Chevrolet News:2014 Chevrolet Malibu To Address Back Seat

[William Maley]

By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

January 19, 2013

The current Chevrolet Malibu has seen mixed reviews and slow sales since it went on sale last year. GM CEO Dan Akerson said in a interview back in December that a mid-cycle refresh would be coming in late 2013.

"We are going to do a midcycle enhancement, not dramatic, by this time next year," Akerson said.

Akerson said that part of the midcycle refresh would include a revised front fascia.

Now we have learned that the Malibu refresh will also address another complaint many people have, back seat room. Automotive News reports that the Malibu refresh will improve on the back seat room from the current model. No one is quite sure how GM will pull this off yet.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Related Story:

Chevrolet Readying A Malibu Refresh For 2013

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[hyperv6]

They will use seat backs like they did in my 08. This will give them an inch or so. It would be the easiest fast fix.

[FAPTurbo]

Will we see a redux of this:

[Drew Dowdell]

lower the seat bottom a bit and use the seat back cut-outs like they have in the Cruze. It's not rocket science... even for GM.

[hyperv6]

What I want to know is what is with the hood on the mules.

They have two triagle shapes one on each side. Is this just some dummy hood or are they looking at some kind of air intake of some kind? It also could just be some odd styling thing but it may need to be watched as they progress here.

I noted the lower grill was more opened up in the Camo bra and it may be for the 1.6 Turbo intercooler?

[vonVeezelsnider]

I noticed they are going to be futzing with the dash as well. Hopefully they can do something about some of the more garish aspects of the interior's design. Especially on the gray interior where the door panel is all one colour. I read Michael Karesh's review of the Turbo model for TTAC and he said the fit and materials quality was in his estimation maybe best in class. I concur, the dash materials are similar to those found in the Buick Verano which are quite good in their own right. It wouldn't hurt to make the LED taillights standard equipment either as I feel the standard units cheapen the look of the car.

Something does need to be done about the backseat though, a fact made very apparent to me when I rented a 2013 Fusion SE w. 2.0L Luxury pack a week after test driving a 2013 Malibu LTZ. Night and day.

[daves87rs]

lower the seat bottom a bit and use the seat back cut-outs like they have in the Cruze. It's not rocket science... even for GM.

+1

[hyperv6]

I noticed they are going to be futzing with the dash as well. Hopefully they can do something about some of the more garish aspects of the interior's design. Especially on the gray interior where the door panel is all one colour. I read Michael Karesh's review of the Turbo model for TTAC and he said the fit and materials quality was in his estimation maybe best in class. I concur, the dash materials are similar to those found in the Buick Verano which are quite good in their own right. It wouldn't hurt to make the LED taillights standard equipment either as I feel the standard units cheapen the look of the car.

Something does need to be done about the backseat though, a fact made very apparent to me when I rented a 2013 Fusion SE w. 2.0L Luxury pack a week after test driving a 2013 Malibu LTZ. Night and day.

Just getting in my 08 Bu vs the new one you would be suprised how much more roomy leg wise it feels. There is not much difference size wise but it feel like much more.

[regfootball]

the biggest problem is the footspace and kneespace. the front seat bottom frame and base needs to be completely redone, and likely that part of the floorpan as well. Sculpting the seat is only going to give you a little gain.

GM nearly always sucks at packaging. Don't think I'm right? Look under the hood of the malibu and see the near foot of wasted space between the motor and front bumper stuff.

That could be interior space.

The interior of the Malibu is pretty good, but they need to lose the sh1tty looking strakes, redo the gauge pods and redo the cupholders. The base seat cloth sucks too. Other than that, I really believe the Malibu's interior is in the upper half of the class. With leather, it's positively bangup.

[ocnblu]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

[G. David Felt]

Will we see a redux of this:

That is way toooooo Funny!

[ZL-1]

lower the seat bottom a bit and use the seat back cut-outs like they have in the Cruze. It's not rocket science... even for GM.

and on the outside, hopefully give it a 2014 Impala look...

