2021 Chevrolet Malibu

2021 is a carry-over year within the 2016-launched ninth generation (2019 refresh). The volume LS/RS/LT trims use the 1.5L turbo; the 250-hp 2.0T is limited to the top Premier trim.

Peak torque of the volume 1.5T powertrain. Its low-rpm turbo torque makes it adequate around town, but it is modest for the class.

The 1.5T/CVT has been unchanged since 2019, so tests of it apply directly to 2021. Low-8-second runs are slow next to rivals' base engines. The 2.0T Premier is genuinely quick, but it is a low-volume top trim.

The 1.5T is quiet and smooth at low speeds but runs short of breath and grows coarse on the highway and when passing, with mild turbo lag. The optional 2.0T is strong but limited to the Premier.

The CVT on volume trims pulls away smoothly and simulates stepped shifts, but it flares revs under hard throttle. The Premier's 9-speed automatic is described as awkward, because its fuel-economy-first programming makes it slow to kick down.

Every 2021 Malibu is front-wheel drive; this generation never offered AWD, while the 2021 Altima and Camry did.

There are two gas engines, the 1.5T/CVT and the 2.0T/9-speed on Premier only, with no electrified option after the Malibu Hybrid was dropped following 2019. That is slightly broader than a single-engine lineup, but the 2.0T is gated to the top trim.

The volume 1.5T is rated 32 MPG combined, competitive with gas mid-size rivals (Altima 2.5 and Camry 2.5 around 31–32) but well behind hybrid rivals. The Premier's 2.0T drops to 26.

29 MPG city with standard stop/start is solid for a non-hybrid mid-size sedan.

36 MPG highway is decent for a gas mid-size, trailing the Altima's 39 and the mid-40s of hybrid rivals.

A 15.8-gallon tank at 32 MPG combined gives about 506 miles, which is typical for a gas mid-size sedan and short of hybrid rivals that clear 600.

The EPA estimates $2,050 a year for the volume 1.5T, a $1,250 five-year saving versus the average new vehicle; the 2.0T costs $2,500 a year.

Both 2021 engines, the 1.5T and the 2.0T, run on regular 87-octane with no premium requirement. The score sits below the low 90s only because gasoline is the sole option, with no electrified variant.

NHTSA rates the 2021 Malibu 4 stars overall: 5 stars frontal, but only 4 stars side (3 stars for the rear-passenger side barrier) and 4 stars rollover. That is a step below the 5-star overall rating later years of this generation are listed with.

Good in driver small overlap, moderate overlap, the original side test, roof strength and head restraints, but Marginal in passenger-side small overlap and Poor in the updated side test, with no 2021 IIHS award. A Poor result and a Marginal result in core tests keep it in the bottom band.

In 2021 a rear camera is essentially the only standard driver aid: automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, blind-spot, rear cross-traffic and adaptive cruise are all confined to optional packages on LT and Premier, and IIHS lists front crash prevention as 'not available' as standard. Chevy Safety Assist did not become standard until a later model year, while the 2021 Camry, Accord and Altima ship AEB and ACC standard.

When optioned, the systems rate well vehicle-to-vehicle (Advanced for the standard-level system, Superior for the enhanced one), but pedestrian detection earns only Basic in daylight, and none of it is standard on the 2021 car. Most buyers' Malibus have no AEB at all.

Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are alert-only and come only in the optional Driver Confidence package, which isn't offered on every trim. No active intervention or safe-exit warning exists, and the thick rear pillars make the gap more costly.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is only in the optional Driver Confidence / Enhanced 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 optional only on upper trims via a package, the LS and RS volume trims can't get it, and there is no combined highway-assist mode. Rivals made ACC standard by 2021.

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

IIHS rates the base LS/RS/LT headlights Poor. Only the Driver Confidence package's version with high-beam assist reaches Marginal, and no configuration is rated Acceptable or Good.

