The Chevy Malibu is a great car, especially purchased used! It comes with good features, looks good, and has an even better price. Having started out as a trim for the Chevelle, it became its own model in 1978. With all of the changes over its life, these are some of the best years to buy a used Chevy Malibu. And there's 9 generations of the Malibu, with the standalone model coming in 1978, so we'll go over the ones that you'll be more likely to find.
Key takeaways
- While the Malibu was around since 1978, 2008 was the first time being a Malibu owner was a status symbol.
- The eighth gen acted as a filler generation, being that it was mainly used for the launch on the global market.
- If you're wanting a good daily driver that doesn't guzzle gas, then the ninth generation is what you want. It also comes with some of the most modern equipment.
Sixth Generation (2004-2007)
This is the first generation that was made in the 2000s, coming with some new features that reflected the new century. In 2006, the SS trim hit the lineup. This brought some more power to the line, as well as a more sporty look with a sport suspension.
The SS came with a leather wrapped steering wheel, as well as sport cloth and leather seats, side skirts, chrome tip exhausts and more aggressive front and rear clips.
Seventh Generation (2008-2012)
This generation was redesigned, and reengineered to make it even more competitive. This Malibu came with 4 trims, the LS, LT, Hybrid and LTZ. Despite having a longer wheelbase, this generation features less room on the inside of the vehicle, resulting in the rear seat having even less room than before.
Thanks to the redesign, the Malibu had impressed a few large car authorities, one being Car and Driver. They noted that “for the first time in decades” you can say that the Malibu can be “found in the driveways of lavish homes” because “they were seen as competent, practical, and stylish.”
This generation also came with a handful of engines. Early in the generation the first engines that it came with were the 2.4L I4 and the 3.6L V6. Partway through 2008, Chevy offered the 2.4L Ecotec engine to help improve fuel economy.
When 2010 came around, Chevy removed GM badging and added trim level badges instead. Helping the Malibu shine even more for what it is.
2011 is when more advanced tech features joined the lineup. These new features on the 2011 and later models are Bluetooth, remote start, a security alarm, power front driver's seat and heated leather seats.
Eighth Generation (2013-2015)
Being a short generation, this didn't really come with too many changes at its launch outside of a large touch-screen display. This was due to the vehicle entering the global market this generation. The Malibu sold in 100 countries across 6 continents.
Halfway through the generation, the Malibu saw some new tech join the car, as well as improved fuel economy. This generation also came with some more comfort thanks to a longer armrest.
Ninth Generation (2016-2024)
This was the last generation the Malibu was on the market, but that's not due to Chevy's lack of trying. This generation was sleeker and larger than other generations. Despite being larger, this model came with better fuel efficiency thanks to it being nearly 300 pounds lighter than the others.
The 2016 model came with 4G LTE in-vehicle connectivity as well as a wireless charging pad. Both of these work in tandem to keep you connected no matter where you are.
This gen is also the best for safety since it comes with a ton of features. The features you can find are forward collision avoidance system rear cross traffic alerts and a whopping ten air bags. If you want even more safety, you can look for a model that has automatic parking assist.
Some other features you can find are forward collision alert with following distance indicator, adaptive cruise control with front automatic braking, and front pedestrian alert with last-second automatic braking.
The Malibu was the first vehicle on the market to have a teen driver feature. This would let you view your child's driving stats to make sure they were practicing safe driving.
When 2019 came around, the Malibu saw an update to help bring the vehicle closer in line with other competitors. This update saw a few cosmetic upgrades, as well as a new trim join the lineup. This trim was the RS. It came with a sportier appearance, unique 18-inch wheels, and dual exhaust.
Some more safety features were added, to help make the vehicle safe for everyone. These features were low speed forward automatic braking, IntelliBeam high-beam assist headlamps and a semi-automated parking system.
Summary
Despite selling 10 million units, Chevy felt like it was time to discontinue the Malibu name. While you can't find a new one, you can find used models and that's where we come in. We sell some of the most reliable used cars on the market, come on by to Car2Sell to check our inventory.