2021 Chevy Malibu Review

Name: 2021 Chevrolet Malibu Review
Brand: Chevrolet
Price: 13999 USD
Rating: 3.7 (42 reviews)

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Premier Sedan Exterior Shown

2021 Chevrolet Malibu RS Sedan Exterior Shown

+106

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2021 Chevrolet Malibu Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

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
Many advanced driver safety aids don't come standard

What's new

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
New Sport Edition package with blackout exterior trim
Part of the ninth Malibu generation introduced for 2016

Overview

The Chevrolet Malibu has been around in various forms, as well as various levels of success, since 1964. The 2021 Malibu, somewhat surprisingly, is now Chevy's only sedan. Everything else, from the smaller Cruze to the bigger Impala, has been put out to pasture.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 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

A well-equipped Malibu Premier with the upgraded turbocharged engine is likable enough. The problem is that any other Malibu trim — which would be most of them you find on a dealer lot — isn't going to be competitive against other midsize sedans. The base engine lacks power, and Chevy doesn't add the latest advanced driver safety aids as standard equipment as most automakers do these days. The Malibu's interior design and materials could also use a thorough redo.

Unless you can get a great deal on a Malibu, we'd suggest going with a more appealing rival sedan such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Mazda 6 or Toyota Camry.

Which Malibu does Edmunds recommend?

We don't usually recommend the most expensive trim, but when it comes to the Malibu, we feel the top-of-the-line Premier is far and away the best option. It's the only trim that gets the powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine as well as many other desirable features that are simply unavailable on lower trim levels.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu models

The Malibu midsize sedan available in five trim levels: L, LS, RS, LT and Premier. Two engines are available. Most Malibus come with a turbocharged 160-hp four-cylinder connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission. For the Premier trim, Chevy fits a bigger turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's good for 250 hp. It's connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. All Malibus are front-wheel-drive. Highlight features include:

L
Starts you off with:

16-inch wheels
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Six-speaker audio system
Cruise control
Keyless ignition and entry
Cruise control

LS
Adds a few features to the L such as:

4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
Teen Driver (allows for custom settings to encourage responsible driving)
Buckle to Drive (prevents vehicle from being driven until driver's seat belt is fastened)
Driver and front-passenger vanity mirrors

RS
Dresses up the Malibu with:

18-inch wheels
Rear spoiler
Black grille and badging
Dual exhaust
Body-colored outside mirrors
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel

LT
Starting from the LS, the LT gets you:

Dual-zone climate control
Satellite radio
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Rear passenger vents
Three available appearance packages: Midnight, Sport and Redline

Premier
Tops the range with:

250-hp engine
19-inch wheels
LED headlights
Dual-pane sunroof
Leather upholstery
Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation
Nine-speaker audio system
Driver-seat memory settings
Ventilated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Heated outboard rear seats
Wireless device charging

The Malibu doesn't come standard with any advanced driver safety features. Instead, Chevy offers them through a few different Driver Confidence packages. These features include:

Rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Collision mitigation braking (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)

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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu.

5 (55%)

4 (7%)

3 (12%)

2 (5%)

1 (21%)

3.7

42 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 42 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 …

A real and honest review

MalibuIsLife, 08/01/2021

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Premier 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

I own a 2021 Malibu Premier and have also owned a 2019 Malibu LT. In my experience, this vehicle is very reliable if standard maintenance is performed routinely (as should any vehicle). I prefer the Premier model for the power and 9-speed auto transmission. The LT is good for economy driving. The handling is very good as well. The Premier recommends/requires using 93 octane fuel, which i …

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.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, so we've included reviews for other years of the Malibu since its last redesign.

See all 42 reviews of the Chevrolet Malibu

Write a vehicle review

2021 Malibu Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,140
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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2021 Chevy Malibu Review

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 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?

2021 Chevrolet Malibu models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Chevrolet Malibu.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Surprisingly Nice!

Sticking with the Malibu

A real and honest review

Love my Malibu

2021 Malibu Highlights

Safety

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2021 Chevy Malibu Review

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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?

2021 Chevrolet Malibu models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Surprisingly Nice!

Sticking with the Malibu

A real and honest review

Love my Malibu

2021 Malibu Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Chevrolet Malibu info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Dodge

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 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.}