The ninth-generation fastback roofline brings thick rear pillars and a shallow rear window, and reviewers fault the thick A-pillars and deep dashboard. 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 anchors set deep in the seat bight. Generous rear legroom and wide rear doors make seats easy to fit once they are installed.

Every 2021 Malibu trim (L, LS, RS, LT, Premier) is a five-passenger sedan with a three-place rear bench. 2021 is a carry-over year of the ninth generation (2016 launch, 2019 refresh).

39.1 in of front headroom is near the top of the mid-size sedan range. The RS volume trim has no sunroof. Only the Premier's power sunroof costs some height.

41.5 in sits at the low end of the mid-size band. The 2021 Camry (42.1 in) and Accord (42.3 in) give front occupants more stretch-out room, because the Malibu's long wheelbase was spent on the rear seat.

37.5 in is respectable for a fastback-profile sedan and above the segment midpoint. Even so, the sloping roofline brings taller adults close to the headliner and makes rear entry a duck.

The 111.4 in wheelbase pays off in the back seat. At 38.1 in, rear legroom matches the Camry (38.0 in) and seats two adults comfortably, though it falls well short of the Accord's 40.4 in.

A 15.7 cu ft trunk is above average for a mid-size sedan and larger than the Camry's 15.1 cu ft. A 60/40 split-folding rear seatback is standard on every trim.

Storage is conventional but adequate: a covered console bin, a hidden storage area behind the sliding infotainment surround, decent door pockets, and front cupholders. The RS volume trim adds a rear armrest with cupholders. Nothing is clever, though. Wireless charging, the rear USB port and the 120V outlet are all Premier-only.

Scored on the RS volume trim: cloth seats with an 8-way power driver's seat including power lumbar, and a manual passenger seat. Reviewers find the front seats wide but short of support and cushioning on long drives. Leather, the power passenger seat and memory settings are LT Leather Package or Premier content.

Ride compliance is the Malibu's strongest comfort trait: a soft, well-damped tune that soaks up broken pavement. It floats a little over big heaves, and the RS's 18-inch wheels take a small edge off the base car's 16s.

Active Noise Cancellation is fitted from the LS up, along with an acoustic-laminated windshield, and reviewers call the cabin quieter than most in the class. It is held off the top band because owners report tire roar on coarse pavement and the 1.5T turns raspy under load.

Comfort content is back-loaded. The RS volume trim has manual single-zone air conditioning and no heated seats. Heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate and remote start start at the LT. The 2021 Premier adds ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats and a heated wheel, which is a richer top trim than 2023's. Rear console vents are the only rear climate provision.

The 2021 L was the cheapest mid-size sedan on sale, about $2,000 below a base Camry LE delivered. Pricing carried over from 2020 unchanged.

The RS (18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim on LS mechanicals) and LS carried retail volume, with the L and LS heavily fleet-weighted; RS is used as representative, consistent with the later model years of this generation.

Routine service on the 1.5L turbo is cheap, but Edmunds' year-specific projection is high for the class, reflecting out-of-warranty CVT and turbo/coolant risk once the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain cover runs out. Scored below the Edmunds figure to weight in the much lower CarEdge and RepairPal estimates.

The 2021 is now past five years old, so this is observed rather than projected: private-party values of roughly $12,000–15,000 against a $23,000–34,000 range put the volume trim in the high 40s. Fleet volume and the nameplate's 2024 discontinuation hold it below the Camry/Accord.

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

5-year/60,000-mile powertrain cover is the band floor, half the mileage Hyundai and Kia give original owners.

Chevrolet Complete Care covers the first scheduled maintenance visit within 12 months (oil and filter, tire rotation, inspection) on 2019-and-newer models, plus 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation and an OnStar/Connected Services trial. Short included maintenance with better-than-average roadside — same package and score as the 2023 Malibu.

$25,195 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $11,842) leaves about $13,353 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $20,153 in total.

