You'll appreciate the redesigned Malibu if you prize a plush, comfortable ride and a very quiet cabin. That's where this solid, easygoing sedan excels. It also has simple controls, decent fuel economy and sound handling (although the Malibu is clearly no sports sedan).
You'll probably come away disappointed, however, if you need a roomy rear seat. The Malibu's is relatively tight, with less space for legs and knees than most competitors.
The Malibu is also no great value. Our moderately equipped 1LT cost notably more than higher-rated competitors, while lacking features like automatic climate control and the sunroof typically included on the similarly priced competitive models. Its 26 mpg overall fuel economy was also less than exceptional in the marketplace. Our Eco model, at 29 mpg, was no more fuel efficient than some much-cheaper non-hybrid rivals of the same vintage.
We also tested the top-level LTZ. It too, cost more than any of its competitors, several of which outscored it. Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the LTZ delivered punchy performance, but fuel economy of 24 mpg overall is less than the V6 versions of its competitive set were delivering.