I used to work for a Chevrolet dealership, and in February 2012, when we got our first '13 Malibu's off the transporter, people were STUNNED at the improvement over the old Malibu in all aspects. It's a lovely car, it really is.
@JetMechMA I didn't mean the Logo... This car is an Opel Insignia... GM ordered Opel to design new chassis and a new car.. And Opel did just that.. Opel said around two years ago that its the best car they ever made... This Malibu uses that chassis and a lot of Insignia parts the headlights are the first thing... The first car to use the Insignia platform was the Buick Regal... the platform is called GM Epsilon 2 or smthing like that but it was engineered by Opel of Germany..
Genuinely pleased about Chevrolet's design aesthetic, not to mention the choice of power-plants for their newer cars. Very glad they're starting to think more like the rest of the auto-industry (which sounds a bit like I'm saying they're boring, but I think we all know how far behind most of the car-manufacturers in the US were compared to the European and Asian manufacturers).
@RichKilla86ers Buick Regal is the Opel Insignia with a different grille. No Opel's are offered in the Untied States so not a re-badge. The G6 Aura and current Malibu are on the Epsilon I. The new Malibu is on Epsilon II which is a all new platform. The regal is on the short based Epsilon II, new Malibu super Epsilon II.
this is such a serious step forward i guess seeing the progress that Fiat/Chrysler are having and doing got GM motivated to make something with quality that can actually compete
I test drove one, I believe is a mid trim LS and heard droning sound from the tires. Engine was a bit loud but any 4cyl. car usually is. Unless its a luxury brand car.
I think it looks good. It's a very nice alternative to a Camry. And they even borrowed styling elements at the C piullar and rear section from the Mulsanne. Check it out; I think you'll agree.
This is so much more classy than the third generation Malibu. (If this IS the fourth gen.) I was thinking about buying a 2012 Malibu, but I think I'm gonna wait.
Automotive blog Jalopnik broke down which automotive lending companies got the most help, and leading the way was Ford Credit, which borrowed $15.9 billion. GMAC, GM’s financing arm which provided auto loans beyond the GM family of vehicles, took $13.9 billion. BMW took $6.2 billion. Chrysler $4.9 billion and Toyota $4.6 billion
I noticed you have an acura, which is a luxury brand. would you ever consider buying the infiniti m hybrid? it looks pretty impressive for a hybrid. Or is that out of your price range?
what year is your fusion, my sister bought a 2012 Fusion in December(her own Xmas gift to herself). She wanted 4cyl. gas mileage. She checked out the 12 Accord, 12 Sonata, 12 Optima, 12 Ford Fusion and considered the malibu. But she narrowed it down to the Fusion and Accord. Well Ford had major rebates on their fusions since its the last yr. she bought one rather than an Accord. Dealers wouldnt budge on price for a fully loaded EX-L navi with the 4cyl. for the Accord. :(
Certainly looks better than the previous model IMHO. 4cyl only is interesting, since the other cars it competes against also come with 280+ hp V6's. And he didn't mention a turbo 4cyl. I am also curious to see if it actually gets that fuel economy in only a mild hybrid format.
@RichKilla86ers Jeeze, that's a bit harsh. Yeah They are both based on the same platform, along with the Pontiac G6, the Saturn Aura, the Buick LaCrosse and more, but that doesn't mean that the Malibu is a mere rebadge of the Insignia. It is different overall design. A true rebadge is like the Commodore and the G8.
Slick video, but put a polarizing filter on the hood cam so we can see through the windshield better. Chevy needs a super-mileage mid-size car, though. This car, at $26k, costs too much when compared to a Kia Optima with the DI engine.
That new 2.5L will have them catching up to Ford and Toyota. Toyota has had a 2.5L in the Camry for two years now and it's nice to see GM catching up. Now all they have to do is pull a Sonato and put a 274hp engine in that Malibu. By next spring it is rumored that Ford will have a 250hp Eco Boost in the Fusion.
