2022 Chevrolet Malibu

The volume LS/RS/LT trims use the 1.5L turbo four. 2022 was the last Malibu year to offer the 2.0L turbo, available only on the Premier, which sets the model-range maximum at 250 hp.

This is the peak torque of the volume 1.5T powertrain. The Premier's 2.0T makes 260 lb-ft but sells in small numbers.

The 1.5T/CVT pairing has not changed since the 2019 refresh, so instrumented figures for it apply to 2022. A low-8-second run is slow for the segment. The 2.0T Premier runs in the low 6s.

The 1.5T is quiet and adequate around town, but it runs short of breath and gets coarse at highway speeds, with mild turbo lag off the line. The strong 2.0T on the Premier lifts the lineup slightly above the 2023 single-engine car.

The CVT pulls away smoothly and simulates steps, but revs flare under hard throttle and some reviewers call it unrefined. The Premier's 9-speed automatic shifts decently but can be slow to kick down.

Every 2022 Malibu trim is front-wheel drive only, while the Altima and Camry offered AWD that year.

There are two gas engines: a 1.5T with a CVT and a Premier-only 2.0T with a 9-speed. There is no hybrid (dropped after 2019) and no electrified option, and the upgrade engine is locked to the top trim.

The volume 1.5T is rated 32 MPG combined, competitive with gas mid-size rivals but well behind hybrid Camry/Accord/Sonata. The rating dropped to 30 for 2023.

29 MPG city with standard stop/start is solid for a gas mid-size sedan but far behind hybrids in stop-and-go driving.

36 MPG highway is decent for the class, trailing the Altima's 39 and the mid-40s posted by hybrid rivals.

A 15.8-gallon tank at the 32 MPG combined rating gives about 506 miles. That is a bit above average for gas mid-size sedans and short of the 600+ that hybrid rivals reach.

EPA estimates $2,050 a year for the volume 1.5T, which saves $1,250 over five years versus the average new vehicle. The premium-fuel 2.0T costs about $1,000 a year more.

The volume 1.5T runs on regular 87-octane. The Premier's 2.0T is listed by EPA on premium fuel, so fuel needs vary across trims, which keeps this at the low end of the top band.

NHTSA rates the 2022 Malibu 4 stars overall. Frontal is 5 stars, but side is only 4 stars (3 stars for the rear-passenger barrier) and rollover is 4 stars, the same result as the 2021 car.

Rated Good in driver small overlap, moderate overlap, the original side test, roof strength and head restraints. It rates Poor in the updated side test: the 2022 LT tested had poor structure, and the dummy's head missed the curtain airbag and struck the window sill. It earned no 2022 IIHS award, and the Poor result in a core test keeps it in the bottom band.

For 2022, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise are all confined to optional Driver Confidence packages. Only a rear camera is standard. Chevy Safety Assist did not become standard on the Malibu until 2023, while the 2022 Camry, Accord and Altima ship AEB and ACC standard.

When optioned, the systems rate well in the vehicle-to-vehicle test (Advanced, or Superior for the enhanced system). Pedestrian detection is only Basic in daylight and gets No Credit at night, and none of it is standard on the 2022 car, so many Malibus have no AEB at all.

Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert warn the driver but do not intervene, and they come only in optional Driver Confidence packages. There is no safe-exit warning, and the thick rear pillars make the gap more costly.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning comes only in optional packages for 2022. It nudges the car back from the line, and no lane centering is offered at any price.

Adaptive cruise control is optional only on the top trims via a package, and the volume LS/RS/LT trims can't get it. There is no combined highway-assist mode, while rivals made full-speed ACC standard.

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

IIHS rates the standard halogen headlights on the LS, RS and LT trims Poor. Only the version with high-beam assist from the Driver Confidence package 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 and rear park assist is optional, but no surround-view camera is offered.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Marginal. There are 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 installed.

Every 2022 Malibu (LS, RS, LT and Premier) is a five-passenger sedan with a three-place rear bench. For 2022 the base L trim was dropped, but the body and seating did not change.

At 39.1 in, front headroom is near the top of the mid-size sedan range. The dual-pane sunroof on the Premier costs a little over an inch. This dimension carries over unchanged within the ninth generation.

41.5 in is at the low end of the mid-size band. The Camry (42.1 in) and Accord (42.3 in) give front occupants more room, because the Malibu's long wheelbase goes to the rear seat instead.