The two main sources disagree. J.D. Power gives the 2021 Malibu 82/100 ('Great'), while Consumer Reports rates it less reliable than other 2021 cars. 2021 is a carry-over year in the 2016 generation, which was last refreshed for 2019. The volume 1.5T/CVT drivetrain falls in the 2018-2021 build window where turbo and oil-consumption complaints cluster, so the score sits in the low-to-mid 60s, below later model years.

In J.D. Power's dependability studies Chevrolet sits near the top of the mass-market brands. Consumer Reports rates the brand only average. That puts it above mid-pack, but it is not a consistent top-five brand.

MY2021 has two NHTSA recalls, both small. One covers an improper weld on the driver's seat cushion frame (221 units across GM models). The other covers rear seat-belt retractor fasteners (402 units across 2016-2021 Malibu and XT4). There are no powertrain or fire recalls. The score stays in the high 70s because of recurring service-bulletin patterns on this generation: 1.5T oil consumption, CVT shudder and 'Engine Power Reduced' warnings.

The volume powertrain is the 1.5L LFV turbo paired with GM's CVT. Its known weak points include oil consumption from low-tension piston rings, turbo failures concentrated in 2018-2021 builds, and CVT shudder, and a CVT is expensive to replace once the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty ends. The 2.0T with a 9-speed automatic, which is only on the Premier, has a better record but sells in low volume.

The cabin design dates to 2016. Reviewers describe mostly hard plastics, relieved by some fabric and stitched trim on upper trims, and it looks dated next to the Accord, Camry and Sonata. It is held at 45 rather than lower because the Malibu is priced below those rivals.

This is a mature design built on the long-running Fairfax line, so assembly is consistent even though the materials are cheap. J.D. Power's 82/100 quality score for 2021 supports that, and owner reviews do not often mention rattles or misaligned panels.

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

Routine repair costs are at class par and below the all-vehicle average. The 1.5T and CVT are shared with the Equinox, Trailblazer and Encore GX, so GM and aftermarket parts are plentiful even though Malibu production has ended. It stays at 80 because a failed CVT means replacing the unit, which is costly.

Every 2021 Malibu uses an 8-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 touchscreen. The Premier gets the HD Infotainment 3 Plus screen at the same size. That was mid-pack in 2021 but small against rivals' 9–10 in options.

Infotainment 3 is quick and intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for volume, tuning and climate. In 2021 it was still reasonably current against rivals. It is held mid-band by the modest screen size and plain graphics.

New for 2021, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto became standard on every trim, including the base L. In 2021 that put the Malibu ahead of most rivals, which still required a cable. The score stops just short of the top because Chevrolet's system pairs one projection phone at a time.

The RS volume trim has no built-in navigation. It offers only basic voice commands plus pass-through to the phone's assistant. Built-in navigation, enhanced voice recognition, Alexa Built-In and Connected Navigation come with Infotainment 3 Plus, which is Premier-only.

The RS volume trim has the standard six-speaker system, which is adequate for podcasts but thin with music. The only upgrade is a nine-speaker Bose system, and it is Premier-only.

The RS volume trim pairs analog gauges with a monochromatic Driver Information Center. Only the Premier gets an 8-inch reconfigurable color display, and it keeps analog dials on either side. No fully digital cluster is offered.

Malibus with Infotainment 3 (2019 and later) can receive infotainment software updates over the air through OnStar data or Wi-Fi. The car lacks GM's Vehicle Intelligence Platform, so updates are limited to infotainment rather than whole-vehicle changes.

The myChevrolet app is mature, covering lock/unlock, locate, diagnostics, tire pressure and service scheduling, and standard Connected Access includes diagnostic alerts. Remote commands, however, are a trial that lapses into a paid plan. App remote start also needs factory remote start, which the RS lacks.

The RS volume trim has one USB-A and one USB-C port in the front stack plus an aux jack. The rear charge-only USB, the 120V outlet and wireless charging are all Premier-only, so back-seat passengers on most 2021 Malibus have nowhere to charge.

