Used 2020 Chevrolet Malibu RS for sale 

For the year 2020, Chevrolet has segregated the Malibu in 5 trim levels, which are L, LS, RS, LT and the top of the line Premier. The price of the Malibu starts from $22,970 and goes up to $34,195. 1.5L turbocharged Inline 4 is the standard engine choice for all trims of the 2020 Malibu except the Premier trim which is powered by a 2L turbocharged Inline 4 engine. 

Which trim to go for?

We suggest you opt for the RS trim as you will get a lot of exclusive features such as Black Chevrolet bowtie emblem, Blacked-out grille, Rear spoiler, 18" Black chrome-finish aluminum wheels and Dual-outlet exhaust with polished tips. You will also be treated with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob. 

The 2020 Malibu is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged Inline 4 engine. While this is the same unit that powered its predecessor, Chevy has fine-tuned it to deliver 163 horses @ 5700rpm, 3 hp more than last year's figure. The maximum torque output is 184 lb/ft @ 2500rpm. This engine is mated to a CVT that results is refined and linear power delivery.

The 2L turbocharged Inline 4 which is exclusively available with the Premier trim churns out 250 “American horses” @ 5300rpm and 260lb/ft of torque between 2000-5000rpm and comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission. 

*2019 Model Year specs used for comparison purposes only

In terms of raw power, Honda Accords 1.5L Inline 4 produces 192 horses @ 5500rom and 192 lb/ft of torque @ 1600rpm. The Accord is followed by Kia Optima whose 2.5L naturally aspirated Inline 4 churns out 185 hp @ 6000rpm and 178 lb/ft of torque at 4000rpm. 

How fast is it?

The Malibu has never been known for its acceleration. The 2020 Malibu adheres to this tradition and follows on the “tire marks” of its predecessors. The latest Malibu can sprint to 60 in around 8.5 seconds, which is one of the slowest in the segment.

The CVT struggles to deliver power to the front wheels in low revs. It's only after the 4000 when the power from the turbocharger kicks and the Malibu picks up the pace.This car also takes 16 seconds to finish a quarter-mile drag race.

In terms of acceleration, the South Korean sedan is the fastest and takes 6.8 seconds to reach 60mph from a standstill. The Optima is followed by Honda Accord who does the same in 7.6 seconds. 

What about the Braking performance?

The Malibu’s brakes bite down onto the speed effortlessly without any sudden jerks. However, sudden braking the brakes panic and the suspension has a hard time keeping up.

The 11.8-inch discs up front are larger than you find on most sedans and are ventilated for better heat dissipation.

** Used For 70-0 MPH

When the brakes are put through their paces in the braking test, the Malibu is the first to come to a halt, while the Kia and Ford need extra tarmac to stop. In terms of pedal response, the Accord is the sedan to be in, with excellent brake modulation. 

How good is the Ride and Handling?

Malibu is one of the best handling daily drivers in the segment. The ride is calm and composed and the suspension handles most speed bumps and road imperfections well. However, a few bigger ones do make it to the cabin occasionally. 

If you are looking for a car that is athletic, we suggest you look past the Malibu. It merely maintains its composure on sharp turns. The steering is also not the best in terms of giving feedback. It is very numb and won’t excite you through the entire drive.

The Malibu handles itself well on the expressway. While the driver might get bored after a certain time, the passengers won’t be complaining about the same.

2020 Chevy Malibu has a decent fuel economy. While it's not the best in the class, it's right there near the top end. The 1.5L engine has a combined economy figure of 32 MPG with 29 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. The Accord has a combined figure of 33 MPG.

If you opt for the 2L engine, the fuel economy takes a significant hit. It will give you 22 miles for a gallon of gas in the city and 32 miles on the highway which translates to a combined figure of 26 MPG. 

Chevrolet tries to hide the cheap plastic build of the dashboard of the Malibu by festooning it with a mesh-like fabric.

While it may look appealing at first glance, over time you'll definitely wish it wasn't there as it collects a lot of dust and other debris. Chevrolet says the purpose of the mesh is to improve the acoustics of the cabin. 

Comfort is one area where you'll have no complaints about the 2020 Malibu. Whether it's your daily commute or a cross country drive, the comfortable seats of the Malibu will always keep you relaxed. The cabin space is also on par with most of its rivals but falls behind the Honda Accord. 

The front seats have ample space, both in terms of legroom and headspace, and can easily accommodate 6 ft. tall adults. The quality of the seats is also premium and comes with an 8-way power-adjustable option in the RS, LT and Premier trim to ensure the perfect seating position for the driver. As for the front row passenger, the Premier trim has a 6-way power adjustable seat with lumbar support.

The comfort of the rear seat passengers was kept top of mind in Malibu. That's why the design includes a generous rear-seat legroom and headspace. The rear doors also open wide to help make entry and exit easy for the passengers.

How good is the Infotainment system?

The high resolution 8’’ infotainment screen, standard across all trims of the 2020 Malibu, uses neatly organized and intuitively labeled icons, and inputs are met with instant response. There is also a secondary screen across the dial cluster on the Hybrid and Premier trims that allows the driver to access important features and data at a glance.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard across all trims which ensures seamless connectivity of your smartphone with your Malibu. You can access selected apps directly from the infotainment screen while using it to navigate via Google maps and listening to your favorite tracks at the same time.

Chevrolet offers 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity with the all-new Malibu that provides a better in-vehicle experience than your smartphone. The strong signals mean you have a fast and reliable connection for up to seven devices and never out of contact with your friends and family.

All the trims except the Premier trim come with a 6 speaker audio system that has a balanced and vibrant sound signature. The top of the line Premier trim comes with a 9 speaker Bose premium sound system that fills each and every inch of the cabin with a concert-like sound. The excellent sound insulation of the Malibu's cabin only enhances the experience. 

How much cargo can you carry in the Malibu?

The default cargo space on board the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is 15.8 cubic feet. While it is more than some of its rivals,

it falls behind Honda Accord who has a cargo space capacity of 16.7 cubic feet. 

The rear seats are 60/40 folding, but they do not completely fall back to the floor level. It does increase the cargo space to an extent, but nothing very significant. Therefore you are essentially stuck with the default cargo space and this can be a major deterrent for many folks.

What features to expect on the inside?

The Malibu is one of the most important cars for the Chevrolet brand in the US. Owing to this, Chevrolet has decked the interiors of the same with a plethora of features. Some of the most notable features include 

• 120-volt power outlet
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capable
• 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat
• Cabin air filter
• Bose premium 9-speaker audio system

The exterior shell of the 2020 Malibu remains the same as its predecessor, which received a mild mid-cycle refresh.

The Malibu flaunts an enormous new grille in with the iconic “golden cross” on it. The long inclining roofline makes for a sleek side profile. The long overhang along with the chrome styling highlights makes for a really elegant rear fascia.

In terms of dimensions, the Malibu is the longest in the pack with a wheelbase of 111.4 inches that is on par with the Honda Accord. The Ford Fusion is the widest and the tallest car among these competitors.

What are the highlights of the exterior?

The Malibu is loaded with a plethora of bells and whistles. Some of the most notable ones include the likes of the following

• Acoustic laminated glass
• Automatic on/off headlamps
• Body-color heated power outside mirrors
• Bright front sill plates
• Dual-pane power sunroof
• Halogen headlamps

IIHS and NHTSA have not carried out crash tests on the 2020 Chevy Malibu. We will update this space once the crash test results for this car is out. 

Safety Features

• 10 airbags
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Following Distance Indicator
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• LATCH system
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Chevrolet Malibu Vs Honda Accord

The Honda Accord has long been revered as the class leader of the mid-size sedan segment. It has the perfect blend of performance, economy, utility, and technology. Compared to the Malibu, the Honda not only has a brawnier engine, the driving dynamics are also much more refined. The interiors focus on function rather than fancy in both of these sedans. From the outside, the design is equally impressive and completely subjective. Overall, the Honda sits a notch higher than the Chevy in the segment.

Chevrolet Malibu Vs Kia Optima

The Kia Optima comes with the same engine as the Hyundai Sonata; the 2.4L inline-4, which makes 185 hp, while the 1.4L engine on the Malibu manages to make 160. The smaller displacement also means that the Chevy gives you better fuel economy. On the inside, the Optima uses space optimally to keep the rear roomy for taller passengers, while the middle seat in the Malibu gets cramped. The front grille of the Optima resembles the iconic Stinger GT, while some would find resemblance of the Camaro in Malibu’s new front grille.

The Malibu is a fun and reliable sedan from Chevrolet, it has refined handling and performance and the styling has been revised to fit in 2019. Both the engine configurations make good power and are responsive to the throttle, especially the 250 hp 2.0L turbo engine. The interiors and the infotainment are fundamental and functional, with no fancy bells and whistles. The Chevrolet Malibu may not be the best in the segment, but it’s a good option for those who don’t want to buy any run-of-the-mill sedan.