37.5 in is respectable for a fastback sedan, but the sloping roofline brings taller adults close to the headliner and makes rear entry awkward.

The 111.4 in wheelbase gives 38.1 in of rear legroom, enough for two adults. That matches the Camry (38.0 in) but trails the Accord (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.

Storage is conventional but adequate: a covered center console, a hidden shelf behind the infotainment surround, decent door pockets and cupholders. Wireless charging is Premier-only and there is no AC outlet or underfloor storage. For 2022 Chevrolet also dropped the dealer cargo-area organizer from the accessory list.

Scored on the LT volume trim, which has cloth seats with an 8-way power driver's seat. Reviewers say both rows need more cushioning and support on long drives. The Premier's leather seats with a power passenger seat are better, but few buyers choose that trim.

Ride comfort is the Malibu's strongest comfort trait. The soft, well-damped tune compares well with rivals, and the LT rides on 17-inch wheels, which are more forgiving than the RS's 18s or the Premier's 19s. It floats slightly over large heaves.

Reviewers consistently rate the cabin quieter than most in the class. It falls short of the top band because owners report tire roar on coarse pavement and the 1.5T gets raspy under load.

The LT volume trim has dual-zone automatic climate, heated front seats, rear air vents and remote start. The Premier adds ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats. The 2022 chip shortage clouded this: GM deleted heated and ventilated seats on LT/Premier builds from November 2021, and the heated wheel later, so many 2022s were built without them.

With the L trim gone, the 2022 LS became the entry point and was still the cheapest mid-size sedan on sale, undercutting a base Camry LE and Accord LX. It was about $1,400 cheaper than the 2023 LS, which went up in price when Chevrolet restructured the trims.

I scored the RS, which adds appearance items (18-inch wheels, black trim) to LS mechanicals for $1,000 more. It is the same volume-trim choice as the 2023 scorecard, so the years compare like for like. Retail buyers also took plenty of LTs ($27,795), so the true weighted price sits a little higher.

Routine service on the 1.5L turbo is cheap, but Edmunds' year-specific projection is high for the class. That reflects out-of-warranty risk once powertrain cover ends at 60,000 miles, on the CVT and the turbo/coolant system. I scored it well below the Edmunds total because CarEdge's and RepairPal's figures for the nameplate are far lower, the same blending used on the 2023 scorecard.

Cars from the 2022 model year sold new during the chip shortage and then aged through an inflated used-car market, so they have held value better than the 2023s. CarEdge has them at 57.3% retained roughly four and a half years in, which projects to the low-to-mid 50s at five years. The 2024 discontinuation announcement still weighs on the tail end.

GM's 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty is the industry minimum, the same as Toyota, Honda and Nissan and two years short of Hyundai and 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 one scheduled maintenance visit (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) within the first year on 2022 and newer models. It also includes 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, plus an OnStar/Connected Services trial. That is a short included-maintenance period with better-than-average roadside cover, so it sits mid-band.

$25,395 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (53% retained, or about $13,459) leaves about $11,936 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $18,936 in total.

2022 is a carry-over year in the 2016 generation (last refreshed for 2019). J.D. Power gives the 2022 Malibu 85/100 for predicted quality and reliability ('Great') and named it the top midsize car in its 2022 Initial Quality Study. Consumer Reports' outlook is more middling, and the volume 1.5T/CVT still carries a long-term durability question, so the score lands in the low 70s, above the 2021 model.

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.

MY2022 has one NHTSA recall: the front impact bar, part of the frame structure, may be improperly welded on 2,108 2022-2023 cars. It is a crash-structure defect but a small population, with no powertrain or fire recalls. Recurring service-bulletin patterns on this generation (1.5T oil consumption, CVT shudder, 'Engine Power Reduced' warnings) keep it below 80.

The volume powertrain is the 1.5L LFV turbo paired with GM's CVT. The ring-related oil consumption and turbo failures reported for this engine concentrate in 2018-2021 builds, so 2022 cars carry somewhat less of that risk. CVT shudder and the high cost of replacing a CVT out of warranty still keep this in the mid-50s. 2022 was the last year for the Premier's 2.0T/9-speed, which has a better record but sold in low volume.

The cabin design dates to 2016 and was unchanged for 2022. 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 K5. It is held at 45 rather than lower because the Malibu is priced below those rivals.

