2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premiere Road Test and Review

2017 Chevrolet Malibu exterior profile ・ Photo by General Motors

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier is a good car with bad timing: The car represents a superior effort by Chevy in the midsize sedan segment, yet the class is losing many of its customers to crossovers and SUVs. That may be why the Bowtie brand has decided to bolster the Malibu’s content levels again for the new model year. This year, for example, the Malibu Premier gets an updated 9-speed automatic transmission for use with its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Chevy also extends the Malibu’s appeal at the other end of the pricing spectrum with significant audio system enhancements for the affordable LT and LS trims. The new setups now provide Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration along with Teen Driver functionality. Nor are these the only reasons to consider a Malibu in today’s SUV-focused marketplace.

Pricing

The MSRP for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier is $30,975, only a $55 increase over the previous model despite the debut of that new transmission. The Premier trim also brings a number of premium benefits at that price, such as an uplevel standard infotainment system with navigation and mobile Wi-Fi. A rearview camera is standard as well, and so are stylish LED daytime running light. Inside the comfortable cabin, heating is standard for the front seats and steering wheel. From a competitive standpoint, the Malibu Premier is a bit more expensive than a Ford Fusion Titanium, but the Blue Oval product doesn’t have nav or Wi-Fi. As for the Toyota Camry XLE, the Malibu undercuts that rival by almost $400 with comparable engine choices.

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Power, Performance and Fuel Efficiency

Chevy serves up a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as the standard powerplant for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier, and forced induction squeezes 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft of torque from that unit’s 2.0 liters of displacement. At the same time, EPA ratings for the Malibu Premier, with its standard 9-speed automatic transmission, are up at 22 MPG city/33 MPG highway/26 MPG combined. That’s an extra 1 MPG in highway driving as compared to the 2016 Malibu Premier, and it extends the car’s fuel economy lead over its direct rivals. Standard for the Malibu is a 1.5-liter turbo that’s good for 160 horsepower, 184 lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA line of 27/36/30, while the Malibu Hybrid ups the ante to 49/43/46.

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Exterior Design and Lighting

Thanks to its extensive use of lightweight materials, the current-generation Malibu is hundreds of pounds lighter than the 2015 models, though it’s also longer. The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier actually has one of the longest footprints in the segment, with an extra 3 inches in length versus the Ford Fusion and a 2.7-inch advantage on the Hyundai Sonata. That helps give the Malibu a streamlined appearance that gets much help from the dramatically converging character lines on its sides. All Malibu trims boast sophisticated details like LED taillamps, and the Premier grade complements that upscale illumination with standard LED daytime running lamps, heated exterior mirrors, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Optional exterior goodies include an available power-sliding sunroof and 19-inch wheels.

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Interior Design and Capacities

The added length for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier also comes in handy inside the cabin. For instance, some 1.3 inches of the Malibu’s growth went into the rear-seat legroom, for a nice increase in comfort. On the topic of comfort, the Premier trim also supplies standard dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather for the seats, steering wheel, and gearshift lever. Also, all Malibu trims feature Chevy’s rear-seat reminder system, which can remind you to check the back seats before you leave the car. Plenty of other cargo space is available—from a trunk with 15.8 cubic feet to a dedicated cubby for placing (and wirelessly recharging) your smartphone.

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Infotainment and Audio Technology

There’s nothing midsize about the technology levels in the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier. Instead, there’s a full Chevy MyLink infotainment system with an 8-inch color touchscreen, navigation, voice recognition, and OnStar’s mobile Wi-Fi hotspot with 4G LTE connectivity. Moreover, a 3-month, 3-gigabyte data package comes with that Wi-Fi setup, as does a portfolio of OnStar telematics and advanced smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth is standard, for both hands-free calling and audio streaming, and the interior additionally sports a 110-volt power outlet and two standard rear-seat USB ports; each of those has charging capability. On the other hand, wireless charging also is standard for the Malibu Premier. A 3-month trial subscription for SiriusXM Satellite Radio, plus a premium 9-speaker Bose sound system, are standard.

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Safety Ratings and Technology

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu has a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from the NHTSA, and although it has yet to be evaluated by the IIHS, the 2016 model was certified with a Top Safety Pick+ recognition. Further, that was with top ratings for all crashworthiness tests and front crash-prevention technology. Nor is that the only driver-assistance feature offered for the 2017 Malibu. A rearview camera is standard; safety options include driver-assistance measures such as lane keeping, lane-departure warning, side blind-zone alert, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic braking, automatic high beams, and parking assistance. It’s also worth noting that the Malibu’s available forward-collision technologies include a camera-based system specifically for detecting pedestrians. Chevy covers the basics with 10 standard airbags for all Malibu models.

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Available Equipment

Shoppers don’t generally associate mainstream sedans with aftermarket accessories, yet there’s a surprising variety of genuine Chevy upgrades available for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Among them: a sport-tuned suspension and low-profile rear spoiler for performance-oriented customers, 18- and 19-inch wheels for extra eye-catching style cues, and numerous cargo-management resources for boosting the vehicle’s versatility. Chevy also continues to support the Malibu at SEMA, the country’s largest trade show for the automotive aftermarket industry, so you never know what could be next. Indeed, the latest Malibu got the “Blue Line” treatment at the most recent show, where an aggressive concept edition wore slate blue metallic wheels, a distinctive Genesis White exterior finish, a ground-effect kit, and a lowered suspension—all of which were being evaluated for possible future production.

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Other Cool Information

Folks who like the looks of the 2017 Chevrolet Premier but want better fuel-efficiency should consider the Malibu Hybrid. With a 7-inch MyLink system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control and 6-speaker audio, the Hybrid has its share of premium content. More importantly, it also has a high-tech powertrain that pulls together a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine, a 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and a two-motor drive unit similar to the one in the Chevy Volt. In the Malibu Hybrid, there's 182 total horsepower and EPA ratings of 49 MPG city/43 MPG highway/46 MPG combined. To put that performance into context, the 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid is rated at 43/41/42, and the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid peaks at 42/38/40.

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Final Thoughts

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Premier just may be today’s premier midsize sedan, complete with some of the segment’s most advanced infotainment, powertrain, and safety technologies. A detailed exterior design and roomy, refined cabin also give the car a certain feeling of elegance that was missing from recent Malibu generations. In fact, it may be hard for people to remember what the last-gen Malibu even looked like. There should be no such problem with the current version, and customers should put it on their shopping lists.

Photo by General Motors