2012 Chevrolet Malibu

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Finally an official look on the all new Chevrolet mid sized sedan.
Which will replace our current malibu in the US and Canada.
But also the Chevrolet Epica around the rest of the world.

And no more V6.
Engines will match the ones found in the Buick Regal.

So far, it seems to look good. I still really like the current design and think it still looks good and modern.
And the current model is still one of my favorite mid size choice.

Now there is tougher competition than 4 years ago, when the Malibu’s adversaries were mostly the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.
The Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima and the Ford Fusion are now all very popular choices as well.

Conversation 16 comments

  1. Newest 4 cylinder engines are so smooth and quick that there's no need for a V6 in a mid-sized car.
    Glad I chose a 4 cylinder instead of a V6 when I bought my '04 Honda Accord which is fast enough.

    If the '12 Malibu is offered only with a 4 cylinder engine, that makes sense to me.

  2. So far I think this looks great! I even like the taillights but maybe not so much on a white car. I hope the rumor about it having all wheel drive is true too. I would be very interested in a turbo di 4cyl with the Regal GS engine and with a 6 spd manumatic and all wheel drive! HHMMMMM… SS anybody?

  3. Why is it that with every generation of Malibu since it's 1997 return they have annoyed me with weird/pointless details in the tail lights? The 1997-2003 version had the pointless faux lights on the trunk, the 2004-2007 version had the bulbs above the reverse lights that only functioned as parking lights when they should have been turn signals (resulting in having the brake lights work as turn signals), the current version has the faux BMW L with nothing but reflector where there should be a turn signal, and the 2012 version with that little pointless plastic rectangle between the lights.

    But I'm sure like the current version, the rest of the car will look great! Hopefully they bring back the side marker turn signals they deleted in 2009.

  4. @ FuioptimaSX: Wow, I thought I was the only one that noticed all those taillamp details. You are not alone!

  5. Looks like Chevy knows what they need to do. The current Malibu still looks good, but there are some really good competitors today besides the lame Camry and Accord. Hopefully the next one will be a little more than just evolutionary.

  6. I've driven a camry and the malibu as rentals. I was really impressed by the malibu and would take one again from Hertz. And its still a good looking car. I can't say that about the camry.

  7. I also rented Camry and Malibu couple of times before and I also prefer Malibu. Much nicer interior and feels not as heavy.

    Some things I'd improve is the overly light steering and make the steering wheel little bit smaller (which is typical GM). Also fuel economy could be better (for some reason the Impala gets much better mileage). Otherwise pretty nice car.

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