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Used 2023 Chevy Malibu Sedan Trims Comparison

Trim level differences

The 2023 Malibu is offered in four trim levels: LS, RS, LT and 2LT. All are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) driving the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission.

LS
The most affordable Malibu comes with:

  • 16-inch alloy wheels
  • Keyless entry and ignition
  • Remote start
  • Air conditioning
  • Cloth upholstery
  • Cruise control
  • 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
  • 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Six-speaker audio system

Standard driver assist features include:

  • Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
  • Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
  • Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle)
  • Automatic high beams

RS
For a sportier look, the Malibu RS includes:

  • 18-inch wheels
  • Rear spoiler
  • Black grille and badging
  • Dual exhaust outlets
  • Body-color outside mirrors
  • Power-adjustable driver's seat
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel

LT
The popular LT offers the most variety in the Malibu lineup. Standard features include:

  • 17-inch wheels
  • LED running lights
  • Heated outside mirrors
  • Heated front seats
  • Rear passenger air vents
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Satellite radio

2LT
For a Malibu with all of the trimmings, the top 2LT trim includes:

  • 19-inch wheels
  • LED headlights and taillights
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Leather upholstery
  • Driver's seat memory settings
  • Partial digital instrument panel
  • Power-adjustable front passenger seat
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation
  • Nine-speaker Bose premium audio system
  • Wireless device charging
  • 120-volt power outlet

Some features are available in supporting trims as options. The LT and 2LT models are also eligible for Sport, Redline and Midnight appearance packages as well as a dual-pane sunroof. There are also two option packages that add driver assist features:

The optional Driver Confidence package is available on all trim levels and includes:

  • Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
  • Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

The Driver Confidence and Cruise package is only offered on the top 2LT trim and comes with:

  • Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Malibu and the car in front)
  • Semi-automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
  • Automatic emergency braking above 50 mph

Which Malibu trim does Edmunds recommend?

We suggest stepping up to the Malibu's top 2LT trim since it doesn't represent a huge price increase and the additional convenience and luxury features make it more competitive against its rivals. We'd also consider adding the optional Driver Confidence packages for their safety features.

Compare trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Las Vegas, NV
Vehicle
Malibu LS Fleet
Malibu LS
Malibu RS
Malibu 1LT
Malibu 2LT
Vehicle
LS Fleet
1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT
See all Malibu LS Fleet for sale
LS
1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT
See all Malibu LS for sale
1 for sale near you
RS
1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT
See all Malibu RS for sale
1 for sale near you
1LT
1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT
See all Malibu 1LT for sale
28 for sale near you
Hide similarities
Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Satellite radio
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Cruise control
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
optional
Parking assistance
optional
optional
optional
optional
optional
Upholstery
premium cloth
premium cloth
premium cloth
premium cloth
leather
Heated seats
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
standard
Cooled/Ventilated seats
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
standard
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
optional
standard
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Drivetrain
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
front wheel drive
Engine power
160 hp @ 5,700 rpm
160 hp @ 5,700 rpm
160 hp @ 5,700 rpm
160 hp @ 5,700 rpm
160 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Engine torque
184 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
184 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
184 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
184 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
184 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
Engine displacement
1.5 l
1.5 l
1.5 l
1.5 l
1.5 l
Engine configuration
inline 4
inline 4
inline 4
inline 4
inline 4
Transmission
continuously variable-speed automatic
continuously variable-speed automatic
continuously variable-speed automatic
continuously variable-speed automatic
continuously variable-speed automatic
Tire size
205/65R16
205/65R16
245/45R18
225/55R17
245/40R19
Wheel size
16 X 7.5-in
16 X 7.5-in
18 X 8.0-in
17 X 8.0-in
19 X 8.5-in
Wheel type
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
27 / 35 / 30 MPG
27 / 35 / 30 MPG
27 / 35 / 30 MPG
27 / 35 / 30 MPG
27 / 35 / 30 MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
15.8 gal.
15.8 gal.
15.8 gal.
15.8 gal.
15.8 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
427 / 553 miles
427 / 553 miles
427 / 553 miles
427 / 553 miles
427 / 553 miles
Fuel Type
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
regular unleaded
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
37.0 ft.
37.0 ft.
37.0 ft.
37.0 ft.
37.0 ft.
Curb weight
3,135 lb.
3,135 lb.
3,135 lb.
3,159 lb.
3,159 lb.
Ground Clearance
Overall Width with Mirrors
Overall Width without Mirrors
73.0 in.
73.0 in.
73.0 in.
73.0 in.
73.0 in.
Height
57.9 in.
57.9 in.
57.9 in.
57.9 in.
57.9 in.
Length
194.2 in.
194.2 in.
194.2 in.
194.2 in.
194.2 in.
Wheelbase
111.4 in.
111.4 in.
111.4 in.
111.4 in.
111.4 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
15.7 cu. ft.
15.7 cu. ft.
15.7 cu. ft.
15.7 cu. ft.
15.7 cu. ft.
Front Head Room
39.1 in.
39.1 in.
39.1 in.
39.1 in.
39.1 in.
Front Leg Room
41.5 in.
41.5 in.
41.5 in.
41.5 in.
41.5 in.
Front Shoulder Room
58.5 in.
58.5 in.
58.5 in.
58.5 in.
58.5 in.
Rear Head Room
37.5 in.
37.5 in.
37.5 in.
37.5 in.
37.5 in.
Rear Leg Room
38.1 in.
38.1 in.
38.1 in.
38.1 in.
38.1 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
57.1 in.
57.1 in.
57.1 in.
57.1 in.
57.1 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
$36,159
$36,339
$36,583
$36,078
$39,161
Average Cost Per Mile
$0.48
$0.48
$0.49
$0.48
$0.52
Depreciation
$9,781
$8,946
$8,218
$8,230
$10,216
Financing
$4,062
$4,088
$4,416
$4,184
$4,608
Taxes & Fees
$2,765
$2,782
$2,990
$2,843
$3,112
Fuel
$10,433
$10,433
$10,433
$10,433
$10,433
Insurance
$3,377
$3,377
$3,473
$3,473
$3,679
Maintenance
$3,591
$4,563
$4,903
$4,765
$4,963
Repairs
$2,150
$2,150
$2,150
$2,150
$2,150
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Dark Atmosphere/Medium Ash Gray, premium cloth
Jet Black, premium cloth
Dark Atmosphere/Medium Ash Gray, premium cloth
Jet Black, premium cloth
Jet Black, premium cloth
Jet Black, premium cloth
Jet Black, leather
Dark Atmosphere/Light Wheat, leather
Exterior
Mineral Gray Metallic
Dark Ash Metallic
Sterling Gray Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Summit White
Riverside Blue Metallic
Mineral Gray Metallic
Dark Ash Metallic
Sterling Gray Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Summit White
Riverside Blue Metallic
Mineral Gray Metallic
Dark Ash Metallic
Sterling Gray Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Summit White
Riverside Blue Metallic
Radiant Red Tintcoat
Mineral Gray Metallic
Dark Ash Metallic
Sterling Gray Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Summit White
Riverside Blue Metallic
Radiant Red Tintcoat
Mineral Gray Metallic
Dark Ash Metallic
Sterling Gray Metallic
Mosaic Black Metallic
Summit White
Riverside Blue Metallic
Radiant Red Tintcoat