2014 Chevrolet Malibu Review

I’ve recently had a chance to spend a little time driving the new 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, and from the moment I sat in the driver seat I. Fell. In. Love.

I took out the 3LT trim level for the weekend to get a good solid feel for the upgraded comfort, convenience, and safety features; as well as the ride and handling.

The first thing that I noticed about the vehicle is the newly refreshed front fascia and grill. It gives the front end of the vehicle a very sporty and aggressive look. The over-sized “bow tie” gives the Malibu its unmistakable Chevrolet appearance. The exterior body lines are smooth and give the fenders the perfect amount of flare, similar to many of the other new Chevrolet’s on the road today.

Upon entering the vehicle from the driver side, I was immediately slapped in the face with the MOST comfortable seat I have ever sat in on any vehicle, ever. The seats are like plush overstuffed clouds that hug and secure you as you are floating down the sky lit highway. I was in such awe by this soothing body pillow that I almost forgot to poke around the cabin of the vehicle to check out all the other amazing features of the Malibu. I shook the starry cobwebs from my melon so that finish my experience on the interior.

This years’ Chevrolet Malibu has been updated with many driver friendly safety features. The MyLink system allows you to pair any bluetooth compatible phone for complete hands free control, which allows you to call AND text without ever having to pick up your phone. Super safe, huh!? Another neat feature of the MyLink allows you to stream and control play lists on your phone or mp3 device or stream your Pandora internet radio. The MyLink touch screen is large and responsive and even has a button to reveal a “behind the screen” hidden storage compartment.

The safety package on the Malibu equips you with super awesome features like blind spot monitoring system, rear vision camera and rear park assist, front collision warning sensors, and a land departure warning system that will make an audible beep if you veer out of your lane without using a blinker. The 10 standard airbags give you the added peace of mind that you and all of your precious cargo will be protected in the event that there is ever any kind of front, side, or rear collision. These features, as well as OnStar automatic crash response, emergency services, and crisis assist are sure to make your driving adventures as safe as possible.

Engine options for the sedan give you the ability to not have to sacrifice fuel economy for power. All engine options are equipped with standard “start/stop” technology that helps free up the engine for the necessary functions, while powering other electrical devices to increase the fuel economy. There’s actually an extra battery on the trunk, powering the accessories when you’re stopped.

Both the 182HP 2.4L and the 196HP 2.5L four cylinder engines give you an incredible 25 city/36 hwy fuel economy, while the 259HP turbocharged 2.0L gives you the added power needed for traffic entry and an EPA estimated 21 city/30 hwy. Best of both worlds!

The entire interior cabin has been upgraded to give you a rich, luxurious feel as well as additional space and comfort. The added two inches of leg room, over the previous years model, for the rear passengers has been engineered in a way that does not sacrifice any space or comfort for the front passengers. The spacious trunk and 60/40 split in the rear seat give you plenty of room to haul all of your non-human cargo.

Overall, I would rate this vehicle “EXCELLENT”. I am going to be honest, even if this car had no other feature, other than the super duper extra cozy driver seat, I would be a buyer. The seat cushion feels as though it was stuffed with unicorn fur and covered in a slab of perfectly marbled kobe beef. After the extra dash of fairy dust, this seat, with the soft-touch leather engulfs your body and makes you feel like an additional cog in the machinery of this futuristic transportation spacecraft.

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Tony Lake

Surprisingly enough, Tony Lake is not a male model. However, he is the Chevy Sales & Finance Manager. He has a vast knowledge of all things Boston Red Sox and took tap dance lessons as a child. This skill comes in handy every time one of his employees sells a car. He has the best "Victory Dance" you've ever seen. Email him at tlake@thayerbg.com.