@MrNoahthefox95 I did drive both actually, I'm half German, half American :) And the Mondeo can't compete with the 5 series in terms of driving dynamics, interior styling & quality, luxury and technology. The only cars that can are practically the Audi A6, Merc E-Class and maybe the Jag XF. That being said, the Mondeo IS a very good sedan and possibly the best in the class of non-luxury sedans. Maybe they'll bring it over to the US like they did it with the Fiesta :)
@CHUUMPASS Thank God they are redoing Impala. They haven't used a new body style since 2006. 2000 before that, but the Malibu has changed so many times! :)
That's actually not entirely true. GM is using Opel as a jumping off point for many of it's newer cars, but the cars STILL go through extensive testing, revision and engineering before it reaches the US under a new name. The 2013 Malibu is built using 60% US parts, and final assembly is in Kansas. This is just the beginning of a trend that will eventually see American cars built with almost ALL American made parts, only outsourcing things like NAV displays or computer chips.
What about a 4cyl with FI? I think there are many impressive small engines out there that put out respectable power. I think the Malibu will have a sportier option in the future.
i dont give a crap what it does or how good it looks. if i cant afford it, im not gonna buy it. the problem with modern cars is they are to damn expensive. id kill for a new mustang/camero/challenger, but i dont have an extra $600 a month laying around. also im not going to settle for a smaller engine or less amenities because i can go down the road to the used lot and buy what i want at an affordable price. only it will be used, which doesnt bother me. yours truly, used car king
I don't blame you. Things like that are why i personally would rather drive pre-owned for the rest of my life. Since the passing of Pontiac cars have been going very much downhill. It's nearly impossible to keep supporting a company that fucked you over and flushed your money down the toilet.
I have driven 2 older 4cyl. cars. They were great on fuel economy, but not enough punch which was the tradeoff. Now that I drive a v6 that is still in fuel economy for a vehicle of its size and great v6 engine. I know that 4cyl. turbos seem to be a growing market for the mid size segment in the U.S. but Honda still offers a v6 rather than turbos. Also I fear the 4cyl. reliability from any GM product. My preference, and some will agree with me that they would like v6 engine rather than a 4cyl.
@petergriffintubin1 yeah, I don't like how they did everything between the B and C Pillars on this car. Other than that, I think it's all right. But not as cool looking as the one it replaces, for sure. I'm not sure about the 300M, though. The new Chrysler Grill and back door area kind of gave it the refinement it sorely needed after so many years of the older design. But nothing beats a previous gen 300M with the mesh grille...as far as that car is concerned.
Well currently I'm in college. But plan is later in life to purchase another luxury brand car or suv/cuv. Hybrids seem to be a growing market within the luxury brands, I have always wanted an MDX from Acura but the M Hybrid just looks too too bulky and curvy to the point its a hot mess. Specs are impressive, but I will wait to see how Acura applies their hybrid system to their SH-AWD. seem to have equally impressive numbers on paper for their RL. and hope they add that tech to their MDX.
I DO understand. I understand that there's a reason the Mal finished in last place in every comparison test it participated in. Insanity is keeping GMC while holding on to the illusion that it's any different (or better) than a Chevy and expecting to be taken seriously. Chevy does not deserve to be dragged down to Buick's level. Some of the Malibu's problems start with having to share a platform with the Regal. Rental car companies will love this car; everyone else will piss on it.
GM always amazes me on how they can screw up a great car. I have an 08 Malibu with a 4cyl in it and was really excited to trade it in on a new 2013 with a V6 in it (I hate the 4cyl no power and about the same mpg as a V6) well that's apparently not happening. The mid size class may be dominated by 4cyl in the upcoming years but there will always be a market for a more potent V6 version guess I'll go ahead and get a Fusion or Charger
looks almost exactly like a new ford taurus mixed with the belt line of VW CC ... wow, way to go chevy, once again you aim for the middle of the pack style wise and create another rental car donor ... and i used to be a chevy guy
Judging from these comments a lot of people don't know what they are talking about. This looks much better than the new and cheap looking 2012 Camry. The gas pedal is the correct size on the Chevy.
