The eighth generation Malibu is all-new for 2013, and is designed to be Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan. Built with a diverse customer base in mind, it will eventually be sold in almost 100 countries and starts at around $22,000 if equipped with base trim and powertrain. In the US market the Malibu comes in LS, LT and LTZ packages. Our 2LZ and LTZ-trimmed test car came in at around $35,000, but with nice power from the Ecotec 2.0 liter turbo, solid looks and plenty of amenities, it felt like we were definitely getting what we paid for.Chevy’s clearly out to win new customers with this current iteration of the Malibu, but it fits in a market segment that’s packed with competition. It makes us wonder, then, is this a car that can replace your old Accord? We were able to soak up some serious miles on our test car during a weekend away to find out what’s what with this offering from Chevy.
GM boasts that the new Malibu has the best aerodynamics in its segment and that its drag coefficient comes in at 0.29, just shy of the eco-friendly Volt’s 0.28. The Malibu still manages to be a somewhat sharp-looking car, though, and even if it looks bland from some angles (the profile, for instance), it still comes out looking better overall than opponents like the Chrysler 200 or the Nissan Altima. From the front, the Malibu certainly looks more sporty, aggressive even, and this is partly because the new model is more than two inches wider than the previous Malibu. Behind that handsome front end is a system that closes airflow through the lower grille opening when air intake is least needed. This is something found on other vehicles like the Cadillac ATS, and it is there to further improve aerodynamics and of course fuel economy. From the back, the new car is also nicely complimented by Camaro-esque tail lights that will really stand out at night, and thanks to the LTZ package these tail lights are LED’s. LTZ also gets you chrome-tipped exhaust and handsome 18-inch alloy wheels. In all honesty, Chevy probably could have borrowed a few more cues from the Camaro. Nobody would have complained, and in a contest of looks with the very popular new Ford Fusion, it would have fared better. The body will be revised for 2014, but it’s not a huge change. Overall, the Malibu is still a good-looking car in a class that typically pretty boring as far as styling goes.
