Does the 2017 Chevy Malibu have Turbo?
Yes. The 2017 Malibu offers turbocharged engines, including a standard 1.5-liter turbo and an optional 2.0-liter turbo on higher trims. A non-turbo hybrid is also available in the lineup.
In this year, Chevrolet presented two turbocharged gasoline engines for the Malibu. The 1.5L turbo is designed for everyday efficiency and real-world drivability, while the 2.0L turbo targets stronger acceleration and performance. The article below outlines what those engines are, where they appear in the lineup, and how they affect power and fuel economy.
Turbocharged engine lineup
The Malibu’s turbo options are described below, focusing on horsepower, torque, and transmissions for the two engines available in 2017.
- 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4: about 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque; paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission; available on most trims (including L/LS/LT) with front-wheel drive; tuned to emphasize efficiency and everyday driving comfort.
- 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4: about 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque; paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission; available on higher trims (LT and Premier) and aimed at stronger acceleration and overall performance; front-wheel drive is standard for Malibu.
Overall, the two turbo options cover a range of buyer needs—from efficient daily commuting to more spirited highway merging—while a non-turbo hybrid variant sits alongside the gasoline engines in the lineup.
Performance and efficiency
The 1.5L turbo delivers a balance of fuel economy and practical power, suitable for everyday driving and highway cruising. The 2.0L turbo offers noticeably more acceleration and sporting potential, particularly when paired with the 9-speed automatic. In both cases, front-wheel drive is the standard configuration, with the hybrid variant offering a non-turbo, electrified powertrain intended to maximize efficiency rather than performance.
Engine availability varies by trim. The 1.5L turbo is common across base and mid-range trims, while the 2.0L turbo is reserved for higher trims, reflecting the trade-off between efficiency and performance that Chevrolet set out for the Malibu lineup in 2017.
Other powertrain options
Hybrid variant
The 2017 Malibu also offered a hybrid powertrain, which uses a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor and a battery pack to deliver a total system output around 182 horsepower. This setup is not turbocharged and uses an eCVT-style transmission to optimize fuel economy. The hybrid is positioned separately from the turbocharged gasoline engines in the Malibu lineup.
Trim-level availability
In 2017, the 1.5L turbo was the common engine for the base and mid-range trims, while the 2.0L turbo was available on higher trims. The Malibu Hybrid occupied its own powertrain path within the lineup, offering a non-turbo alternative focused on efficiency. Buyers could select the turbocharged gasoline options to balance performance with efficiency, or opt for the hybrid if maximizing fuel economy was the priority.
Summary
In short, the 2017 Chevy Malibu does have turbo options. A 1.5-liter turbo engine is standard across many trims for efficient, everyday driving, and a 2.0-liter turbo is available on higher trims for stronger performance. A non-turbo hybrid version is also offered, providing a separate route to improved fuel economy. For buyers weighing turbo performance versus efficiency, the Malibu provides clear, engine-specific choices within the 2017 lineup.
What kind of engine does a 2017 Chevy Malibu have?
The base 2017 Chevy Malibu is equipped with a 160- horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The top-of-the-line Premier model gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 250 horsepower mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Does a 2017 Chevy Malibu have a turbo?
Engine Specs
1.5L ECOTEC® Engine: The Malibu comes equipped with this turbocharged engine, developing up to 163 hp and staying fuel efficient thanks to direct injection and variable valve timing.
What Chevy Malibu has a turbo?
Under the hood, the Chevy Malibu RS and LT have the same powertrain. They are both equipped with a 1.5L turbocharged engine that generates 160 horsepower and is combined with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
How fast can a 2017 Chevy Malibu go?
The top speed of a 2017 Chevy Malibu varies by engine. The 1.5L turbocharged engine is electronically limited to around 218 km/h (135 mph), while the 2.0L turbocharged engine can reach about 134 mph. The 1.5L engine's top speed is electronically limited due to its power output, and while testing shows it's capable of reaching a high speed, it may not be able to sustain it in all conditions, as noted in a Quora post about a similar model year.
- 1.5L Turbo Engine: Around 218 km/h (135 mph), electronically limited.
- 2.0L Turbo Engine: Approximately 134 mph, based on tests showing the drag-limited speed.