@USA4July1776 Well, I live in Detroit. My parents and grandparents all worked for GM in some form or fashion. We all try to make a living just like you. We all drive GM cars and love them. Who cares if its a Union built car, its a hard honest living. GM is back on top in sales again, so GM must be doing something right. Oh, and you spelled "hole" wrong.
I like the outside but the inside isn't all that appealing to me. The inside is what got me to buy my current Malibu (2011). But the exterior is gorgeous.
@Hiluxtaco I can't find any actual data, but I know GM's goal when they introduced the Malibu was to have no more than 20% of production go to rental companies. Given that, I don't think the figure is higher than 40%. Plus, the Malibu (current-gen) will continue to sell until a bit into 2012, and the sales numbers I found only went up to 2010. Sure, "millions" is an exaggeration, but more Malibus will go to customers than rental companies.
Even though it pretty much goes against GM's MO (introduce a new car years before it's release and spending more money on advertising that development, giving every other car company plenty of time outdo them) hopefully they are planning something big for the Impala.
I'm not sure if it's part of the Vauxhaul Insignia Platform from the UK, but it's very similar. But then again, it looks too much like a Mondeo or the new CD4 platform (Ford Fusion)
I used to work for a Chevrolet dealership, and in February 2012, when we got our first '13 Malibu's off the transporter, people were STUNNED at the improvement over the old Malibu in all aspects. It's a lovely car, it really is.
My main gripe with the previous design was the tail lights so I'm glad they redesigned it. This car looks pretty awesome.
The audio in the video is hard to hear but the pictures are great.
looks like motortrend got a new videographer. the videography is much better than before. good job corey!
The car is gorgeous, all those exterior lines are just right. loving the details in the headlights too!
@JetMechMA I didn't mean the Logo... This car is an Opel Insignia... GM ordered Opel to design new chassis and a new car.. And Opel did just that.. Opel said around two years ago that its the best car they ever made... This Malibu uses that chassis and a lot of Insignia parts the headlights are the first thing... The first car to use the Insignia platform was the Buick Regal... the platform is called GM Epsilon 2 or smthing like that but it was engineered by Opel of Germany..
Genuinely pleased about Chevrolet's design aesthetic, not to mention the choice of power-plants for their newer cars.
Very glad they're starting to think more like the rest of the auto-industry (which sounds a bit like I'm saying they're boring, but I think we all know how far behind most of the car-manufacturers in the US were compared to the European and Asian manufacturers).
A new golden age for the American Automotive industry is approaching !!!
@RichKilla86ers Buick Regal is the Opel Insignia with a different grille. No Opel's are offered in the Untied States so not a re-badge. The G6 Aura and current Malibu are on the Epsilon I. The new Malibu is on Epsilon II which is a all new platform. The regal is on the short based Epsilon II, new Malibu super Epsilon II.
@redneon06 well they are!, an all new Impala is already in the works, set for late 2013 early 2014. greetings
Good to know my 3.6 liter V6 Malibu will fly by these new models.
You just described Buick and GMC in your last sentence. I was thinking the same thing. Congrats!
My god, this car is gorgeous. I love the front end. Definitely a Fusion competitor now.
Here's to hoping for a v6 in the future.
this is such a serious step forward i guess seeing the progress that Fiat/Chrysler are having and doing got GM motivated to make something with quality that can actually compete
I'm speechless. This car is just beautiful...
Excellent editing... car looks good as well.
Better looking than a Sonata, Fusion, Camry, etc. This car will get the attention it deserves.
I always loved the Malibu's headlights and loathed the tailights. It's just great looking now.
I really like this new design. It looks like it'll stand out from other brands.
Holy shit! A keyless entry/start Chevrolet! Never thought I'd see the day..
