Chevrolet Malibu Refresh To Address Rear Seating Somehow
The minor model change for the Chevrolet Malibu will be more than just a Honda Civic-style refresh. Chevrolet will apparently address the cramped rear seating area as part of the overhaul.
Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg claims that the Malibu will feature a new front end that resembles the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, as well as “ …Updates [that] will make the back seat feel roomier…” GM executives are on record regarding the existence of the refresh, but have declined to specify what will be involved.
TTAC’s Michael Karesh, who was famously critical of the Malibu Eco, found the Malibu 2.0T to be a much improved car- something that I would concur with, having sampled the turbocharged version during a stay in Florida. The Malibu’s reputation as a toxic vehicle may have more to do with the botched launch rather than the Malibu’s merits as a vehicle. In that case, the fault lies with management rather than the Malibu itself.
More by Derek Kreindler
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I can't even remember the launch, but I dreaded it because the old Malibu was a lovely sedan in the midst of bulbous headlamps from Camcords and I knew it would not be an improvement. It was not. I don't know about the Impala. Sometimes from the front 3/4 view, it looks like a Crosstour--not something to copy. Hope that back seat redo is really nice.
"“…Updates [that] will make the back seat feel roomier…” Uhuh...I know what these updates will consist of: at home we owned one 1983 Chevy Celebrity, as well as a 1984 and a 1985. The 1983 had great front legroom, not so much in the back. Apparently there must have been complaints, as the seat track on the 84 and 85 was noticeably shortened. Which in my opinion sucked, as I was already 6'3" at sixteen and therefore much preferred the 1983 to the other two newer cars we had. So, my bet is seat travel: they'll diminish it.
Chebby needs to learn from BMW that you can make a comfortable seat, and make it thin. They keep stuffing pickup truck seats into their cars, which are a foot thick and eat up already crappy rear seat space. The Malibu isn't a terrible car, but bad impressions have been made with the Eco, and it has once again become forgettable. Don't know how they will address rear seat space without just hollowing out the front seats and cushions in the back... Maybe put a Rolls-style umbrella in the door that instead holds a tanto sword for decapitations.
Absolutely it was the launch that queered the current Malibu. The Eco is kinda a joke compared to real hybrids. And it doesn't drive particularly well. They're going to do just enough with the car to completely re-launch it, new front facia. Changes to the rear facsia - make of plastic, easy to revise. Make the interior look different. Maybe launch with one of GM's rumored 9-speeds. Anything to differentiate it.