Chevy Malibu 2022 Review

Call it the last Chevy sedan standing. The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is the only new family car that still wears a bow-tie badge, and it's now a 7-year-old design with no direct replacement in sight. The 2022 Malibu is also the only midsize sedan made by a traditional domestic automaker, though numerous rivals are also built in the United States.

Despite its age, the Malibu continues largely unchanged. The bargain-basement L trim level has been dropped for 2022, leaving four versions for your consideration. All have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but only the larger and more powerful one in the Premier trim supplies any semblance of driving satisfaction.

Inside, the Malibu features simple controls and displays that look increasingly dated. The dashboard is mounted low and practical storage is limited, but the Malibu is roomy enough for four adults and offers a reasonably sized trunk. As another sign of the Malibu's age, its advanced driving assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, are optional for all trim levels. Most 2022 rival sedans offer them as standard. 

Clearly, the Malibu's days are numbered. For businesses, governments and consumers seeking an affordable made-in-America sedan from a U.S.-based automaker, the Malibu is the only choice. If that doesn't describe you, we recommend buying one of the Malibu's rivals, such as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 or Toyota Camry.

Which Malibu does MatoCar recommend?

Chevrolet eliminates the base L trim level from the 2022 Malibu lineup, leaving LS, RS, LT, and Premier trims. All but the Premier have a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) driving the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. A larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is exclusive to the Malibu Premier, providing 250 hp and 260 lb-ft. It uses a nine-speed automatic transmission.

LS The most affordable Malibu comes with:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic headlights
• Air conditioning
• Cruise control
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• Six-speaker audio system

RS For a sportier look, the Malibu RS includes:

• 18-inch wheels
• Rear spoiler
• Black grille and badging
• Dual exhaust outlets
• Body-colored outside mirrors
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

LT The popular LT offers the most variety in the Malibu lineup. Standard features include:

• 17-inch wheels
• LED running lights and taillights
• Heated outside mirrors
• Heated front seats
• Rear passenger air vents
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Satellite radio

Premier For a Malibu with all of the trimmings, consider the Premier for its more powerful engine and:

• 19-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Ambient interior lighting
• Dual-pane sunroof
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation
• Nine-speaker premium audio system
• Wireless device charging

The Malibu doesn't come with any standard advanced driver safety features. Instead, Chevy offers them through a few different Driver Confidence packages. Highlights of these packages include:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Malibu and the car in front)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)