2023 Chevrolet Malibu

Going by the features and specifications of the 2022 model year, we assume that the 2023 Malibu will also offer similar features. The LT trim will continue to make more sense, offering LED daytime running lamps, LED tail lamps, heated front seats, remote vehicle starter system, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and dual-zone climate control system. We hope that Chevrolet will continue to offer Midnight Edition , Redline Edition and Sport Edition packages for enhanced appearance.

We don’t expect to see any major changes to the Malibu’s list of tech features for the upcoming model year- Carsdirect.com

The 2023 Chevy Malibu will be offered in LS, RS, LT, and 2LT trim configurations. The starting msrp is expected to be slightly more than the current model year. Even the outgoing model is known for its ergonomic interior design, sleek exterior styling, The base LS trim does not offer much in terms of creature comforts and is best suitable for fleet. However, Chevrolet does offer some features like keyless open and start, 8-inch touchscreen display, 6-speaker audio system, and 16-inch aluminum wheels as standard 

Moving to the RS trim, some exterior elements like black bowtie emblems, chrome grille surround with black grille inserts, 18-inch aluminum wheels, rear spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and red RS badging for a more sporty appearance. Even power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and outside power-adjustable mirrors in body color will also be standard. The LT trim will offer LED daytime running lamps, LED tail lamps, heated front seats, remote vehicle starter system, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and dual-zone climate control system. 

The Premier trim will no longer be on offer and the 2LT trim will sacrifice some features like heated rear outboard seats, bright sill plates, and power outside mirrors with integrated turn signals. Being a higher trim than the LT trim, the 2LT will offer all the features of the LT, while adding some more creature comforts like leather upholstery, premium audio system, dual pane sunroof, and Infotainment 3 Plus System as standard. The LT trim is expected to offer Leather Package, Midnight Edition, Redline Edition, and Sport Edition packages.

1. Driver Confidence 1 Cloth Package

• Lane change alert
• Side blind zone alert
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Rear park assist

2. Driver Confidence I and II packages

• Automatic Emergency Braking,
• Following Distance Indicator
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front Pedestrian Braking

3. Leather Package

• Leather-appointed seating surfaces
• heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• leather-wrapped shift knob 

4. Midnight edition

• 19" Black-painted aluminum wheels
• Black Malibu badge
• blacked-out grille with dark chrome surround
• P245/40R19 all-season tires

5. Redline Package

• 19" Black-painted aluminum wheels with Red accents
• Black Malibu badge with Red outline
• blacked-out grille, Black mirror caps with Redline decals
• P245/40R19 all-season tires

6. Sports Package

• 19" Black-painted aluminum wheels
• Black Chevrolet bowtie emblems
• Black Malibu badge
• Blacked-out grille with dark chrome surround

7. Enhanced Driver Confidence Package

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic Parking Assist
• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking

The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu delivers decent fuel economy- The Car Connection 

Walking on the footsteps of the 2022 Chevy Malibu, the 2023 model is also expected to offer decent gas mileage. The outgoing model year offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highways, and 32 mpg in mixed driving conditions. With a fuel tank of 15.8 gallons and the 1.5-liter four-pot motor, it can offer a staggering 506 miles of range in combined driving conditions. The maximum driving range in the city and highway driving conditions is expected to be 458 miles and 569 miles respectively.

Even though the Chevrolet Malibu has a commendable fuel economy, the Honda Accord delivers a better gas mileage in the segment followed by the Chevy Malibu, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata. The Chevy Malibu and Toyota Camry have bigger fuel tanks with a gallon more than the Accord and Sonata. So, this results in an improved driving range in highway and combined driving conditions, which is in excess of 500 miles.

The interior of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu will retain a lot of the same elements as the current model- Carsdirect.com 

Just like the exterior design, we expect everything to remain similar inside as well. The ergonomic dashboard with centrally-stacked touchscreen display, running on one of the most intuitive interfaces in the segment will be on offer as well. The front seats will be wide and supportive, although the narrow back cushions may be an issue for some passengers. The outside visibility will be just as good and passengers won’t have anything to complain about. Overall, the 2023 Malibu will accommodate up to five passengers with ease. 

The rear seats will offer decent comfort and legroom as well. So, longer journeys won’t be a problem. Just like the 2022 model year, the interior color combinations and upholstery materials will remain majorly the same. The LS trim can be had with Jet Black or Medium Ash Gray premium cloth upholstery. The RS trim comes with only Jet Black premium cloth upholstery. The LT trim offers the same options as the LS trim and adds Jet Black and White Wheat leather upholstery. The 2LT trim gets Jet Black and White Wheat perforated leather upholstery. 

The trunk capacity will not be the best in the segment but offer 15.7 cubic feet of space. Some convenience features like keyless open and start, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, steering mounted controls and power windows will be standard. Other features like power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control system, and sunroof are offered on the LT and 2LT trims. The RS and LT trims will come with rear armrest with cup holders. The LT trims get access to rear console vents.  

