2017 Chevrolet Malibu

The volume LS/LT trims use the 1.5L LFV turbo four with a 6-speed automatic. For 2017 the 250-hp 2.0T was offered only on the top Premier trim, so it doesn't set the representative figure.

This is the peak torque of the volume 1.5T, which arrives low in the rev range, so the car feels adequate around town despite modest horsepower.

The 1.5T with the 6-speed automatic carried over unchanged from 2016 to 2017, so instrumented 2016 tests apply directly. A time in the mid-8s is slow for a mid-size sedan.

The 1.5T is quiet and torquey enough at low speed but runs short of breath for highway passing, and its auto stop/start is noticeable. The Premier's 2.0T is strong and the Hybrid is smooth, but neither is the volume powertrain.

The volume trims' conventional 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly and avoids CVT drone, though it can be slow to kick down. For 2017 the Premier's 2.0T switched from an 8-speed to a 9-speed automatic.

Every 2017 Malibu is front-wheel drive, and AWD was never offered, while the Ford Fusion offered AWD that year.

There are three distinct powertrains: the 1.5T with 6-speed, the 2.0T with 9-speed (Premier only), and the 1.8L Hybrid (182 hp combined). That covers economy, performance and electrified needs, though the stronger engine is locked to the top trim.

30 MPG combined is mid-pack among 2017 gas mid-size sedans. The 2019 switch to a CVT later raised it to 32.

27 MPG city, with standard stop/start, is typical for a gas mid-size sedan.

36 MPG highway is decent for a gas mid-size sedan.

A 15.8-gallon tank at the 30 MPG combined rating gives about 474 miles, which is adequate but short of the 500-plus that thriftier rivals achieve.

EPA estimates $2,250 a year to fuel the volume 1.5T, saving $750 over five years versus the average new vehicle. The Premier 2.0T costs about $900 more a year.

The volume 1.5T runs on regular 87-octane. It is held in the low 80s because EPA lists the Premier's 2.0T on premium fuel, which makes requirements mixed across trims.

NHTSA gives the 2017 Malibu 5 stars overall, with 5-star frontal and side ratings and a 4-star rollover rating. The frontal passenger rating is 4 stars.

The 2017 Malibu earned a 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick, but only with optional front crash prevention, and it did not reach TSP+. It is rated Good in driver small overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraints, with a Marginal passenger-side small overlap result. Poor headlights are scored separately under 3.3.1.

On the volume LT trim a rear-vision camera and Teen Driver are the only standard aids. Forward collision alert, automatic braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot alert and rear cross-traffic alert all come in optional Driver Confidence packages, and adaptive cruise is limited to the Premier.

When optioned, the vehicle-to-vehicle systems test well: Superior with Driver Confidence Package II, Advanced with the low-speed package. But nothing is standard, so most 2017 Malibus have no AEB, and no pedestrian detection was offered or rated.

Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are alert-only and come only as optional package content, not standard on any volume trim. There is no active intervention or safe-exit alert.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning comes only in the optional Driver Confidence packages. It only nudges the car back from the line, and no lane centering is offered at any price.

Adaptive cruise control is available only on the Premier, in Driver Confidence Package II. The volume LS/LT trims can't get it, and there is no combined highway-assist mode.

No hands-free highway system is offered; Super Cruise was never available on the Malibu.

IIHS rates both tested headlight variants Poor, including the halogen projectors with high-beam assist from the Driver Confidence package. No 2017 configuration rates Acceptable or Good.

The ninth-generation fastback roofline brings thick rear pillars and a shallow rear window, and reviewers fault the thick A-pillars. A rear camera is standard, but rear park assist is optional and no surround-view camera is offered.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Marginal: two full LATCH positions plus a tether-only center seat, with the lower anchors set deep in the seat bight. Generous rear legroom (38.1 in) and wide rear doors make seats easy to fit once they are installed.

Five-passenger seating on every 2017 Malibu trim, standard for the mid-size sedan class.

Generous front headroom for a mid-size sedan despite the fastback roofline.

Mid-pack front legroom; 2017 spec sheets publish 42.0 in (later model years list 41.5 in for the same body).

Reasonable rear headroom; the sloping roof costs taller adults a little at the door opening.

The 2016 redesign's 3.6-in wheelbase stretch gave the Malibu competitive rear legroom, a notable gain over the cramped 2013–2015 car.

Average trunk for the class, behind the Accord and Camry; no interior trunk release.

Conventional console bin, door pockets and cupholders; wireless charging is a package option and there is no standout storage solution (the previous generation's hidden bin behind the screen was dropped).

Front seats are supportive enough for commutes but the LT's manual-adjust cloth seats draw complaints of flat cushions on long trips; rear bench is fine for two adults.

Compliant, settled ride on the 1LT's 17-inch wheels — one of the ninth generation's most-praised traits.

