2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs, Release date, Color

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs, Release date, Color   –   My respected editor and I had the same reaction when asked to evaluate the 2026 Chevrolet Malibu. We were in complete agreement. The question we asked ourselves was, “Does Chevrolet still manufacture the Malibu?” However, it appears to have been overlooked, even though it has been present for quite some time. The Malibu is Chevrolet’s sole remaining sedan model due to the company’s shift in emphasis from cars to crossovers. The reason for this is the rising popularity of crossovers.

You should begin with the $25,248 LS, go on to the RS, LT, and Premier, and finally, you should spend $37,848 for the Premier. The LT was the one I went with; it started at $27,748 but came with option packages that increased the price to $33,818 (not including shipment or taxes).  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Practical people are the only ones who can live and survive on Malibu, even though the island itself will always be there. The Malibu is quite attractive to fleets, which is why this is the case. To give you an idea of how it compares, the trunk is bigger than that of the Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry, but smaller than that of the Hyundai Sonata and the Honda Accord. If you compare it to other sedans in its class, the trunk dimensions are about average. The Malibu does a decent job when it comes to storing little things. One way to achieve this is by making use of the open console cubby and the very long and wide door pockets.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

Although the Malibu is a fleet fighter, it comes with many features that are very well-equipped compared to other vehicles, even the base LS. This bundle includes a number of useful features, such as climate control, automatic headlights, keyless entry with push-button start, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, you’ll have to pay a membership fee once the trial period ends if you want to keep using one of those features. Monthly payments will be charged to this account.  2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

As a basic feature, my LT model came with a plethora of extras. Some of these amenities were a motorized driver’s seat, heated mirrors, satellite radio, LED headlights and taillights, a remote starter, and heated seats. When you go up to the Premier trim, you receive every single safety assist function that was an option on my car. A sunroof, heated and ventilated leather seats, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, an adaptive cruise control system, an auto-dimming mirror, a 120-volt outlet, and a premium sound round out the package. The Premier comes with all of these characteristics.

Engine and Performance

With its 2.0-liter turbocharger and nine-speed automated transmission, the Premier can generate 250 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, respectively. The smaller engine provides sufficient performance immediately after start-up and enters a rather smooth cruising mode. You can get a lot of speed out of it when you press down on the accelerator. Since the continuously variable transmission (CVT) has a bothersome drone that makes it feel like everything is trying too hard to produce an effect, it lacks a powerful sound. This is the main reason it doesn’t wow.2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel Economy

As to the official rating, the 1.5-liter Malibu achieves 8.2 liters per hundred kilometers in urban areas, 6.6 liters per hundred kilometers on highways, and 7.5 liters per hundred kilometers in mixed driving. I believed the fuel economy was excellent for a vehicle of this size after a week of driving it, getting 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers. The way it worked as expected was just remarkable. 2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

However, car companies have been largely successful with vehicles in this class recently. While the Malibu’s combined fuel efficiency of 7.5 liters per hundred kilometers ranks among the best, most of its rivals are also near or below 8.0 liters per hundred kilometers.

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Features

The Malibu has received a total crashworthiness rating of four stars from the United States’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Malibu received this grade. The frontal collision gave the Malibu five stars, however the rollover and side impact only got four. 2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

Conversely, more up-to-date safety aid technologies are only available as an LT or Premier trim level option if you’re interested in them. On any other trim level, they are not available for purchase. There were several safety systems installed in my test vehicle. These included lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic warning, and emergency front braking with pedestrian detection. The bundle contained all of these features. But it was a component of the $4,500 LT Plus Package that also came with leather upholstery, electric sunroof, and auto-dimming mirrors. However, the Premier level unlocks adaptive cruise control, which was missing on this model.

2026 Chevrolet Malibu Price and Release Date

The base price of almost every other vehicle in its class is far lower than the $25,248 Malibu. Reason being, the Malibu is located in a niche market. Starting from $26,620 for the Toyota Camry, $26,999 for the Hyundai Sonata, $28,705 for the Honda Accord, and $27,350 for the Mazda6, are just a few examples. 2026 Chevrolet Malibu Specs

When I bought my test vehicle, it was $27,748. At this pricing point, I would consider getting the LT Plus Package ($4,200), but I would pass on the blacked-out trim ($995). In addition to the more luxurious interior and driver assistance technologies, the price would still be less than $32,000 with that option. The purchase price also covers the cost of oil changes for twenty-four thousand kilometers, or two years from the date of purchase, at regular intervals.