The 2023 Malibu will offer a decent amount of interior space though not the spacious as its competitor. It has better shoulder room compared to others. The Hyundai Sonata offers the best headroom and legroom in the front seat. whereas, the second-row space is better on the Honda Accord. The Honda Accord offers the highest cargo capacity at 16.7 cu-ft followed by Hyundai Sonata, Malibu, and the Camry. The Malibu’s overall interior design, space utilization, and convenience features are not a letdown. 

Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 System is already one of the most snappy and easy-to-understand in the segment. The 8-inch touchscreen will remain the standard entertainment and be integrated with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. The SiriusXM satellite radio with 3-month complimentary subscription, will be offered with the LT and 2LT trims. A USB port aids connectivity while a 6-speaker sound system plays all your favorite tunes for you. A 9-speaker Bose premium audio system should be offered with the 2LT trim.

Some of the key interior and infotainment features available with the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu are:

• Keyless open and start
• 8-inch infotainment system
• Temperature display
• Manual tilt and telescopic steering column
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice commands
• Type-C USB ports
• Sirius XM satellite radio 

The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu wears clean, conservative lines- The Car Connection

Chevrolet is going to discontinue the Malibu soon. So, it’s obvious that the midsize sedan won’t receive exterior design and dimension updates for the 2023 model year. The sleek headlamps and visually appealing front chrome grille with a horizontal bow-tie emblem on it will continue to mark Malibu’s identity. Just like the outgoing model, the Chevrolet bowtie emblem will be offered in black with the RS trim. The RS trim also features many blacked-out exterior elements and RS badging for a more sportier styling. 

The 2023 Chevy Malibu will continue to feature two character lines. The wheel sizes will vary from 16-inch to 19-inch. The lower trims will run on smaller wheels, while the LT and 2LT trims will ride on larger rims. The LED tail lights will add to its distinctive appearance. We expect that Chevrolet will not make any changes to the color palette. The different shades like Summit White, Silver Ice Metallic, Dark Ash Metallic, Mineral Gray Metallic, Cherry Red Tintcoat, Northsky Blue Metallic and Mosaic Black Metallic. However, the color options will depend on the trim configuration.

Each of the cars in this segment has a visually pleasing design and there is nothing to complain regarding the designs of all the cars, But we believe the designs have all quite aged very well and a makeover is due soon. The Toyota Camry is the heaviest with a curb weight of 3310 lbs and has the better ground clearance among the four with a height of 5.7 inches. The longest would be the Honda Accord at 196.1 inches. The Malibu is taller compared to its competitors at 57.9 inches of height.

Some standout exterior features of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu include:

• Body-color door handles
• Daytime running lights
• Capless fuel filler
• LED headlamps and tail lamps (2LT)
• Body color antennas
• Solar absorbing and acoustic laminated windshields.
• Dual pane sunroof 

The 2023 Malibu has a host of safety features as standard and other enhanced safety features can be added for an additional cost. The 2022 model has performed well in the NHTSA crash test ratings securing an overall score of 4 stars. The frontal crash test overall rating is 5 stars, side impact overall is 4 stars. The only worrisome aspect is the rear passenger side-impact crash tests which have only a rating of 3 stars.

We believe that the 2023 variant will follow these crash test ratings but an improvement is very much welcome. With the Driver Confidence packages, different driver-assistance features improve the safety significantly. Some of the included features like adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist, forward collision alert, and following distance indicator are helpful while driving. 

Some of the key safety features of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu include:

• Automatic emergency braking
• Enhanced automatic emergency braking
• Following distance indicator
• Forward collision alert
• Front pedestrian braking
• Lane change alert with side blind zone alerts
• Rear park assist.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2022 Honda Accord

The 2022 Honda Accord's performance is the best in this segment. The Japanese engine is aggressive and provides good acceleration and sportier performance. Even on the fuel economy front Honda scores well compared to the Chevrolet. The only upside for Malibu, when compared with the Honda Accord, is the price. The Malibu is the more affordable option among the two.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2022 Toyota Camry

The story again is similar when it comes to the 2022 Toyota Camry. In terms of performance Malibu again falls short of the Camry. The Toyota Camry has better performance figures and is the most reliable option in this segment. Malibu scores slightly well on the interior and fuel economy aspects and is priced lesser than the Camry and is the affordable option among the two. However, taking into consideration the reliability of Toyota, Camry could be the better option.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2022 Hyundai Sonata

The competition is neck to neck between the 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The Chevrolet Malibu’s performance is almost on par with the Korean sedan. It also offers similar fuel economy and both the models have the latest technologies. The Chevrolet Malibu again is priced cheaper than the Hyundai Sonata making it the more affordable option out of the two.

Coming to the big questionshould you buy the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu? The answer would depend on your needs but we wouldn’t recommend the Chevrolet Malibu over its capable competition. The competition, even though priced a bit higher, offers better value for money propositions. On the performance front, the Chevrolet Malibu lags behind considerably. Technologically again, it is not up to the competition. The only aspect where it shines is the fuel economy front. The Malibu passing through its 10th generation has aged and is unable to keep up with the competition. The company has plans to bid farewell to Malibu and the sedan is expected to be retired by 2024. We would suggest the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu only if you are tight on your budget and can’t spare any additional dollars.