2020 Chevy Malibu Review

Name: 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Review
Brand: Chevrolet
Rating: 3.2 (26 reviews)

Price Range: $13,891 - $23,998

Chevrolet Malibu Premier Sedan Exterior Shown

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2020 Chevrolet Malibu Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

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

Overview

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.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$122/mo

$163/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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.

Which Malibu 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.

2020 Chevrolet Malibu models

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.

The L trim is the base model, but it comes with the bare necessities such as air conditioning and extras such as steering wheel controls, keyless entry and ignition, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

The LS, RS and LT all feature increasing levels of content based off the L model. The LS adds some creature comforts such as noise-reducing glass and OnStar, but it really just paves the way for some option packages. The RS adds convenience amenities such as power-adjustable seats and style accessories such as a rear spoiler and unique grille. With the LT, you'll get satellite radio, front-seat heating, and dual-zone climate control with a vent for rear-seat passengers.

The Premier model upgrades to a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a nine-speed transmission that produces 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Feature content is similar to the LT model but with the addition of built-in navigation, a nine-speaker audio system, leather seating and a sunroof, among other features.

Several driver safety aids are optional on the Malibu, including forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning.

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#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

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Chevrolet Malibu from 2008-2022.}

$446/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.8x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

11.4%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

5 (38%)

4 (12%)

3 (15%)

2 (4%)

1 (31%)

3.2

26 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 26 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Surprisingly Nice!

Cory, 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 …

Sticking with the Malibu

Rick 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 …

Love my Malibu

Barry 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!

Gary 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 …

See all 26 reviews of the Chevrolet Malibu

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2020 Malibu Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,095
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$122/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

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

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat3 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.3%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Marginal
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 Chevy Malibu Review

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2020 Chevrolet Malibu Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Which Malibu does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Chevrolet Malibu models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Surprisingly Nice!

Sticking with the Malibu

Love my Malibu

Wow!

2020 Malibu Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}