J.D. Power ranked the 2022 Malibu highest among midsize cars in its Initial Quality Study, a direct measure of problems in the first 90 days that includes assembly defects. It is a mature design built on the long-running Fairfax line, so assembly is consistent even though the materials are cheap.

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; J.D. Power owners rate the 2022 Malibu's dealership experience 84/100.

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 2022 Malibu uses an 8-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 touchscreen, and no larger screen is offered. That is small against rivals' 9–12 in displays.

Infotainment 3 responds quickly, has a logical layout and keeps physical knobs and climate buttons. The small screen and dated graphics keep it mid-band, though in 2022 it was less dated against rivals than in later years.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2022 trim, including the base LS, which put the Malibu ahead of several rivals that still required a cable. It falls short of the top score because owners report occasional connection drops.

The LT volume trim has no built-in navigation and only basic command-style voice control. Navigation and the Infotainment 3 Plus voice system are Premier-only, so most owners rely on phone projection for maps.

The LT volume trim has the standard six-speaker system, which is adequate but thin. The only upgrade, a nine-speaker Bose system, is Premier-only.

The LT has analog gauges around a small Driver Information Center. The Premier adds an 8-inch color center display that is still flanked by analog dials. No full digital cluster is offered.

Infotainment 3 cars can receive over-the-air infotainment updates over OnStar data or Wi-Fi. The Malibu never moved to GM's Vehicle Intelligence Platform, so there are no whole-vehicle feature updates.

The myChevrolet app covers lock/unlock, locate, diagnostics and service scheduling, and LT owners can remote start from the app because remote start is standard on that trim. Remote commands lapse into a paid OnStar/Connected Access plan after the trial, since 8-year standard OnStar applies only to MY2025 and later.

The LT has front USB ports and a 12-volt socket. The extra USB ports (including rear) and the wireless charging pad are Premier upgrades, and no AC outlet is offered on any trim.

Proximity keyless entry and push-button start are standard on every trim, and the LT volume trim adds remote start. There is no hands-free or power trunk and no phone-as-key, and app remote functions need a paid plan after the trial.

An HD rear camera is standard. Rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-zone alert come only in optional Driver Confidence packages, and Automatic Parking Assist is a top-trim option. No surround-view camera is offered on any trim.

No 2022 Malibu trim or package offers a head-up display.

Physically it fits a family well: 38.1 in of rear legroom takes a rear-facing seat, the rear doors are wide, and the 15.7 cu ft trunk with a 60/40 fold swallows a stroller. IIHS's Marginal LATCH rating and no rear USB on the LT volume trim keep it mid-band.

This is the 2022 Malibu's weakest family credential. Automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot alert and adaptive cruise are all optional packages, and Chevy Safety Assist did not become standard until 2023. Add an NHTSA 4-star overall rating, an IIHS Poor in the updated side test and Poor/Marginal headlights, while the Camry, Accord and Altima include AEB and ACC as standard.

The chassis does the road-trip work with a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, decent rear legroom and a big trunk, and the LT adds rear air vents and dual-zone climate. The rear seat is otherwise bare: no rear USB on the LT, heated rear seats only on the Premier (and chip-deleted on many builds), and cloth seats that lack long-drive support.

Low-speed manners suit commuting: a smooth CVT take-off, 184 lb-ft of torque from low revs, a soft ride, a quiet cabin, physical controls, wireless CarPlay and remote start on the LT. Against that, there is no adaptive cruise or AEB without an option package, no lane centering at any price, and stop/start can feel abrupt.

It is cheap to run on regular fuel: 32 MPG combined and 29 city, about $2,050 a year at EPA assumptions, with inexpensive parts and a huge dealer network. Hybrid Camry, Accord and Sonata rivals do much better in city driving, which keeps it mid-band.

It has a full mid-size footprint (194.2 in long) with a reasonable 37 ft turning circle and a standard HD rear camera. Rear park assist comes only in an optional package, no trim offers surround view, and the thick rear pillars limit sight lines.

It has a token 1,000 lb trailer rating with no factory trailering package, front-wheel drive only and a sealed trunk. The 2.0T Premier adds power but not capability.

Heavy fleet and rental use, good initial quality and durable cloth interiors support it. It sits just below mid-band because of the 1.5T's oil-consumption and turbo history and CVT shudder complaints, both of which fall outside the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

There is no AC outlet, no factory roof rails or hitch, no washable flooring and no upfit ecosystem. A 60/40 fold and trunk hooks are all it offers.

