Used Chevy Malibu Buying Guide

• When buying a used Chevy Malibu, you may want something in the ninth generation, as it comes with the best features and mileage.
• This is the daily driver for soccer moms everywhere, thanks to its extra space, which gives added comfort.
• The eighth generation isn’t bad, but it wasn’t really around long enough to stretch its wings.

Being that this is the last new generation of Malibu, it comes with some great features, as it is the most modern one. When it hit the roads in 2016, it came in with a longer wheelbase, giving more interior room, as well as being more efficient since Chevy was able to shave off 300 pounds.

Coming in 4 trims, these are the L, LS, LT, and Premier. With a few trims, you’ll want to look for the upper two as they come with more bells and whistles. If you’re not looking for the best features and just want something reliable, then you can’t go wrong with any of them.

What makes this generation unique is that it comes with two engines, with neither being a V6 option. There’s the 1.5L I4 and the 2.0L I4. Of these two engines, the one that you want to look for if you value efficiency the most is the 1.5L. In the later years, you can get up to 32 MPG combined, while in the earlier years, you’ll be able to get 30 MPG combined. Up until 2019, you could also find a hybrid option. This allowed you to get 46 MPG combined, just missing the 600-mile range.

Some features that you can find from this generation are wireless phone charging, preventive safety technologies, including ten standard air bags featuring a forward collision avoidance system, rear cross traffic alerts, and an optional automatic parking assist.

With the 2019 update, there was a new trim that joined the lineup, and this was the RS. This brought a much-welcomed sport design to the family. It comes with a black grille, unique 18-inch wheels, and dual exhaust. This year also ditched the 8-inch screen with the HD ones that are found on the hybrid and Premier trims.

When looking at this generation, it didn’t really have much to write home about, given that it was only around a few years. The trims that you can find from this generation are the LS, LT, Eco, and LTZ. This generation came with a 7-inch screen that introduced phone connectivity to the line.

When looking at this generation, there are 3 engines that you can find. There’s the 2.0L I4, 2.5L I4, and the 2.4L I4 with eAssist. Of these engines, the best one is the 2.5L I4, as it blends power and efficiency. While it isn’t as powerful as the 259-horsepower 2.0L I4, it does produce 196 horsepower. This engine does get 29 MPG combined, making it almost as good as the new-gen models.