Quiet at highway speed with Active Noise Cancellation on the 1.5T; some tire roar on coarse surfaces.

Heated front seats and remote start are optional on the volume 1LT; ventilated fronts, heated rears and heated wheel are Premier-only.

The 2017 L was a price-leader trim that started below a base Camry or Accord. Most retail buyers started at the LS.

The 1.5T LT was the representative retail trim in 2017, while fleet volume leaned on the L and LS. There was no RS trim yet; it arrived with the 2019 refresh.

Routine service on the 1.5T with its 6-speed automatic is cheap, and two visits are covered for free. Repair risk rises once the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain cover runs out. The estimate is set slightly below the 2020 projection to reflect lower parts and labor costs in 2017–2022.

The 2017's five-year mark fell in 2022, at the peak of the used-car price spike. That lifted its retention to roughly half of MSRP, despite the Malibu's usual heavy rental-fleet supply.

GM's 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty is the industry floor. It matches Toyota, Honda and Nissan and is two years short of Hyundai and Kia.

The 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty sits at the band floor, half of Hyundai and Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile cover.

2017 models still got Chevrolet Complete Care: two maintenance visits within 2 years or 24,000 miles. Each covers an oil change, tire rotation and a 27-point inspection. Add 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation plus OnStar and 4G LTE trials, and the package beats the single first visit offered on 2019+ models but falls short of ToyotaCare.

$26,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $13,000) leaves about $13,000 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,900 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $18,900 in total.

2017 is the second year of the 2016 generation, a carry-over year before the 2019 refresh. J.D. Power rates its quality and reliability only Average at 77/100, one of the few Malibu years below 80. Consumer Reports calls the 2017 less reliable than other cars of its model year, citing engine, transmission and electrical complaints, so the score sits in the low half of the mixed-signals band.

Chevrolet sits in the upper half of mass-market brands in J.D. Power's dependability studies, but Consumer Reports rates it only average to below average. That makes it a mid-pack brand that is not a consistent top-five performer.

Four NHTSA campaigns cover MY2017, and each affects very few cars: a rear side-airbag inflator manifold on cars built on one day, a passenger-presence sensor installed during service, a fuel-pump issue and rear seat-belt retractor fasteners. None is fleet-wide. The score is held below the top band by GM's bulletin and special coverage for 1.5L pre-ignition piston damage on 2016–2017 cars, a model-year-specific powertrain problem.

The volume powertrain is the 1.5L LFV turbo with a conventional 6-speed automatic. The 6-speed avoids the CVT shudder of 2019-and-later cars. The early LFV, however, carries a 2016–2017-specific low-speed pre-ignition risk that can crack pistons, along with ring-related oil consumption and turbo/vacuum-pump faults. That lands it at the boundary between mixed history and known problem powertrain.

In 2017 the cabin was a recent redesign and drew a fairer reception than it did later. Reviewers still note widespread hard plastics on the volume LT, with soft-touch and stitched trim reserved for Premier, and the materials trail the Accord and Camry.

Assembly at Fairfax is generally solid. J.D. Power's Average 77/100 quality score, below later years, together with owner reports of HVAC and engine-smoothness issues in the first 90 days, points to scattered complaints rather than the strong initial quality the 2020 car showed.

Chevrolet has about 2,860 US franchises, one of the densest dealer networks in the country, including rural areas. Its service satisfaction is above the mass-market average but trails leaders such as Subaru.

Routine repair costs are about average for midsize sedans and below the all-vehicle average. The 1.5T is shared across the Cruze, Equinox and other GM models, so parts remain plentiful. A conventional 6-speed avoids the costlier CVT replacement of later cars, but a piston-damage engine repair is expensive.

The volume LT uses the 7-inch MyLink unit; only the Premier gets the 8-inch screen.

MyLink is simple and reasonably responsive with physical climate and volume controls, but the 7-inch IntelliLink-era interface looks dated next to the later Infotainment 3.

Wired CarPlay and Android Auto on LS and up (not the base L); wireless projection never offered for 2017 (it arrived for 2021).

Embedded navigation is Premier-only (OnStar turn-by-turn by subscription otherwise); basic command-style voice recognition — most owners use phone projection.

Six-speaker base audio on the LT; a nine-speaker Bose system is standard on Premier and was optional on LT in pre-2019 years.

Analog gauges with a small driver information center on the volume trims; a configurable 8-inch color cluster display is Premier-only.

The 2017 MyLink/IntelliLink head unit predates GM's infotainment OTA rollout; software updates are dealer-performed.

OnStar/myChevrolet app gives remote lock/unlock, locate and remote start (where fitted), but core functions became subscription-gated after the trial; 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot standard.

USB-A ports up front and charge-only USB in the rear on LT, wireless charging optional; no USB-C.

