Reviewed byBen StewartBen Stewart
Overview
If you don’t count the Chevrolet Corvette, the Chevrolet Malibu is the last traditional car in the brand’s lineup. The spacious midsize sedan is also one of Chevy’s most affordable models and represents good value. Only the Chevrolet Trax and Chevrolet Trailblazer, both small SUVs, cost less. The 2025 Malibu also has a lower starting price than many key rivals, including the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, and Kia K5. With a spacious cabin, sizable trunk, and comfortable ride, the Malibu is an ideal family sedan. It has many standard features, including a 60/40-split folding rear seat, keyless entry, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Like its exterior design, the Malibu’s cabin is not extravagant, but its front seats are supportive, and there is plenty of rear-seat legroom. Its 8-inch touchscreen is well-placed on the dash and simple to operate. The Malibu's 160-horsepower engine is satisfying enough for most drivers, and it gets good marks for fuel economy. Unlike most of its key competitors, Chevy does not offer the Malibu with a more efficient hybrid powertrain or all-wheel drive.
Positives
Smooth, efficient engine. Easy-to-use in-cabin technology. Roomy interior and big trunk.
Considerations
Not available with a hybrid powertrain. Older design compared to key rivals.
Verdict
With a lower base price than many rivals, the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is a heck of a value for family-sedan buyers looking for a spacious cabin, sizable trunk, and comfortable ride.
What's New for2025
This year, Chevrolet includes satellite navigation on all Malibu trim levels.
Trims and Pricing
The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is available in four trim levels: LS, RS, LT, and 2LT. The LT is the popular model, and it gets our recommendation as well. We'll explain why.
LS
Priced at $26,995 (including a $1,195 destination fee), the entry-level LS includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a capless fuel fill, automatic on-off headlights, satellite navigation, a six-speaker audio system, six-way manually adjustable driver and front passenger seats, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, keyless entry, and keyless start. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
RS
The RS ($27,995) has a performance-oriented look, despite being powered by the same engine as the rest of the lineup. Outside, it has a dual-outlet exhaust, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a black Malibu badge. The Chevy "bowtie" badges are black, too. Interior updates are highlighted by an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
LT
The LT ($29,295) is the first of two luxury-oriented Malibu models. It's equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, body-color exterior mirrors, LED daytime running lights, and LED taillights. Inside, it features automatic dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and remote start. We prefer this trim for its low cost and high content level.
2LT
Priced at $32,695, the 2LT is the most well-equipped of the lineup. It has 19-inch aluminum wheels, body-colored mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, a dual-pane sunroof, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system.
Engine and Performance
The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The engine delivers 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. It's quick enough for most buyers but falls short of thrilling acceleration. Many of the Malibu's competitors have more base and optional power offerings. Every Toyota Camry has a hybrid powertrain that produces 225-hp on front-wheel-drive models. The Honda Accord gets a 192-hp turbocharged four-cylinder or a 204-hp hybrid powertrain. Most versions of the Kia K5 and Hyundai Sonata are powered by a 2.5-liter engine with 191 hp. The Camry, K5, Sonata, and Nissan Altima are also available with all-wheel drive, which is not offered on the Malibu.
Fuel Economy
The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu's fuel economy is typical of vehicles in its class. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Malibu delivers an estimated 27 mpg during city driving and 35 mpg on the highway. The base Hyundai Sonata sedan has EPA ratings of 28/38 mpg city/highway. The redesigned 2025 Toyota Camry is only available as a hybrid. Earning up to 53 mpg, it's significantly more fuel-efficient than the Malibu. The Honda Accord is rated 29/37 mpg city/highway with the turbo engine and up to 51/44 mpg with the hybrid.
Interior
The Chevrolet Malibu boasts a large interior that is right in line with its competitors. It can transport a family of five in simple comfort. There is plenty of head-, shoulder, hip, and legroom for adults throughout the cabin. The interior is attractively styled and well-trimmed. The top-of-the-line 2LT has an abundance of premium-looking soft-touch materials. Lower models get cloth-covered seats instead of synthetic or leather seats.
The Malibu provides generous trunk space, although it is not markedly larger than its competitors. With 15.7 cubic feet of capacity, five passengers will have plenty of room to stow their luggage. With its split-fold rear seat, the Malibu can accommodate larger items. The Toyota Camry is comparable, with 15.1 cubic feet. The Hyundai Sonata has a slightly more spacious 16-cubic-foot trunk. The Honda Accord has the largest trunk at 16.7 cubic feet.
Infotainment and Connectivity
One big plus of the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is its infotainment system which uses an 8-inch touchscreen with large, easy-to-see icons. All Malibus have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with navigation and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Befitting its position at the top of the lineup, the 2LT also gets wireless device charging. Most Malibus come with a six-speaker audio system, while the 2LT has a nine-speaker premium Bose system that delivers clear, rich sound. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord both have an 8-inch touchscreen on the lower trim levels and a 12.3-inch screen on upper models.
Safety
The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu has not yet been officially rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the nearly identical 2024 Malibu received five out of five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) didn’t rate the Malibu as high, giving it a Poor rating in the updated side collision test.
The Malibu offers several active safety and driver-assist features, though many are in optional packages. The Driver Confidence I package (available on all trims) includes rear park assist, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The more sophisticated Driver Confidence I & II package (available on all models) adds automatic headlights, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, following distance indicator, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Enhanced Driver Confidence package (available only on the 2LT) adds adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and an electronic parking brake.
Chevrolet Malibu vs. theCompetition
While not leading edge, the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is roomy and comfortable, and it has plenty of trunk space. Its infotainment system is high-tech and easy to use. Numerous electronic driving aids are available, but many are optional and only available on upper-level models. Some are only available on the top 2LT trim. Other good midsize sedan choices include the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata, all of which also offer more fuel-efficient hybrid-powered versions.
Chevrolet Malibu vs. Honda Accord
Chevrolet Malibu vs. Hyundai Sonata
Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry
TrueCar Expert ReviewMethodology
TrueCar works with a select group of automotive industry experts who test-drive nearly 300 vehicles per year. TrueCar's experts grade the vehicles on key attributes including driving dynamics, comfort, interior design, technology, storage, and efficiency. Our experts also judge recent model updates, pricing and value, trims, options, comparable vehicles, and safety assessments (as provided by the NHTSA and IIHS) to inform their recommendations and help car shoppers choose a vehicle that is right for them.
TrueCar also ranks the best vehicles in each category based on a data-driven methodology. Each vehicle is carefully scored using our in-house rating system, which systematically evaluates every car, SUV, truck, and van. Utilizing ALG industry research, consumer surveys, a team of data scientists and vehicle experts, TrueCar provides a unique and useful outlook to help you find the best vehicle for your driving needs.