I test drove one, I believe is a mid trim LS and heard droning sound from the tires. Engine was a bit loud but any 4cyl. car usually is. Unless its a luxury brand car.
I think it looks good. It's a very nice alternative to a Camry. And they even borrowed styling elements at the C piullar and rear section from the Mulsanne. Check it out; I think you'll agree.
Definitely going in a great direction. My only gripe is that I wish the reviewer would be a little more dynamic in his presentation :/
This is so much more classy than the third generation Malibu. (If this IS the fourth gen.) I was thinking about buying a 2012 Malibu, but I think I'm gonna wait.
I am very excitied to see how the new Camry, Fusion, Altima and even Accord coming out later on look compared to this.
Automotive blog Jalopnik broke down which automotive lending companies got the most help, and leading the way was Ford Credit, which borrowed $15.9 billion. GMAC, GM’s financing arm which provided auto loans beyond the GM family of vehicles, took $13.9 billion. BMW took $6.2 billion. Chrysler $4.9 billion and Toyota $4.6 billion
I would say this is a rather subtle redesign, but it's nothing short of attractive.
I will be buying one of these cars in the near future.
i don't understand all the hate this is a very nice redesign and i'm really loving the tail lights
I noticed you have an acura, which is a luxury brand. would you ever consider buying the infiniti m hybrid? it looks pretty impressive for a hybrid. Or is that out of your price range?
I havent been this turned on in a while, they did a great job with this baby.
what year is your fusion, my sister bought a 2012 Fusion in December(her own Xmas gift to herself). She wanted 4cyl. gas mileage.
She checked out the 12 Accord, 12 Sonata, 12 Optima, 12 Ford Fusion and considered the malibu. But she narrowed it down to the Fusion and Accord. Well Ford had major rebates on their fusions since its the last yr. she bought one rather than an Accord.
Dealers wouldnt budge on price for a fully loaded EX-L navi with the 4cyl. for the Accord. :(
@bartmatton i don't really see the camaro in this other than a bit in the tail lights
I think it looks good, it does remind me of a Camry but more aggressive, but definitely a Camaro at the back. But wow did you see that interior, NICE!
Looks hell of a lot better than that new 2012 Camry. I'd much rather be seen in one of these :)
Certainly looks better than the previous model IMHO. 4cyl only is interesting, since the other cars it competes against also come with 280+ hp V6's. And he didn't mention a turbo 4cyl. I am also curious to see if it actually gets that fuel economy in only a mild hybrid format.
@RichKilla86ers Jeeze, that's a bit harsh. Yeah They are both based on the same platform, along with the Pontiac G6, the Saturn Aura, the Buick LaCrosse and more, but that doesn't mean that the Malibu is a mere rebadge of the Insignia. It is different overall design. A true rebadge is like the Commodore and the G8.
@hrx21 if you change the headlights and make the grill bigger on the old 300 it looks like a rolls royce... your point?
Slick video, but put a polarizing filter on the hood cam so we can see through the windshield better. Chevy needs a super-mileage mid-size car, though. This car, at $26k, costs too much when compared to a Kia Optima with the DI engine.
I'm sure fleet/rental car companies will be happy to get them...
It looks really good imo. Chevy and Ford realize we all can't copy Benz and BMW like the Asian brands are at the moment.
This looks really good deff. much better than last gen. kudos chevy.
This new model follows the platform of the 2010 Buick Regal,which is a very sleek and elegant lookin' car too!
Finally a decent looking Malibu the previous ones looked cheap and even felt that way when driving. This is definitely a upgrade
That new 2.5L will have them catching up to Ford and Toyota. Toyota has had a 2.5L in the Camry for two years now and it's nice to see GM catching up. Now all they have to do is pull a Sonato and put a 274hp engine in that Malibu. By next spring it is rumored that Ford will have a 250hp Eco Boost in the Fusion.
Im 20 years old attending College and i own the 2013 Malibu its nice n safe to drive on the highway ,,
What the fuck are you, a robot?