Keyless Open and Start is standard on every trim, which is good at the Malibu's price. The RS volume trim, however, has no remote start (LT and up). There is no hands-free or power trunk and no phone-as-key, and app remote functions need a paid plan after the trial.

A standard-definition rear camera is standard, and the HD camera is Premier-only. Rear Park Assist is optional through the Driver Confidence package on LS/RS/LT, and Automatic Parking Assist is a Premier package option. No trim offers a surround-view camera, which hurts given the thick rear pillars.

No 2021 Malibu trim or package offered a head-up display, and none was offered anywhere in the ninth generation.

The physical fit is good. With 38.1 in of rear legroom, a rear-facing seat goes in without shoving the front passenger forward, the rear doors are wide, and the 15.7 cu ft trunk with a standard 60/40 fold swallows a stroller. It is held mid-band by IIHS's Marginal LATCH ease-of-use rating and the lack of a rear USB port below the Premier.

This is a weak family-safety story for 2021. Automatic emergency braking, lane keep and blind-spot alerts are all optional packages, so most buyers' cars have none of them. NHTSA rates it 4 stars overall, with 3 stars for rear-passenger side impact. IIHS rates it Poor in the updated side test, the headlights are Poor/Marginal, and it won no IIHS award. Teen Driver and the Rear Seat Reminder are the family-specific extras.

The chassis does the road-trip work, with a comfortable ride, an unusually quiet cabin, decent rear legroom and a big trunk. On the RS volume trim the rear cabin is bare: rear vents and a center armrest, but no rear USB and no heated rear seats (Premier only). Reviewers say the cloth seats lack long-drive support.

Its low-speed manners suit a commute: smooth CVT take-off, 184 lb-ft from low revs, a soft ride, a quiet cabin, physical controls, plus standard keyless start and wireless CarPlay. It is held back because adaptive cruise is Premier-package-only and the RS volume trim has no lane keep, manual single-zone climate and no remote start.

It is cheap to run on regular fuel, at 32 MPG combined and 29 city on the 1.5T, about $2,050 a year in fuel per the EPA. Tires and parts are inexpensive and the dealer network is huge. It stays mid-band because hybrid rivals return far better city mileage and the CVT/turbo leave powertrain warranty at 60,000 miles.

It has a full mid-size footprint (194.2 in long) and a reasonable 37 ft turning circle. The rear camera is only standard definition below the Premier, rear park assist is an option package, and no trim offers surround view. The fastback's thick rear pillars limit sight lines.

It has a token 1,000 lb trailer rating with no factory trailering package, FWD only, and a 160-hp 1.5T with a CVT on volume trims. It is not a work vehicle, which is in line with other mid-size sedans.

Heavy fleet and rental use, solid assembly quality, durable cloth interiors and parts shared with the Equinox support it. It is held below mid-band by the 1.5L LFV's oil-consumption and turbo issues, which are concentrated in 2018–2021 builds, and by CVT shudder complaints, both off warranty at 60,000 miles.

There are no factory roof rails, crossbars or hitch, no washable flooring and no upfit ecosystem. The only 120V outlet is on the Premier's rear console. The 60/40 fold and trunk cargo anchors are the whole list.

This is the Malibu's best mission: a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin and 36 MPG highway on a 15.8-gal tank, good for about 570 highway miles, with wireless CarPlay to navigate. It is held back by plain cruise control on the RS (adaptive cruise is Premier-package-only and no lane centering is offered), cloth seats short of long-drive support, and a small four that revs hard on grades.

No trim offers AWD, while the 2021 Camry and Altima did. Ground clearance is about 6 in, towing is token, and there are no roof rails. It will get four people and their gear to a paved campground, nothing more.

The trunk is above average at 15.7 cu ft, and a standard 60/40 fold takes long items. The trunk opening limits bulky gear, and there is no underfloor storage, roof rails or hitch to add capacity.

