2022 Chevy Malibu

　　

2022 Chevrolet Malibu Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Call it the last Chevy sedan standing. The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is the only new family car that still wears a bow-tie badge, and it's now a 7-year-old design with no direct replacement in sight. The 2022 Malibu is also the only midsize sedan made by a traditional domestic automaker, though numerous rivals are also built in the United States.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu LS 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$119/mo  for Malibu LS

　　Malibu LS

　　LS 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $23,400 MSRPLS Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $23,400 MSRPRS 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $24,400 MSRPLT 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $26,800 MSRPPremier 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $33,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Despite its age, the Malibu continues largely unchanged. The bargain-basement L trim level has been dropped for 2022, leaving four versions for your consideration. All have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but only the larger and more powerful one in the Premier trim supplies any semblance of driving satisfaction.

　　Inside, the Malibu features simple controls and displays that look increasingly dated. The dashboard is mounted low and practical storage is limited, but the Malibu is roomy enough for four adults and offers a reasonably sized trunk. As another sign of the Malibu's age, its advanced driving assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, are optional for all trim levels. Most 2022 rival sedans offer them as standard. 

　　Clearly, the Malibu's days are numbered. For businesses, governments and consumers seeking an affordable made-in-America sedan from a U.S.-based automaker, the Malibu is the only choice. If that doesn't describe you, we recommend buying one of the Malibu's rivals, such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 or Toyota Camry.

　　

Which Malibu does zzdcar recommend?

Malibu buyers seeking long-term satisfaction from their purchase should get the Premier trim level. It's the most expensive version of the car, but it comes with a rewarding powertrain and a full load of equipment that will help to keep owners happy for years to come.

　　

Chevrolet Malibu models

Chevrolet eliminates the base L trim level from the 2022 Malibu lineup, leaving LS, RS, LT, and Premier trims. All but the Premier have a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) driving the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. A larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is exclusive to the Malibu Premier, providing 250 hp and 260 lb-ft. It uses a nine-speed automatic transmission.

　　LS

　　The most affordable Malibu comes with:

　　16-inch alloy wheels Automatic headlights Air conditioning Cruise control 8-inch infotainment touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity) 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot Six-speaker audio systemRS

　　For a sportier look, the Malibu RS includes:

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

　　The popular LT offers the most variety in the Malibu lineup. Standard features include:

　　17-inch wheels LED running lights and taillights Heated outside mirrors Heated front seats Rear passenger air vents Dual-zone automatic climate control Satellite radioPremier

　　For a Malibu with all of the trimmings, consider the Premier for its more powerful engine and:

　　19-inch wheels LED headlights Ambient interior lighting Dual-pane sunroof Heated steering wheel Leather upholstery Driver's seat memory settings Power-adjustable front passenger seat Ventilated front seats Heated outboard rear seats Auto-dimming rearview mirror Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation Nine-speaker premium audio system Wireless device chargingThe Malibu doesn't come with any standard advanced driver safety features. Instead, Chevy offers them through a few different Driver Confidence packages. Highlights of these packages include:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Malibu and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

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