@MrNoahthefox95 I did drive both actually, I'm half German, half American :) And the Mondeo can't compete with the 5 series in terms of driving dynamics, interior styling & quality, luxury and technology. The only cars that can are practically the Audi A6, Merc E-Class and maybe the Jag XF.
That being said, the Mondeo IS a very good sedan and possibly the best in the class of non-luxury sedans.
Maybe they'll bring it over to the US like they did it with the Fiesta :)
@AlexKBK pretty sure he says 2.5 not 3.5. Though 3.5L I4 would give some serious torque for a non-turbo 4
@determinedskeptic Oh yeah, he did say 2.5l 4 banger. Thx for correction.
i usually dont like american/gm cars but this actually looks pretty nice
@CHUUMPASS Thank God they are redoing Impala. They haven't used a new body style since 2006. 2000 before that, but the Malibu has changed so many times! :)
Very true, I would love to have one. I personally think it looks even better than its Australian cousin too.
@TacoManTuesday The new Camry wishes it looked this nice. The Malibu is becoming a serious contender in the class.
That's actually not entirely true. GM is using Opel as a jumping off point for many of it's newer cars, but the cars STILL go through extensive testing, revision and engineering before it reaches the US under a new name. The 2013 Malibu is built using 60% US parts, and final assembly is in Kansas. This is just the beginning of a trend that will eventually see American cars built with almost ALL American made parts, only outsourcing things like NAV displays or computer chips.
What about a 4cyl with FI? I think there are many impressive small engines out there that put out respectable power. I think the Malibu will have a sportier option in the future.
Not guna lie, looks good. alot better than the last gen
This is the closest I will ever get to a Saab 95. I want one!
@stydel311 going downhill (or downmountain if you will) in neutral with the engine off?
i dont give a crap what it does or how good it looks. if i cant afford it, im not gonna buy it. the problem with modern cars is they are to damn expensive. id kill for a new mustang/camero/challenger, but i dont have an extra $600 a month laying around. also im not going to settle for a smaller engine or less amenities because i can go down the road to the used lot and buy what i want at an affordable price. only it will be used, which doesnt bother me. yours truly, used car king
if you buy this car you will love it. and don't just rely on these reviews, they are not enough justice. Go test drive one.
This is my dream car, I want one so bad!
I don't blame you. Things like that are why i personally would rather drive pre-owned for the rest of my life. Since the passing of Pontiac cars have been going very much downhill. It's nearly impossible to keep supporting a company that fucked you over and flushed your money down the toilet.
this will be my next demo...
I think it looks really good.
I have driven 2 older 4cyl. cars. They were great on fuel economy, but not enough punch which was the tradeoff. Now that I drive a v6 that is still in fuel economy for a vehicle of its size and great v6 engine.
I know that 4cyl. turbos seem to be a growing market for the mid size segment in the U.S. but Honda still offers a v6 rather than turbos. Also I fear the 4cyl. reliability from any GM product. My preference, and some will agree with me that they would like v6 engine rather than a 4cyl.
there is a v6 malibu also. im not confirm but may be there are 6 types or levels in malibu likr LS base, LT mid, LTZ, LTZ premium v6 3000cc
Headlights from BMW, taillights from Camaro. Wow creative!
@Jferrari427 That was the first thing that hit...The front definitely looks like the C300. The back is the camaro...
I hope they make a rs or ss version with their V6 engine.
@petergriffintubin1 yeah, I don't like how they did everything between the B and C Pillars on this car. Other than that, I think it's all right. But not as cool looking as the one it replaces, for sure. I'm not sure about the 300M, though. The new Chrysler Grill and back door area kind of gave it the refinement it sorely needed after so many years of the older design. But nothing beats a previous gen 300M with the mesh grille...as far as that car is concerned.
Such a beautiful, gorgeous car!
I really like this one. Although it's a combination of 2 different Chevy's, I still think this is a lot more badass than the last ugly generation.
America is making the nicest cars in the world again.
