- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
- 3,221
I rented a 2023 Malibu LT and drove it around 300 miles. It was brand new with just 11 miles on the odometer at pick up. I was surprised to learn GM still made these. Here's my quick review:
Pros:
- Smooth and quiet ride, even with 19 in rims on low profile tires. No wind noise at 80+ mph.
- Comfortable seats.
- Despite being a larger sedan, it's easy to drive and maneuver.
- Cold A/C.
- Eerily quiet idle; could barely hear the engine at a red light.
- Large and responsive infotainment screen.
- Excellent brakes with firm pedal feel. Much better than my Hondas and their characteristic mushy pedals.
- CVT doesn't drone and has a linear response.
- Good paint quality.
Cons:
- 1.5L has turbo lag and sounds like a vacuum cleaner. There's an unnerving shudder when first giving it the beans until the turbo catches.
- A few misaligned interior pieces. A corner of the rear bumper also wasn't flush with the taillight.
- Horrendous auto start/stop that I disabled each time I got in.
- Rear backup camera has a funky fish eye lens effect.
- Mediocre halogen projector headlights.
- Dated. This gen has been around since 2016, with only a mid-cycle refresh in 2019.
- Ugly, old instrument cluster design that GM has used for like 10+ yrs.
Pros:
- Smooth and quiet ride, even with 19 in rims on low profile tires. No wind noise at 80+ mph.
- Comfortable seats.
- Despite being a larger sedan, it's easy to drive and maneuver.
- Cold A/C.
- Eerily quiet idle; could barely hear the engine at a red light.
- Large and responsive infotainment screen.
- Excellent brakes with firm pedal feel. Much better than my Hondas and their characteristic mushy pedals.
- CVT doesn't drone and has a linear response.
- Good paint quality.
Cons:
- 1.5L has turbo lag and sounds like a vacuum cleaner. There's an unnerving shudder when first giving it the beans until the turbo catches.
- A few misaligned interior pieces. A corner of the rear bumper also wasn't flush with the taillight.
- Horrendous auto start/stop that I disabled each time I got in.
- Rear backup camera has a funky fish eye lens effect.
- Mediocre halogen projector headlights.
- Dated. This gen has been around since 2016, with only a mid-cycle refresh in 2019.
- Ugly, old instrument cluster design that GM has used for like 10+ yrs.
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