Chevrolet Announces Next-Gen Malibu Starting Price At $22,500

2016 Chevy Malibu (Credit: Chevrolet )

Chevy really, really wants you to buy the new Malibu. Sure, all automakers really want you to purchase their cars (at least for the most part) but Chevy is incredibly serious about pushing the Malibu. It’s become obvious just how serious the brand is considering that the 2016 model has a starting suggested retail price of only $22,500.

That kind of a starting price undercuts many of the big competitors the Malibu has struggled to beat, such as the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion.

After seeing the Malibu continue to struggle in a fiercely competitive midsize sedan market segment, Chevy has poured considerable resources into the car. it’s more efficient than before, is loaded with plenty more cutting-edge tech, comes with a mobile high speed Internet connection and has an interior that is surprisingly luxurious. The car’s also longer (with a wheelbase that’s almost 4 inches longer) and more spacious than before, yet weighs less.

The 2016 Malibu lineup comes with five models called the L, LS, LT, Hybrid and Premier. Included equipment on the base L is impressive, with items like a passive entry system, a push-button ignition and 10 total airbags.

If anyone wants to upgrade to the LS, it has a starting suggested retail price of $23,995. Among the upgraded equipment is a 7-inch color touchscreen, a rear-view camera and compatibility for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

For the Malibu LT, the starting price is $25,895. It gains power-adjustable seats and LED daytime running lights, among other standard equipment.

Buyers can go with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharger engine for the LT and Premier models, which pumps up the starting prices to $29,495 and $31,795 respectively.

The Hybrid model actually borrows powertrain tech from the second-generation Chevrolet Volt. It won’t be released until spring of 2016, so pricing info has been held back until next year.