The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Competitive value
- Wireless smartphone connectivity
- Clean styling
- Smooth ride
Dislikes
- Just one powertrain
- Base trim doesn’t impress
- No hybrid option
- Lacks personality
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu doesn’t stand out, but that’s fine for some shoppers.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu is the sole mid-size sedan remaining from a Detroit brand. Competitors include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Kia K5, and Subaru Legacy.
Is the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?
It’s solidly average and competitively priced, but competitors are worth consideration. We rate the 2024 Malibu at 5.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu?
Rear park assist joins the list of standard safety features on non-fleet models, and Lakeshore Blue Metallic joins the exterior color palette.
The Malibu sedan has conservative yet clean styling inside and out. Top trims offer leather upholstery and some options. Passenger and cargo space both impress. The infotainment system is user-friendly and includes wireless smartphone compatibility.
The single powertrain is a 163-hp 1.5-liter turbo-4 paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. It’s smooth and steady with good highway stability and a composed ride, but light on excitement.
EPA ratings go as high as 36 mpg highway, or 32 mpg combined, which isn’t bad but falls short of competitors’ hybrid offerings.
Even with standard automatic emergency braking, the Malibu has mixed crash-test records including a four-star NHTSA rating and mediocre scores from the IIHS.
How much does the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu cost?
Chevrolet hasn’t announced pricing as of this writing, but with few changes this year, we expect prices to hold steady from 2023. That’s about $26,000 for the base LS, climbing to about $33,000 for the top-end 2LT. The $30,000 Malibu LT splits the difference and comes with a few worthwhile features.
Where is the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu made?
In Kansas City, Kansas.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Styling
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu’s clean lines offer subtle elegance.
Is the Chevrolet Malibu a good-looking car?
If you’d rather blend in than stand out, it’s a great choice. The coupe-like profile and sloping roofline give visual interest, and the Coke bottle-esque lines add appeal. It’s a 6 here.
The low-slung hood suits the Malibu’s profile, and some versions dress up the wide grille with chrome trim. The LS gets dowdy 16-inch alloys, but all other trims offer more appealing wheel options.
Inside, a convenient layout balances out a dull design. The high-mounted 8.0-inch touchscreen features easy-to-reach knobs for climate adjustment. As for upholstery and trim, beige and gray rule the day.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Performance
The 2024 Chevy Malibu provides a smooth, comfortable ride.
Is the Chevrolet Malibu 4WD?
No, every Malibu is front-wheel drive.
How fast is the Chevrolet Malibu?
The Malibu’s 163-hp 1.5-liter turbo-4 is at a disadvantage compared to most rivals, though its 184 lb-ft of torque help keep things moving along. It rates an average 5 out of 10.
The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) tends to fade into the background, and the engine is refined and quiet.
The Malibu has a composed ride, even on the RS trim’s 18-inch wheels. It’s stable and comfortable on the highway, too, with a consistent feel to the electric power steering system.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Comfort & Quality
The 2024 Chevy Malibu has an airy, spacious cabin, but is light on thrills.
There are several more exciting alternatives to the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, but those who need a lot of space in a sedan will find it worth a look. The Malibu’s decent trunk volume of 15.7 cubic feet contributes to its score of 6 here.
You’ll need to move up to the third trim level, the LT, for a power driver’s seat, though front seats are supportive across the lineup. Rear passengers get 38 inches of legroom, which is as roomy as many crossover SUVs.
The base LS is on the bland side in terms of materials, but the RS and higher models get nicer materials, and the 2LT is finished in quality leather.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Safety
The Malibu’s standard automatic emergency braking helps balance so-so crash test scores.
How safe is the Chevrolet Malibu?
Rear parking sensors join automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, and automatic high-beam headlights on the list of standard safety features, but the 2024 Chevy Malibu scores 4 out of 10 on the TCC scale due to so-so crash-test results.
The IIHS and NHTSA haven’t evaluated the carryover 2024 Malibu. The IIHS gave the 2023 Malibu mixed overall ratings, and notably, a concerning “Moderate” rating in the small-overlap frontal crash test. The NHTSA cites it as a four-star model.
You’ll need to spend up to the 2LT trim and pay extra for adaptive cruise control.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Features
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu is a fair deal, but lacks distinction.
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, a perfectly average sedan, earns a perfectly average score of 5 out of 10. The lineup kicks off with the Malibu LS at about $26,000, which gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen, keyless start, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 16-inch alloys, and automatic emergency braking.
For about $1,000 more, the Malibu RS adds a rear spoiler, 18-inch wheels, and a few other amenities.
Chevy includes a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.
Which Chevrolet Malibu should I buy?
We’d move up a trim to the Malibu LT, which runs about $30,000 and includes a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
How much is a fully loaded Chevrolet Malibu?
The Malibu 2LT tops the lineup for about $33,000. That adds leather trim, cooled front seats, and a Bose stereo, and opens up the availability of adaptive cruise control.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel Economy
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu delivers decent fuel economy.
Is the Chevrolet Malibu good on gas?
It’s OK, though it lacks a hybrid version that would make it more competitive with Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota rivals. The 2024 Malibu’s single powertrain is EPA-rated at 27 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined. That’s a 4 on our scale.
