2020 Chevrolet Malibu Review Highlights Worth Buying
Price Range: $9,995 - $21,998
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Price & Payment
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Average price: $17,185
$
to$
Price
Pros
- Spacious interior with lots of front-seat headroom
- Easy-to-use touchscreen interface
Cons
- Lackluster acceleration from the base 1.5-liter engine
- Limited outward visibility
- Interior looks dated compared to rivals
What's new
- Several optional packages have been renamed
- The Malibu Hybrid has been discontinued
- Part of the ninth Malibu generation introduced for 2016
Roomy, solid ride—yet outclassed options
First, the good news. The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu rides well on the highway and has a roomy cabin fitted with an easy-to-use infotainment system. It is, at its core, a fundamentally solid midsize sedan. However, it also happens to be surrounded by a deep class of rival sedans that outdo it in a few areas.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
57 listings
- $9,995good price$1,593 below market
- 109,478 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, rental vehicle
- 29 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- Vanguard Automotive (8 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Chantilly, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
32 Combined MPG (29 City/36 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G1ZD5ST1LF098448
Stock: 098448
Certified Pre-Owned: No - 30,621 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 29 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- CarMax Frederick (18 mi away)
- Free delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Gaithersburg, MD
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency. Certain cars may have unrepaired safety recalls, so check nhtsa.gov/...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
32 Combined MPG (29 City/36 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G1ZD5ST4LF050166
Stock: 28463011
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Like its competitors, the Malibu can be equipped with different powertrains. There are two turbocharged four-cylinder engine options: a base 1.5-liter and a 2.0-liter engine. We like the zesty 2.0-liter engine, but the base 1.5-liter engine — the one most commonly found at dealer lots — is sluggish.
On the inside, there's roomy seating up front. But there's less rear legroom compared to what you'll find in some other top sedans, and the overall cabin aesthetic is a bit underwhelming. The report on the infotainment system is mixed, too. GM's Chevrolet Link 3 system features useful smartphone integration and big graphics, but its standard display looks lower-res than the competition.
Overall, the Malibu is an acceptable choice, especially if you manage to get a great deal or are interested in the hybrid version. But we also suggest shopping some of the other Edmunds' top-rated sedans such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Mazda 6.
2020 Chevrolet Malibu trim level differences
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is a five-seat, four-door midsize sedan that's available in five trim levels: L, LS, RS, LT and Premier. All but the Premier come with the same 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and CVT automatic combination that sends 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Compare the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu trim levels in-depth.
Which Malibu trim does Edmunds recommend?
We used to recommend the hybrid as it provided the best combination of features, performance and value. But since Chevrolet discontinued it this year, the next best choice is the Premier. Yes, it's the most expensive version of the Malibu, but its more powerful engine makes daily driving a lot more enjoyable.

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$167/mo for Malibu L
Malibu L
vs
$228/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Reliability
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #10 out of 28 among Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#10 out of 28 among Midsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$446/yr
vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car
for Average Midsize Car
Frequency
0.8x/yr
vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car
for Average Midsize Car
Severity
11.4%
vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car
for Average Midsize Car
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
1 recall foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 21V649000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- N212333380
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 402
- Defect Description:
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
- Defect Consequence:
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 6 years / 100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Free maintenance Warranty
- 1 years / unlimited miles
Chevrolet Malibu Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(34%)
4(10%)
3(14%)
2(7%)
1(35%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Surprisingly Nice!
4 out of 5 starsCory, 09/09/2019
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
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.
Sticking with the Malibu
4 out of 5 starsRick katai, 01/31/2021
2020 Chevrolet Malibu Premier 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
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.
Love my Malibu
5 out of 5 starsBarry Cantor, 02/05/2021
2020 Chevrolet Malibu RS 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
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.
Wow!
5 out of 5 starsGary Gottschalk, 11/19/2020
2020 Chevrolet Malibu LS Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
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.
2020 Malibu Features & Specs
L
| MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee | $22,095 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 32 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $167/month |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 15.7 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
| Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Malibu models:
- Forward Collision Alert
- Warns the driver of potential obstacles ahead. (Automatic braking is available as an optional extra.)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Informs the driver of vehicles in perpendicular motion behind the car when reversing.
- Pedestrian Detection
- Warns the driver of pedestrians in the roadway and automatically applies the brakes if the driver does not take action.
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall4 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat3 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover10.3%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestMarginal
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedPoor
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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