Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A red 2022 Chevy Malibu is shown from the front.

The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu: Why It’s the Car for You

Purchasing a car ultimately comes down to two deciding factors – what you want versus what you need. Okay, the price also plays a big role in purchasing a car too, but we consider that to fall under the need category. While the prospect of owning a machine made for high-speed performance would be exhilarating, it’s just not practical, at least not right now. That doesn’t mean you should limit yourself to boring, mundane purchases. Not at all. You can still be practical with the car you choose and have something that causes you joy. Look no further than the 2022 Chevy Malibu. As a car, it’s practical, reliable, and anything but ordinary.

A Solid Reputation

The quality that Chevrolet has upheld over the years is rather self-explanatory. As part of the GM family, Chevy continues to receive high accolades from consumers, critics, and a public who have been instrumental in holding them in the highest regard. Most recently, the Malibu rated high in regards to its safety. When it comes to navigating the winding and sometimes treacherous road called life, peace of mind from safety is of the utmost importance.

Precision Performance That Doesn’t Require a Big Payment

Well, here you are. You’re in the market for a car. You’ve asked your friends what might be the best. You’ve seen commercials advertise their products to you to sway your opinion. You’ve even read the reviews from top-tier publications that are thorough and unbiased in their presentation. And you STILL can’t decide. The fact of the matter is this, when buying a car, you get what you pay for. However, Chevrolet breaks this misconception to pieces with the Malibu, which has a starting MSRP of around $23,000. So what does this car come with that belies its low price point but still doesn’t make it a cheap car?

The white interior of a 2022 Chevy Malibu shows two rows of seating.

Chevy Performance

Just for starters, the Malibu comes standard with a 1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder engine. That might not seem like much, but big things sometimes come in small packages. With 160 hp and direct fuel injection, you won’t have any trouble during your morning commute. These four cylinders are equipped with a continuously variable transmission, which has been proven superior to some of its counterparts. You’ll be getting to where you need to go and even have leftover fuel in the tank to have a productive weekend. With a combined 32 MPG, your trips to the pump will be less frequent and go much further.

Sometimes, you just want a little more “oomph” in your life. Not to worry, Chevrolet provides the extra push you might be looking for. Certain models come equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. While not as fuel-efficient as its counterpart, though 26 MPG combined is still excellent, 250 hp and a nine-speed automatic transmission will be more than enough to match your insatiable appetite for oomph.

Safety First

While style and speed are attributes that make people take notice of any automobile, both pale in comparison to safety. Luckily, Chevrolet has continually applied the same tireless pursuit of perfection to not just the engines they manufacture but the high measure of safety that each vehicle must meet before hitting the road. Some of the safety features that come standard with the Malibu include a tire pressure monitoring system and GM’s StabiliTrak, which will ensure you stay the course, even when the road ahead becomes uneven.

The Malibu also comes equipped with the Teen Driver program, which allows you to keep an eye on the driving habits of the younger drivers in your household. While safety features on any car are important, teaching the next generation the habits of highly effective and safe drivers is the most preemptive measure you can take. To take that extra step in protection, available safety features include lane change alert and lane keep assist. Forward collision alert and following distance indicator are both great features to have for any situation but could be especially useful or life-saving for new drivers trying to learn to gauge distances and speed.

Comfort & Style

Because we’re a society that tends to lend a lot of attention to details and personal style, we generally want what we drive to follow these same guidelines. Fear not, the Malibu has its fair share of curves to stimulate the senses, and the interior provides some much-needed comfort for your commute. Because one can’t expect to drive without music, Chevrolet equips the Malibu with a six-speaker audio system. Don’t worry about the sound in your car being unbalanced either; the speakers are spaced throughout the interior for a quality listening experience. An available interior protection package will help ensure your Malibu stays clean.A black 2022 Chevy Malibu is shown from the side parked in front of a building.

Warranty and Peace

Students of Russian literature are more than likely familiar with War and Peace by Tolstoy. The book, noteworthy for its length, is considered by many to be one of the great literary masterpieces of western society. While not nearly as long, but just as important, the warranties that cover a Chevrolet Malibu will offer you some much-needed peace of mind.

  • Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty: Chevrolet covers your vehicle for 3 years/36,000 miles. As a bonus, Chevrolet offers deductible-free repairs that are incurred due to defects from workmanship or materials from the manufacturer.
  • Optional Extended Limited Warranty: If you were ever a Boy Scout, you might remember the motto “Always be prepared.” Preparation and preventive measures are important for those unforeseen circumstances that pop up when we’re not expecting them to. When you purchase a Chevrolet, you have an option to buy into an Extended Limited Warranty. This warranty covers your vehicle for a period of 5 years/60,000 miles and covers the same stuff as the Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty.
  • Maintenance: We all know life can be hectic and draining. That’s why we take care of the first scheduled maintenance visit, free of charge. (Within 1 year/12,000 miles of purchase.) This includes an oil change, four-wheel tire rotation, and a multiple-point vehicle inspection. This is an extension of the quality that Chevrolet upholds to its customers and gratitude for their continued support.
  • Roadside Assistance Program: Chevrolet has always gone the extra mile for its drivers. This is why they offer a 24-hour roadside assistance program for the entire duration of your Malibu’s powertrain warranty. It offers assistance with emergency towing, lockout service, flat tire change, emergency fuel delivery, jump starts, and, for our hybrid customers, mobile EV recharging.

The Chevy Malibu: A Car You Want and Need

The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is a breath of fresh air in a consumer-driven economy. All too often, paying less for a vehicle means exactly that – less. Owning an automobile, while not being a necessity such as housing or food income, is just as important for sustaining an above-average quality of life. While many automobile manufacturers are simply out to push products and add numbers to their ever-increasing profits, Chevrolet understands the necessity for quality in the goods it produces. The Malibu is not just affordable; its quality made affordable for the average budget, providing a vehicle that encompasses efficient fuel economy, better-than-average comfort, award-winning safety, and a track record that backs up its reliability shows the unsurpassed quality of Chevrolet and GM as a whole.