buying this car.
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Nightmare on wheels
SM, 11/01/2023
2020 Chevrolet Malibu L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Terrible car! Where should I begin? Purchased in June 2022 with 57k miles from Off lease only. Within a month, CEL(check engine light) comes on with P0420 code, which has to do with the catalytic converter not working efficiently. Mind you, I did research via google and found out that most cars either never need a new cat converter during their lifetime, or at the least, last up to at least 100k miles driven. Pretty much ignored it, since it didnt seem to affect driveability. FF another month(2 mos after purchase), I happen to glance at my dash one evening while driving home and noticed that the engine temp gauge's needle has crept past the midway point and was moving near the red. Came to a stop light and the needle moved back to the normal range and hadnt done crept back anymore the rest of my drive. I thought "hmmm thats strange" and quickly dismissed it. 2 weeks later, same thing happens while taking my kids to school. Only reason I noticed it this time is because the message center on the dash began chiming and displaying the message "engine too hot, turn off a/c to prevent further overheating". I immediately pull over to let car cool off. Go under the hood and I see the coolant reservoir has about a tablespoon of coolant in it. Luckily I was very close to an autozone, so I drive over and buy some Prestone 50/50 coolant made specifically for GM cars. I top the reservoir off right there in the parking lot and think to myself, "ok, maybe thats why it started overheating 2 weeks prior, just probably low on coolant from when I first purchased it. problem solved" Another 2 weeks go by and coolant is back down to a teaspoon level again. At this point Im thinking, I obviously have some type of leak, but didnt see any visible signs of one (nothing leaking out on the ground below or in the engine bay). It got to the point where I was buying 1 or 2 gallons of coolant every week just be sure i had coolant, because thats how often i would need to re-top the reservoir. This got worse over the next 2 months, because now I had to start re-topping it every week, which meant this mystery leak was getting worse. Eventually, more issues manifested, including intermittent stalling out from a cold start every morning if I didnt let it warm up at least 5 minutes, thick white smoke coming from the tail pipe, significant loss of acceleration/power when driving from a complete stop. Then check engine light with about 5 or 6 trouble codes that would NEVER go away. Turns out my head gasket was leaking and on the verge of completely blowing, which caused all of the aforementioned issues. Not even a year after purchase, and already having a major, costly repair that would NOT be covered by warranty! Car wouldnt start without stalling out until the engine temp was at least 145 degrees F before driving. Complete nightmare and I always dreaded having to drive it to take my kids to school, myself to work, basically anywhere. Acceleration from a complete stop got so bad, that I would hold up traffic because it accelerated so slowly, felt like it was stuck in a gear that it couldnt get out of. Constant "reduced engine power" messages. These cars suck and I DO NOT recommend getting one. Finally had enough and ended up trading it in, which left me upside down on my loan. I didnt care because I was relieved to get rid of it. Please dont every consider buying one, theyre very poorly and cheaply made and GM knows this. Thats why their warranty is now only 36k/3 years compared to the 60k/5 years it was a few years ago. Consider yourself warned!
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