Chevy Makes Quick Changes In Malibu To Stay Competitive In Midsize Segment

2014 Chevy Malibu

2013 Chevy Malibu

Chevrolet has done an about face with the new Malibu almost 18-months after having been completely


reworked from the inside out. In the competitive midsize segment, GM decided that the vehicle wasn't performing up to expectations, so they decided to follow the lead of the Honda Civic. Although the Civic sales were climbing, they received a lot of negative press from auto critics, including us, for their recently restyled compact not being up to par with other vehicles in the segment. Well, while GM critics weren't the journalists, consumers and dealers complained about the lack of rear room seat. To address the issue, here's how the engineers and engineers responded.

Inside, the engineers redesigned the seats to provide more space and comfort. According to the folks at GM, the front seatbacks are shaped to improve rear seat space and comfort.The new cushion sculpturing and revised cushion material allow passengers to achieve a better seating position. Approximately half an inch was trimmed from the front of the rear seat cushion for greater comfort behind passengers' leg.

Added to the aforementioned changes, the Malibu other enhanced features include:

• Revised front-end appearance
• Redesigned center console
• New 2.5L engine with variable valve lift control and start/stop technology helps deliver estimated fuel economy of 23 city / 35 highway – a 5-percent improvement in city mileage and 3-percent greater highway efficiency
• Nearly 14 percent more torque from the available 2.0L turbo engine – 295 lb-ft of torque (400 Nm) – engineered for a greater feeling of power on demand
• Suspension enhancements derived from the all-new 2014 Impala engineered to contribute to a more refined driving experience
• New available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features

The Malibu’s redesigned center console, which we welcome, has a longer armrest designed for greater comfort, along with a pair of cup holders and dedicated storage for two cell phones.

Pricing hasn't been announced, as of yet. Expect this revised 2014 Malibu in dealerships in the third quarter. The Malibu goes head to head with the Camry, Accord, Fusion, Legacy, Sonata, Optima and the Altima.