It is a capable highway car with a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin and 36 MPG highway on a 15.8-gal tank, good for about 570 highway miles. On the LT, plain cruise control (adaptive only in a top-trim package), no lane centering, unsupportive cloth seats and a small four-cylinder that revs hard on grades hold it back.

No trim offers AWD, though the Camry and Altima did in 2022. Ground clearance is about 6 in, towing is a token 1,000 lb, and there are no roof rails or AC outlet, so it is limited to paved roads.

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

The comfort-tuned chassis is sure-footed and stable with modest body roll. The LT volume trim's 17-inch wheels favor ride over grip, and the soft tune with front-wheel drive only keeps it short of engaging. It handles securely but unremarkably, behind the Accord and Mazda6.

The electric rack is quick and accurate enough to place the car confidently, but it carries little road feel.

Reviewers call the brakes strong, smooth and easy to modulate with a linear pedal. The 2022 change to a standard electronic parking brake does not affect stopping. It stays below 80 because no instrumented 70–0 figure is available for this configuration.

The volume 1.5T with CVT feels brisk off the line thanks to low-rev torque, and the CVT is smooth. However, there is mild turbo lag and auto stop/start, and the engine runs out of breath at higher revs. The Premier's 2.0T with 9-speed is much stronger but is a small share of sales.

At part throttle the 1.5T is unobtrusive. Under load it turns raspy, which stands out in an otherwise hushed cabin.

A 37 ft turning circle on a 111.4 in wheelbase is mid-pack for a mid-size sedan. The chassis and steering are unchanged within the ninth generation.

Controls are the strong point: a conventional layout with physical climate and audio controls, plus dual-zone automatic climate and an 8-way power driver's seat on the LT. The fastback roofline limits outward visibility and makes entry awkward, and the cloth seats are under-bolstered.

The volume 1.5T/CVT LT is pleasant but forgettable, with 160 hp, numb steering and a comfort chassis. 2022 was the last year of the 250-hp 2.0T Premier (about 6.1 s to 60), which gives the lineup some spark that the 2023 car lost.

The 2022 LS comes with an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and keyless start, and adds heated mirrors and an electric parking brake for 2022. But automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, blind-spot alert and adaptive cruise are all optional packages at every trim; Chevy Safety Assist didn't become standard until 2023. The 2022 Camry, Accord and Altima include those systems as standard.

At $24,395 delivered the LS was the cheapest way into a roomy, comfortable mid-size sedan. The Premier's 250-hp 2.0T was still offered, which gave real performance per dollar at the top of the range. Missing standard safety tech and no hybrid or AWD option keep it at fair value rather than a bargain.

Four trims (LS, RS, LT, Premier) across a roughly $10,100 spread, with two engines: a 1.5T with CVT, or a 2.0T with 9-speed automatic on the Premier. Front-wheel drive only, and there is no hybrid. That is broader than the 2023's single-engine lineup but still narrower than the Sonata, Camry or Accord.

About 115,000 US sales in calendar 2022, a respectable figure in a shrinking segment but well behind the Camry and Accord. A large share went to fleet buyers, and 2023's rebound to over 130,000 had not happened yet, so it was a steady mid-pack seller.

Chevrolet is a big, familiar brand with a dense dealer network, but the Malibu carries rental-fleet associations and soft resale. In 2022 it was not yet an orphan model; the discontinuation came in 2024.

In 2022 the chip shortage cut inventory, which limited national incentives across the industry. The Malibu's offers were modest, mostly low-APR financing and lease deals, though it was more negotiable than the Camry or Accord. Larger cash ($750 customer cash) appeared only on leftover 2022 units in 2023.

2022 is the seventh model year of the ninth generation (2016) and the fourth since the 2019 refresh. The only changes were content tweaks (heated mirrors, electric parking brake, the L dropped). The platform and infotainment are late-2010s hardware, and the 2022 Accord, Camry, Sonata and K5 were all newer designs.

No 2022 awards or comparison-test wins. Reviewers praise the ride, rear-seat room and easy infotainment but say rivals have nicer interiors, stronger engines and sharper handling. US News ranked it #7 among affordable midsize cars, and it earned no IIHS Top Safety Pick.