[Drew Dowdell]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

[smk4565]

It needs reworked, but you wonder how they let such a poor car out to begin with. At any rate, I don't think adding an inch here or there in the back see or re-working the grille is going to increase sales that much. The Malibu is selling around 10k a month, the Sonata, Fusion, Altima and Accord are closer to 20k, the Camry sells over 30k a month. People just don't seem to look much at the Malibu.

[smk4565]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

Perhaps they are Imported from Detroit.

[G. David Felt]

That would be an interesting Marketing Campaign. Import from Detroit!

[Drew Dowdell]

That would be an interesting Marketing Campaign. Import from Detroit!

Chrysler might take issue with that.

[G. David Felt]

That would be an interesting Marketing Campaign. Import from Detroit!

Chrysler might take issue with that.

It is a brave new world today with Obama sworn in and now we can focus on green and Local job creation, so heck with Chrysler and lets Import From Detroit!

[frogger]

I saw a new clean Fusion on the road yesterday, and all I could think of as it drove past was.. it is hopeless for the Malibu.

[hyperv6]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

That is logical on the space as my 08 has little room to give with the 3.6.

[hyperv6]

That would be an interesting Marketing Campaign. Import from Detroit!

Chrysler might take issue with that.

It is a brave new world today with Obama sworn in and now we can focus on green and Local job creation, so heck with Chrysler and lets Import From Detroit!

I planted windmill in my yard and ran 20 red lights in his honor today.

I do not think it is hopless here. GM still can do well with this car with the updates and good pricing. Price is king in this segment as proven by Hyundai with above average quality. If Gm can get the inprovments in and under cut Ford price they will do fine.

The fact is no one will run away with this segment as They all will apply early changes to keep an edge here.

If one only looks at the time line of this car from when it was shown to the press in 09 and how things were delayed it is easy to see how they ended up where they are. I still suspect the nose changes were already in the works when it was intro's When GM move up the intro with this car they did not have the time to finish them, If the Malibu had come out in 14 as a 15 the new nose would have already been set to match the others in the line.

GM was between a rock and a hard spot. Bring the car out now in needs of some tweeks or linger on with the old out dated car till the later date they had already set. I think the early release with tweeks was not great but the lesser of two evils.

[ocnblu]

It is also possible the decision was made late at Ford, too. The MKZ still has the better engine available (3.7L).

[G. David Felt]

While I do not think all is lost as one person said when seeing the Fusion. There are plenty of people who want this type of car and are loyal to GM, with a refresh, I believe sales will pick up a bit till a major redo with the proper interior room is done. This is but one cog in the over all wheel. GM has come a long way in the last couple of years, so little bumps should be expected with better to be seen down the road.

[ponchoman49]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

Actually the Mazda 6 loses it's V6 with the re-design for 2014 with the 2.5 as it's only offering for NA. So much for Zoom Zoom at Mazda with a deficit of over 80 HP compared to the Korean twins and cars like the V6 CamCord and Altima.

[G. David Felt]

Mazda is a dying company. They are cutting everywhere to try and stay alive, but like suzuki and mitsubishi, I do not hold out that they will still be around in a couple years.

[ocnblu]

We got 2 2014 Mazda 6's today. The one I looked at is a pearl white Grand Touring model (I believe it is top-o-the-line) at $31k... beautiful car... huge 19" rims! The gray one, which I haven't seen up close yet, is more a base model. I'll have to check it out tomorrow if I don't freeze in place as soon as I step outside.

[Camino LS6]

Each time I think of the rear legroom complaint on this car, one thought keeps popping into my head.

Return of the Malibu Maxx?

[Drew Dowdell]

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

This new Malibu was prolly designed before the decision was made to follow the imports and take away the customer's choice to order one with a V6.

Ford is an import now?

Sonata and Optima are the only imports that don't offer a V6 in their mid-size car.

Camry has one, Accord has one, Altima has one, Passat has one, Mazda 6 has one,

In fact, GM is arguably one of the leaders in this trend from when the Regal debuted.

Actually the Mazda 6 loses it's V6 with the re-design for 2014 with the 2.5 as it's only offering for NA. So much for Zoom Zoom at Mazda with a deficit of over 80 HP compared to the Korean twins and cars like the V6 CamCord and Altima.

GM can hardly be accused of following Mazda on this front when Mazda is 2+ years behind GM