MALIBU

About the Malibu

The Malibu spent decades trying to figure out what it wanted to be. By the time it got it right, nobody was buying sedans anymore. The nameplate goes back to 1964, but the modern Malibu — the one that actually matters — started in 1997 as Chevrolet's answer to the Camry and Accord. The early attempts were forgettable. Rental-fleet staples with interiors that felt like they were designed by committee and approved by accountants. Then the eighth generation arrived in 2012 and something shifted. The ninth generation, launched in 2016, was genuinely good — sharp styling, a composed ride, and a 2.0L turbo option that gave it real personality. Reviewers started using phrases like "competitive with the Accord," which for a Malibu was practically a standing ovation. GM discontinued it in 2024. The Equinox needed the factory space. On Revnut, the community ranks whether the Malibu ever escaped its rental-car reputation.