2016 Chevy Malibu may be what GM needs to balance sales

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
4/1/2015

 

As our prior post reported, GM's sales are trending towards trucks and SUVs in a big way. Car sales are continuing a multi-month plunge. This is not a trend all manufacturers have seen. Toyota's car sales have not declined though it does sell every extra truck it chooses to make. GM needs to balance its vehicle sales to avoid CAFE fines and to stay a major player in the car market. The all-new Malibu will be critically important to Chevy and GM, and it may have just the right formula.

 

Assuming that gasoline prices do not stay at their historic low prices (with inflation factored in) cars and especially fuel-efficient mid-size cars, will continue to be a hugely important part of the industry. Chevy says its new Malibu will be larger, more in line wit the Accord, and more fuel efficient. The vehicle also looks fantastic and is sort of along the lines of the new Chrysler 200.

 

Coupled with the new mainstream Malibu, Chevy is updating the Malibu hybrid. GM says the Malibu hybrid could approach 48 MPG. That would make it a standout in the segment now dominated sales-wise by the Toyota Camry. Mid-size hybrids need to offer value and a conventional feel, instead of just the top fuel economy possible, as Honda is now learning the hard way.

 

Chevy says the new Malibu hybrid will use a two-motor system adapted form the Volt along with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. This is great news. The new Volt strikes a great balance of real-world usefulness and green credibility. The more GM can spread the drivetrain components around the family, the lower its costs should be per unit.

 

Anyone who has been watching this industry for a while knows that Chevy always says of the Malibu when updated, "this time we will be competitive." This time it needs to be true.

 

 

2016 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Hybrid

 

[DanMan_S]

Anyone who has been watching this industry for a while knows that Chevy always says of the Malibu when updated, "this time we will be competitive." This time it needs to be true.

 

 

I'm pretty sure they always say that as well.

[dirtfan21]

Is it just me or does this just look like a twin to the existing Impala?

[bdsilverado]

Wow that front end is absolutely god awful and the back end looks like they used an impala which is fine but shows these designers are lost. Interior is fine but those are hard to mess up everyone does a good job on them compared to yesteryear. Sorry but that front end pisses me off. The impala front is so much nicer and so is the current Malibu.

Also the stupid trend of cheap leds that look like they were an afterthought. Nice job gm. 4 inches is the best thing they added.

[Colossus]

The front end is FINE the ass end looks like.. well an ugly ass, just like the Impala. We're looking at yet another high seller.. for rental fleets. The 2014+ Impala has been very weak in selling numbers. I wonder why.

My opinions of course.

[Daryl Z71]

Not a fan. I like the current Malibu 10x better.

[99silveradoz71]

They need to nail something that gets your attention. The wife and I like the Kia Optima. It's a reasonably priced ride, yet is stylish.

[MikeNH]

The Optima they debuted this week is stunningly good looking inside and out. More than ever it's showing that they stole a design guy from Audi. I hope Chevy can pull it off, the current Malibu is a good car, it's just too darn small.

[Chris]

They need to nail something that gets your attention. The wife and I like the Kia Optima. It's a reasonably priced ride, yet is stylish.

The 14/15 Optima was good looking. Almost bought a 2015 SX when my mom bought her 2014 Optima LX in September

['01LS1]

I like the lines of both this & the Impala. When you look at photos of the out going Malibu you can see the progression.

 

My Mom was hell bent on buying a Fusion(for a bit) due to ads(fuel economy) & one of her friends was pushing it. She bought a

2014 Malibu & has had it for roughly 6 months & loves it. She rode last week in her friends Fusion & she hated it.

 

As far as Impala with low sales numbers? It is ranked as number one in Affordable large cars. But at $27-$40 grand, you really have

to love a four door sedan to sign off on that, at least I would think. The upper level price point is running with a mid trim pick up & in the cuv/sports car territory.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Impala/

[SnakeEyeSS]

I'm I the only one who is bugged by only the lower grille having the horizontals slats? Makes it look incomplete IMO.

[towdog333]

Is it just me or does this just look like a twin to the existing Impala?

I was thinking the samething

[milligan]

IMO the Cruze needed more than a face lift.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

Not a fan of the exterior, GM did a piss poor job IMO. At least the interior seems to be alright.

 

I think the side view looks like a Nissan Altima.

[Colossus]

The Optima they debuted this week is stunningly good looking inside and out. More than ever it's showing that they stole a design guy from Audi. I hope Chevy can pull it off, the current Malibu is a good car, it's just too darn small.

Kia & Hyundai are notorious for ripping off the designs and technology of other automakers. One of the many reasons I'll never own one. It's sad enough having to look at my mother's 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. Which is a cross between a Toyota something and a Nissan something.