2022 Chevrolet Malibu Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu flies under the radar as a comfortable and confident midsize sedan. The Malibu was last refreshed in 2019, and it...

The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu flies under the radar as a comfortable and confident midsize sedan. The Malibu was last refreshed in 2019, and it carries over into the 2022 model year with minimal changes. This year, the Malibu drops the previous base L trim and gains an electronic parking brake.

The Malibu is available in the LS, RS, LT, and Premier trims. All four provide 15.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which is average for the class. That can be expanded with the standard 60/40 split-fold rear seats. Standard features on the LS include remote keyless entry, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. The RS trim adds a rear spoiler and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, as well as a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The LT lacks the spoiler and leather-wrapped steering wheel of the RS trim, but it gains dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, and heated front seats.

The range-topping Premier adds ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, wireless device charging, an additional USB port, and a Bose premium stereo.

The base engine in the Malibu is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It makes just 160 horsepower, routed to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Premier trim comes with the more capable 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It routes power to the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The most efficient engine is the 1.5-liter unit, returning fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 36 highway, and 32 combined. The 2.0-liter engine returns 22 mpg city, 33 highway, and 26 combined.

GM provides safety features like its Teen Driver system and a function that won’t let you put the car in drive unless you’re buckled up. For the highly desirable driver assistance technology, you’ll be paying extra. Forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring are all available either as an optional upgrade, or as a standard feature on one of the higher-level trims.

Base MSRP for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is $23,400. The RS trim starts at $24,400, and the LS starts at $26,800. The range-topping Premier costs $33,500. The Malibu is backed by a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.