Choose the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu to give your daily drive a shot of smooth, roomy comfort and streamlined connectivity. This midsize sedan is also known for its quick, easygoing performance, with two engine options that don’t disappoint. The Malibu also gets great reviews for its modern tech features, a lineup that expands for 2021 to include wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Standout Features:

  • Spacious interior, plenty of headroom for tall drivers and passengers
  • Exceptional tech lineup, including a responsive infotainment touch screen
  • Smooth, quiet performance

What’s New for 2021?

  • Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone features
  • New Sports Edition package with blackout exterior trim

Exterior Style

With its sleek lines and four-door body style, the 2021 Chevy Malibu looks both very modern and very familiar. And, with its many color and wheel options, you can dress it up to suit your personal tastes.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior

Optional exterior features:

  • Dual-pane power sunroof
  • 19-inch black-painted aluminum wheels
  • Blacked-out grille with chrome trim
  • Chrome door handles

Six exterior colors:

  • Cherry Red Tintcoat
  • Silver Ice Metallic
  • Summit White
  • Mosaic Black Metallic
  • Shadow Gray Metallic
  • Cherry Black Metallic

Interior Features and Comfort

Every Malibu model offers impressive head- and legroom, especially if you’re on the tall side. The cabin’s straightforward layout is another huge plus, putting controls within easy reach of both driver and front passenger. And you’ll love how smooth the Malibu feels, evening out bumps in the road accordingly.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Technology

And the five Malibu trim models—L, LS, RS, LT, and Premier—offer an increasingly luxurious ride, adding comfort and tech features as you move up the hierarchy. Highlights include:

  • Power-adjustable driver's seat
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Heated front seats
  • Heated outboard rear seats
  • Rear passenger vents
  • Leather upholstery
  • Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation
  • Nine-speaker audio system
  • Driver-seat memory settings
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Heated steering wheel

Safety, Security, and Technology

Driver safety aids are only available as add-ons, via various Driver Confidence packages (see details below). If you’re interested in technology that can help you avoid danger, these features are at your service. Optional features include:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Automatic Parking Assist
  • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • IntelliBeam
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Electronic parking brake

Power & Performance

There are two powertrains available for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The base engine, standard on all but the top-trim Premier, is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission, which helps it deliver a smooth, predictable performance.

For premium performance, choose the Malibu Premier. This trim model’s exclusive powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, offers a more luxurious on-road experience. Its 250 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque ensures a much speedier drive. Also, its nine-speed transmission will impress you with its smooth-shifting action.

Fuel Economy

Both Malibu powertrains lend themselves to an efficient commute. The base engine, a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, works with the CVT to give you the model’s best EPA ratings. With it, your Malibu is rated for 32 mpg combined (29 city/36 highway mpg). The top-trim Premier, with its more powerful four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, is only a little less thrifty, earning 26 mpg combined (22/33 mpg).

2021 Chevrolet Malibu on the Road

Trim Specifics

There are five 2021 Chevrolet Malibu trim models: L, LS, RS, LT, and Premier. Each model adds a little more to the last, giving you everything from an affordable, family-friendly sedan to a posh, modern people-hauler.

With the entry-level L, which starts at $22,140, you’re getting a great deal on a modern ride. This Malibu also gives you all the basics:

  • Keyless ignition and entry
  • Cruise control
  • 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Six-speaker audio system
  • 16-inch wheels

Spend a little extra to upgrade to the LS, and you’ll enjoy even more tech features. This Malibu helps you keep track of young drivers, with Chevy’s Teen Driver system giving you the means to set speed limits and geo fences. This Malibu also adds Wi-Fi capabilities to bolster your connectivity. LS highlights include:

  • 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Teen Driver
  • Buckle to Drive (prevents vehicle from being driven until driver's seat belt is fastened)
  • Driver and front-passenger vanity mirrors

Next up is the sporty RS. This Malibu looks sporty, with body-colored mirrors and a black grille. But it also adds to your performance with a rear spoiler and a dual exhaust.

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

The LT is unique among Malibu trims, offering three exclusive appearance packages (Midnight, Sport and Redline—more on these below). Besides being able to tweak this Malibu according to your personal style, you’ll also enjoy greater comforts, thanks to the LT’s heated front seats and dual-zone climate control. Note that the LT starts with the LS features and adds extras, skipping the sporty RS upgrades altogether.

