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Chevrolet Malibu

21 model years from 2005 to 2025, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

Chevrolet Malibu
Pictured: Chevrolet Malibu LT (IX, Facelift) – f 02112024. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
Model years
2005–2025
Class
Midsize Cars
Latest engines
1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Best MPG
24–46 combined, by year
Latest rating
★★★★★ (2025)
Recalls
41 campaigns, all years
Most complaints
2009 (1,140)
Fewest problems
2023
Interest
20,204 Wikipedia views / 30 days

The 2025 Malibu in brief

The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize car offered with a 1.5L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 194 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,126 lb (Ls/RS/Lt 4dr Sedan).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 31 MPG combined (28 city / 36 highway), 3% better than the 2025 midsize car average of 30 MPG, for an estimated $2,150 a year in fuel.

In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.

It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.

The Chevrolet Malibu has 21 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2025.

Its most efficient year was 2019 at 46 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 24 to 46 MPG.

Owners most often report problems with the steering (2,804), electrical system (2,632), engine (1,923).

Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2016 is the year to avoid.

2013 has the most recalls (11); all years together count 41 campaigns and 10,063 owner complaints.

How the 2005 Malibu compares

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (2.2L 4-cyl and 3.5L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 188 inches long and 70 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,175 lb (4dr Sedan FWD Base).

About the Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1983 and from 1997 to 2025. The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle before becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-wheel-drive intermediate, General Motors revived the Malibu nameplate as a front-wheel-drive car in 1997.

From the Wikipedia article "Chevrolet Malibu", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

2025 Malibu pros & cons

Full 2025 details →

What's good

  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.

Watch out for

No weak spots against similar models in the data.

Best and worst years to buy used

NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →

Compare head to head

Compare the Malibu with any other car →

Malibu changes by model year

  1. 2023
    • Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG down from 32 to 30
    • NHTSA overall rating up from 4 to 5 stars
  2. 2020
    • No hybrid version any more
    • Engine dropped: 1.8L 4-cyl
    • Best combined MPG down from 46 to 32
  3. 2019
    • NHTSA overall rating down from 5 to 4 stars
  4. 2017
    • Engine dropped: 2.5L 4-cyl
    • Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
  5. 2016
    • New body dimensions: 2.0 in longer, wheelbase +3.5 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • New hybrid version
    • Engines added: 1.8L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG up from 29 to 46
  6. 2015
    • No hybrid version any more
    • Engine dropped: 2.4L 4-cyl
  7. 2014
    • Lightest version 179 lb heavier
  8. 2013
    • New body dimensions, wheelbase −4.3 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • New hybrid version
    • Engines added: 2.5L 4-cyl and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
    • Engine dropped: 3.6L 6-cyl
    • Best combined MPG up from 26 to 29
  9. 2011
    • No hybrid version any more
    • Engine dropped: 3.5L 6-cyl
    • Best combined MPG down from 29 to 26
  10. 2009
    • Best combined MPG up from 27 to 29
  11. 2008
    • New body dimensions: 3.5 in longer, wheelbase +5.9 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • New hybrid version
    • Engines added: 2.4L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
    • Engines dropped: 2.2L 4-cyl and 3.9L 6-cyl
    • Best combined MPG up from 25 to 27
  12. 2006
    • Engine added: 3.9L 6-cyl

Years without a measurable change are left out.

Show all 21 model years side by side
YearLatest enginesBest MPG / rangeLengthWeightOverallRecallsComplaints
20251.5L 4-cyl turbo31 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★112
20241.5L 4-cyl turbo31 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★244
20231.5L 4-cyl turbo30 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★272
20221.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo32 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★199
20211.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo32 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★290
20201.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo32 MPG193.7 in3,126 lb★★★★★1199
20191.8L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo46 MPG193.7 in3,087 lb★★★★★1195
20181.8L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo46 MPG193.7 in3,087 lb★★★★★6711
20171.8L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo46 MPG193.7 in3,087 lb★★★★★4726
20161.8L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl46 MPG193.7 in3,087 lbNot rated10865
20152.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo29 MPG191.7 in3,583 lbNot rated3267
20142.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo29 MPG191.7 in3,572 lbNot rated6330
20132.4L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo29 MPG191.7 in3,393 lbNot rated11811
20122.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl26 MPG191.7 in3,419 lbNot rated2798
20112.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl26 MPG191.7 in3,415 lbNot rated3793
20102.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl29 MPG191.7 in3,415 lbNot rated3974
20092.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl29 MPG191.7 in3,455 lbNot rated31,140
20082.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl27 MPG191.7 in3,459 lbNot rated4486
20072.2L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.9L 6-cyl25 MPG188.2 in3,122 lbNot rated3528
20062.2L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.9L 6-cyl24 MPG188.2 in3,175 lbNot rated4509
20052.2L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl25 MPG188.2 in3,175 lbNot rated4414
Best combined MPG by model year — Chevrolet Malibu
2005: 25 MPG2006: 24 MPG2007: 25 MPG2008: 27 MPG2009: 29 MPG2010: 29 MPG2011: 26 MPG2012: 26 MPG2013: 29 MPG2014: 29 MPG2015: 29 MPG2016: 46 MPG2017: 46 MPG2018: 46 MPG2019: 46 MPG2020: 32 MPG2021: 32 MPG2022: 32 MPG2023: 30 MPG2024: 31 MPG2025: 31 MPG2005200820112014201720202023max 46 MPG

Alternatives to the 2025 Malibu

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2025 Honda Civic49 MPGNot rated2
2025 Honda Accord48 MPGNot rated3
2025 Toyota Crown41 MPGNot rated3
2025 Toyota Camry51 MPGNot rated6
2025 Hyundai Elantra54 MPG★★★★★2
2025 Subaru WRX22 MPG★★★★★0

Most common owner-reported problems

Steering2,804
Electrical System2,632
Engine1,923
Power Train1,140
Unknown Or Other1,017
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)990
Exterior Lighting679
Service Brakes610
Owner complaints by model year — Chevrolet Malibu
2005: 4142006: 5092007: 5282008: 4862009: 1,1402010: 9742011: 7932012: 7982013: 8112014: 3302015: 2672016: 8652017: 7262018: 7112019: 1952020: 1992021: 902022: 992023: 722024: 442025: 122005200820112014201720202023max 1,140
Check your VIN for open recalls ↗

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →