Buying a new car can often be a game of making trade-offs. Do I go for a car that is fast, but give up fuel economy? Do I trade luxury features to make my car more affordable? Do I exchange interior comfort for exterior size to make my car more drivable? We’ve all been there before. It is never easy when you have to weigh your wants against your needs. Compromising between the two can sometimes even be impossible, as you end up playing a never-ending game of robbing Peter to pay Paul. But sometimes, you can find a car that really checks all the boxes. And for many drivers, the 2020 Chevy Malibu is such a car.
From its sporty styling to its choice of two exceptionally efficient and powerful engines, this car gives you the luxury and performance you crave in a midsize sedan. And if you are concerned about your budget, you need not worry because the price of the 2020 Chevy Malibu is incredibly affordable. Plus, you’ll save even more as you will not need to buy as much gasoline when you drive a Malibu. Put it all together, and you have a sedan that doesn’t require you to make trade-offs. But let’s take a closer look at what makes this car so special.
It’s a Great Car at a Great Price
The 2020 Chevy Malibu comes in five trims, each well within most people’s budgets. The base model is the L, and it has an MSRP of $22,095. The Malibu L comes equipped with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with an 8-inch color touchscreen. This allows you to access key features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Malibu LS trim adds a few other features, such as a 4G LTE hotspot and Chevy’s Teen Driver technology. Teen Driver allows you to set the speed limit and volume on your Malibu so that the young driver in your household doesn’t abuse his or her driving privileges. It also gives you a post-trip report, so you can check on how your young driver performed. All of this comes in at an MSRP of $23,220.
The Malibu RS has an MSRP of $24,220 and adds black Chevrolet bowtie and Malibu badges, special RS badges, 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome grille surround with black grille inserts and dual exhaust outlets. The Malibu LT is the next trim and has an MSRP of $26,620. This trim includes LED daytime running lights, outside heated, power-adjustable mirrors, a body-color antenna, and heated cloth seats.
The top of the line trim is the Malibu Premier, and you should see this one make its debut. For an MSRP of $33,320, Chevrolet adds a larger engine, chrome door handles with body-color inserts, bright sill plates, and 19-inch aluminum wheels. Whichever trim you choose, though, you are sure to be amazed at the attention to detail in the 2020 Chevy Malibu and even more amazed at the low cost.
The Performance Rivals Sports Cars
This may be shocking to some, but the engineers at Chevrolet have given the Malibu’s engines the ability to rival many sports cars on the road today. Don’t believe it? The 2020 Chevy Malibu has been clocked going 0 to 60 mph in only six seconds! How does a front-wheel drive sedan like the Malibu achieve this? By having small, powerful, turbocharged engines.
The standard engine is the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that produces an efficient 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. It is equipped with direct injection and auto stop/start technology. If you are unfamiliar with auto stop/start, this is where the engine turns itself off when you step on the brake at a light, then automatically restarts as soon as you take your foot off the brake. With this feature, you save gas and reduce emissions. This engine also comes paired with a continuous variable automatic transmission (CVT). Rather than have specific engine speeds, the CVT continually adjusts the engine’s timing to provide a more efficient and smoother ride. This engine comes standard on all trims except for the Malibu Premier. The other engine option is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and is standard on the Premier trim. This is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that helps it produce 250 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.
These engines may be small, but they are fierce. In addition, they are efficient. The Malibu with the 1.5-liter engine has been rated to provide 29 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined. The fuel economy drops only slightly with the bigger, 2.0-liter engine. The EPA estimates that the Malibu Premier will provide 22 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined. All of the performance specs are very impressive, only further proving the value to be found in the Malibu.
Lots of Room
The Malibu may look compact, but don’t let looks deceive you. While its wheelbase is only 111.4 inches, the designers at Chevrolet have figured out how to provide 102.9 cu.ft. of passenger space into the car. In addition, they have made sure to divide this space between the front and rear seats efficiently.
Front seat passengers in the 2020 Chevy Malibu have 39.1 inches of headroom, 41.5 inches of legroom, 58.5 inches of shoulder room, and 54.1 inches of hip room. And rear seat passengers won’t feel cramped as they will enjoy 37.5 inches of headroom, 38.1 inches of legroom, 57.1 inches of shoulder room, and 53.4 inches of hip room. That is plenty of room for you and your four passengers to stretch out comfortably, even on long road trips. And speaking of trips, there is also plenty of space in the trunk for your luggage, a full 15.7 cu.ft. of cargo space to be exact. Space will not be an issue in this midsize sedan.
Safety Comes Standard
Chevrolet has made safety a standard feature on the 2020 Chevy Malibu. It starts with Chevy’s OnStar system, which will keep you and your passengers safe if you get stuck, have an accident or other emergency. But to prevent any unnecessary emergencies, the Malibu offers an array of preventative safety features. For example, electronic grade braking will help you maintain a constant speed without riding the brakes when you are driving your Malibu downhill.
The 2020 Chevy Malibu also comes with a StabiliTrak electronic stability control system. This will automatically enhance control during emergency maneuvers by adjusting the brakes and engine torque to keep you on the straight and narrow. In addition, StabiliTrak includes traction control and brake assist. Traction control detects wheel slippage and applies brake pressure while reducing engine power to prevent you from skidding on wet, snowy, or icy roads. Brake assist will provide extra braking power if it detects insufficient pressure on the brake pedal. These standard safety features work together to keep you and your Malibu safe wherever you may drive.
The Malibu Has it All
Some folks say you can’t have it all. I bet these folks never drove a 2020 Chevy Malibu. With many options for customization in the trims, fantastic performance, extensive space, and an array of safety features, the Malibu covers driver needs. It truly checks all of the boxes.