  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Satellite radio
  • Power-adjustable driver's seat
  • Heated front seats
  • Rear passenger vents
  • Three available appearance packages: Midnight, Sport and Redline

For the ultimate Malibu experience, you need the top-tier Malibu Premier. It’s the only model that features the engine upgrade, significantly increasing your speed with 250 horses. The Premier also takes your comfort to new heights, with stylish leather upholstery and driver-seat memory settings. And it’s got as many tech features as a luxury sedan, including a wireless charging pad and LED headlights.

  • More powerful engine
  • Dual-pane sunroof
  • Leather upholstery
  • Driver-seat memory settings
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Heated outboard rear seats
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • Upgraded infotainment touchscreen with navigation
  • Nine-speaker audio system
  • Wireless device charging
  • LED headlights
  • 19-inch wheels

Available Packages

Shoppers should note that the Malibu L isn’t available with any options packages. However, there are a number of packages that are optional (or standard equipment) on all but the base L trim model:

Driver Confidence I & II package:

  • Rear Park Assist
  • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • IntelliBeam
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • LS models also include body-color power outside mirrors

Convenience package 2:

  • Remote start kit
  • All-weather floor mats
  • Cargo net

Weather Protection package 2:

  • Remote start kit
  • Cargo mat
  • Front and rear splash guards

Driver Confidence I Cloth package:

  • Rear Park Assist
  • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • LS models also include body-color power outside mirrors

Winter/Summer Floor Mats package:

  • Premium carpeted floor mats
  • All-weather floor mats
  • Cargo mat

Weather Protection package:

  • All-weather floor mats
  • Cargo mat
  • Front and rear splash guards

Convenience package 1:

  • Remote start kit
  • Cargo net

Floor Liner package:

  • All-weather floor liners
  • Cargo mat

Interior Protection package:

  • All-weather floor mats
  • Cargo mat

The Malibu LT offers several packages that are exclusive to the trim model:

Leather package:

  • Leather-appointed seatin
  • Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob
  • Inside rearview auto-dimming mirror

Redline package:

  • 19-inch Black-painted aluminum wheels with Red hash marks
  • 19-inch all-season blackwall tires
  • Front and rear Black bowtie emblems
  • Black Malibu badge with Red outline
  • Blacked-out grille
  • Black mirror caps with Redline graphics
  • Jet Black interior
  • Available with Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White or Mosaic Black Metallic exterior colors

Sport Edition:

  • Front and rear Black bowtie emblems
  • Black Malibu badge
  • Blacked-out grille with dark chrome surround
  • 19-inch Black-painted aluminum wheels
  • 19-inch all-season blackwall tires
  • Jet Black interior

Midnight Edition:

  • Mosaic Black Metallic exterior color
  • Front and rear Black bowtie emblems
  • Black Malibu badge
  • Blacked-out grille with dark chrome surround
  • 19-inch Black-painted aluminum wheels
  • 19-inch all-season blackwall tires
  • Jet Black interior

Appearance package:

  • Gloss Black outside mirror caps
  • Dark Chrome horizontal leading edge grille
  • Sport pedal kit

The top-trim Premier can be had with three options packages, the aforementioned Interior Protection and Floor Liner packages, as well as the exclusive Enhanced Driver Confidence package:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Automatic Parking Assist
  • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • IntelliBeam
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Electronic parking brake

Chevrolet Warranty

  • Bumper-to-bumper limited coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain limited coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles
  • Emission control system coverage for 2 years/24,000 miles

Your 2021 Chevrolet Malibu comes standard with a vast safety net. Should something go unexpectedly sideways, Chevy’s warranty coverage is here to help.

What Comes Next for the Chevrolet Malibu?

We expect the ninth generation of Malibus to last a few more model years. Pre-pandemic, Chevy had plans to update the Malibu for 2023 and completely redesign it for 2025. But those plans may have changed mid-2020. While the future remains uncertain, we have received reports that, after 2023, the Malibu may be discontinued. As we learn more, we’ll keep you updated!