Keyless entry and push-button start on the volume LT; remote start optional; no phone-as-key.

Rear-vision camera standard; rear park assist and Side Blind Zone Alert/RCTA via option packages; no surround view or auto-park on the volume trim.

No head-up display offered on any 2017 Malibu trim.

Good rear legroom and wide rear doors help, but LATCH ease of use is Marginal and the sloping roofline makes lifting kids in awkward.

5-star NHTSA overall and IIHS Top Safety Pick (with optional AEB), plus standard Teen Driver and Rear Seat Reminder — but AEB, blind-spot and lane aids cost extra on the trims families buy, and headlights rate Poor.

Quiet, compliant ride and adult-usable rear seat, but rear amenities are thin (no rear vents on base trims, no rear heated seats below Premier) and the trunk is mid-pack.

Light controls, smooth ride and a conventional 6-speed automatic make it easy in traffic; auto stop/start on the 1.5T is occasionally abrupt.

About 30 mpg combined on regular fuel is competitive for a non-hybrid mid-size sedan, and consumables are cheap.

A long 194-in body, 37-ft turning circle and thick pillars make tight parking a camera-dependent job; park sensors are optional.

No towing rating recommended in the US and a modest 15.8 cu ft trunk — not a work vehicle.

Common rental/fleet car, but the small 1.5T and cloth/plastic cabin are not built for abuse.

No onboard AC power on the volume trim, no tie-down provisions or upfit ecosystem beyond the folding rear seat.

Quiet, comfortable highway cruiser with ~36 mpg highway and roughly 570 miles of highway range (≈474 mi combined), but adaptive cruise is Premier-only and seats are only average over long stints.

Front-wheel drive only, low ground clearance and no tow rating — strictly pavement and maintained gravel.

60/40 split-folding rear seat and a 15.8 cu ft trunk handle normal luggage; the sedan opening limits bulky gear and there are no factory roof rails.

The lighter (by ~300 lb) 2016 redesign feels planted and composed, though tuned for comfort rather than sport.

Quick, accurate electric steering with little feedback.

Firm, easily modulated pedal with competitive stopping distances for the class.

The 1.5T's 6-speed automatic shifts smoothly (no CVT flare, which arrived in 2019), but low-end turbo lag and an occasionally abrupt stop/start restart detract; 2.0T/9-speed Premier is strong.

Active Noise Cancellation keeps the 1.5T hushed at cruise, but it turns raspy under sustained throttle.

Average turning circle for a mid-size sedan on a 111.4-in wheelbase.

Logical controls and a decent seating position, but manual seat adjustment on the volume LT and thick pillars limit sightlines.

The volume 1.5T (~8.5 s to 60) is pleasant but forgettable; the 250-hp 2.0T Premier adds genuine pace.

From the LS up, the 2017 Malibu came with a 7-inch MyLink touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a rear camera and Teen Driver. Forward collision alert, automatic braking, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring were optional packages on upper trims only. The 2017 Camry made Toyota Safety Sense-P standard, so the Malibu was competitive on infotainment but behind on safety essentials.

A then-new, roomy mid-size sedan with a 36-mpg-highway 1.5T started at $22,555, and large incentives cut transaction prices further. The 250-hp 2.0T Premier with a new 9-speed gave strong performance per dollar. Missing standard safety tech holds it at fair value rather than a bargain.

Five trims (L, LS, LT, Hybrid, Premier) spanned about $9,300, with three powertrains: the 1.5T, the 2.0T with a 9-speed, and a 1.8L hybrid. That was the broadest lineup this generation ever had, but there was no AWD and fewer trim steps than the Camry, Accord and Altima.

Calendar 2017 sales were 185,857, down 18.4% from 2016's launch-year peak. That still made the Malibu a solid mid-pack seller, behind the Camry, Accord, Altima and Fusion, with a large fleet share.

Chevrolet is a familiar mass-market brand with the densest dealer network, but the Malibu carries rental-fleet associations and soft resale values. Unlike in later years, there was no cloud over its future in 2017.

In the pre-shortage 2017 market, Chevrolet ran heavy Malibu incentives, including early end-of-year bonus-tag offers from May that took about $2,600 off an LT, alongside low-APR GM Financial deals.

2017 is the second model year of the all-new ninth generation, which launched for 2016 on GM's lighter E2XX platform with downsized turbo engines. The 2.0T gained a 9-speed automatic for 2017. Rivals were older or due for redesigns: the Camry and Accord were replaced for 2018.

Reviewers praised the redesigned Malibu's ride, quiet cabin, roomier rear seat and fuel economy, and the 2.0T. Criticisms were the plain interior and modest rear headroom. It earned the 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick and a 5-star NHTSA overall rating but was rarely the class winner over the Accord and Camry.