The comfort-tuned ninth-gen chassis is sure-footed and stable with modest body roll, and the RS volume trim's 18-inch wheels sharpen it slightly over the base car. The soft tune and FWD-only layout keep it short of engaging, below the Accord and Mazda6.

The electric rack-and-pinion is quick and accurate enough to place the car confidently, but road feel is thin. Reviewers most often cite that as the reason the Malibu never feels sporty.

Four-wheel discs with Duralife rotors give a firm, linear pedal with no regen blending, and reviewers call the brakes strong and easy to modulate. The score is held below 80 because no instrumented 70–0 figure for this exact configuration could be retrieved.

On the volume trim, the 160-hp 1.5T/CVT's low-rev torque makes tip-in feel brisk, and the CVT simulates steps smoothly. There is mild turbo lag and stop/start, and the engine runs out of breath at higher revs. The Premier's 250-hp 2.0T is strong, but its 9-speed is slow to kick down.

Road and wind isolation are excellent, helped by Active Noise Cancellation from the LS up, but this item scores the powertrain. At part throttle it is unobtrusive. Under load the small turbo four turns raspy and stands out in an otherwise hushed cabin.

37 ft curb-to-curb on a 111.4 in wheelbase is mid-pack for a mid-size sedan. The chassis and steering are unchanged since the 2016 launch.

The controls are the high point: a conventional, driver-focused layout with physical climate and audio controls. The RS volume trim adds an 8-way power driver's seat with power lumbar and a tilt/telescopic wheel. Against that, the fastback roofline limits outward visibility and makes entry awkward, and the seats are underbolstered.

The volume RS is an appearance package on the 160-hp CVT car, with numb steering and a comfort chassis: pleasant, but nothing invites the long way home. The 2021 lineup still offered the 250-hp 2.0T Premier, a genuinely quick sleeper at ~6.4 s 0–60, which lifts the nameplate a little over the 2023+ single-engine car.

New for 2021, every trim gets an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and keyless open/start. But automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert and lane keep sit in optional Driver Confidence packages, and blind-spot monitoring is a $545 LS option, while a 2021 Camry, Accord and Altima include AEB and lane-keeping as standard.

At $23,065–25,195 delivered it was the cheapest way into a roomy, comfortable mid-size sedan, and the 250-hp 2.0T Premier gave a performance option. Missing standard AEB, no AWD or hybrid, and weak resale offset the low entry price — fair value, not a standout.

Five trims (L, LS, RS, LT, Premier) spanning about $11,000, with two engines — 1.5T/CVT and the 2.0T/9-speed on Premier — but FWD only and no hybrid (dropped after 2019). Broader than the de-contented 2023 car, still narrower than Sonata or Camry.

Calendar 2021 sales collapsed to 39,376, down 62% from 102,651 in 2020, as GM idled the Fairfax plant during the chip shortage and prioritized trucks — just 269 units in Q3. Demand wasn't the whole story, but buyers effectively couldn't get one for much of the model year.

Chevrolet is a huge, familiar brand with the densest dealer network, but the Malibu carries rental/fleet associations and soft resale. Not yet an orphan in 2021 — discontinuation came in 2024.

Early in the model year (late 2020–spring 2021) Chevrolet still ran cash and low-APR offers on the Malibu, but the chip shortage then emptied lots and incentives across the industry largely disappeared for the rest of 2021, with many units selling near or above sticker.

2021 is the sixth model year of the ninth generation (2016) and third since the 2019 refresh, with only wireless phone projection and a new color added. Late mid-cycle rather than imminent replacement, but rivals (2018 Camry/Accord, 2019 Altima, 2020 Sonata, 2021 K5) were all newer.

No major 2021 awards or comparison wins. Reviewers praise ride comfort, rear room and the 2.0T Premier but call the 1.5T/CVT sluggish and the cabin dated against Camry, Accord, Sonata and the new K5; it ranked in the lower half of US News' mid-size class.