Well currently I'm in college. But plan is later in life to purchase another luxury brand car or suv/cuv. Hybrids seem to be a growing market within the luxury brands, I have always wanted an MDX from Acura but the M Hybrid just looks too too bulky and curvy to the point its a hot mess. Specs are impressive, but I will wait to see how Acura applies their hybrid system to their SH-AWD. seem to have equally impressive numbers on paper for their RL. and hope they add that tech to their MDX.
GM does certainly need to give us the option of a V6.
I DO understand. I understand that there's a reason the Mal finished in last place in every comparison test it participated in. Insanity is keeping GMC while holding on to the illusion that it's any different (or better) than a Chevy and expecting to be taken seriously. Chevy does not deserve to be dragged down to Buick's level. Some of the Malibu's problems start with having to share a platform with the Regal. Rental car companies will love this car; everyone else will piss on it.
@nedmano I believe your thinking of the Regal, that originated from the Opel not this...
Nice looking for the midsize segment. I'd take this over a boring Accord or Camry anyday.
I own the 2012 chevy malibu but not the facelift very nice interior and still the audi r8 is still my favorite car
GM always amazes me on how they can screw up a great car. I have an 08 Malibu with a 4cyl in it and was really excited to trade it in on a new 2013 with a V6 in it (I hate the 4cyl no power and about the same mpg as a V6) well that's apparently not happening. The mid size class may be dominated by 4cyl in the upcoming years but there will always be a market for a more potent V6 version guess I'll go ahead and get a Fusion or Charger
looks almost exactly like a new ford taurus mixed with the belt line of VW CC ... wow, way to go chevy, once again you aim for the middle of the pack style wise and create another rental car donor ... and i used to be a chevy guy
@TacoManTuesday The Camry WISHES it could look this good.
With a 4-banger only engine lineup, it pretty much IS a giant Cruze.
you have me like, half a glance at the interior. Thanks
Judging from these comments a lot of people don't know what they are talking about. This looks much better than the new and cheap looking 2012 Camry. The gas pedal is the correct size on the Chevy.
Thank god the old intro is back..
Very nice good style and gas mileage hopefully a good price for the average working class family
@USA4July1776 Well, I live in Detroit. My parents and grandparents all worked for GM in some form or fashion. We all try to make a living just like you. We all drive GM cars and love them. Who cares if its a Union built car, its a hard honest living. GM is back on top in sales again, so GM must be doing something right. Oh, and you spelled "hole" wrong.
I like the outside but the inside isn't all that appealing to me. The inside is what got me to buy my current Malibu (2011). But the exterior is gorgeous.
@Hiluxtaco I can't find any actual data, but I know GM's goal when they introduced the Malibu was to have no more than 20% of production go to rental companies. Given that, I don't think the figure is higher than 40%. Plus, the Malibu (current-gen) will continue to sell until a bit into 2012, and the sales numbers I found only went up to 2010.
Sure, "millions" is an exaggeration, but more Malibus will go to customers than rental companies.
Even though it pretty much goes against GM's MO (introduce a new car years before it's release and spending more money on advertising that development, giving every other car company plenty of time outdo them) hopefully they are planning something big for the Impala.
I'm not sure if it's part of the Vauxhaul Insignia Platform from the UK, but it's very similar. But then again, it looks too much like a Mondeo or the new CD4 platform (Ford Fusion)
Don't know why but I LOVE IT!
Has like a Camaro Headlights/Butt, Malibu Body, And kinda ford taurus front! I like this malibu!
The 2013 Ford Fusion already has this beat, ye I can tell the future.
Looks very much like the current Malibu!
@atlridder To me its either 8-Cylinders or No-Cylinders.
WHOA those rear light scared the shit out of me
This car looks amazing! Great job Chevy! No offense, but not the most exciting host. :) Can't wait to drive this car. I love the design.
@MrOldeastdallas the 2013 malibu looks WAAAY better than the model it replaces, inside and out......but thats just my opinion...