Is a Chevy Malibu a coupe or sedan?
In short, the Chevy Malibu is a sedan — a four-door midsize passenger car designed for practicality and comfort, not a two-door coupe.
What defines a coupe and a sedan
Car classifications hinge on doors, roofline, and practicality. Here are the core differences that apply to the Malibu and most mainstream sedans versus coupes:
- Doors: Coupes traditionally have two doors; sedans have four doors. The Malibu is a four-door model.
- Roofline and style: Coupes often feature a sportier, shorter roofline; sedans maintain a longer roofline that extends to the trunk.
- Seating and practicality: Sedans typically offer four- or five-passenger seating with easier rear-seat access; coupes emphasize sportiness and can sacrifice rear-seat space.
- Market positioning: Sedans prioritize passenger comfort and trunk space; coupes emphasize a sportier, more coupe-like silhouette.
In practical terms, the Malibu is unmistakably a four-door sedan, even though some people may describe its styling as sleek or “sporty.” The official body style remains sedan.
The Malibu today and its availability
In the United States, Chevrolet stopped selling the Malibu after the 2023 model year, shifting focus to SUVs and trucks. Used examples from prior generations remain available, and the Malibu name has appeared in other markets with varying configurations. If you’re shopping today in the U.S., you’ll find Chevrolet’s current lineup offers other four-door sedans and SUVs rather than a new Malibu.
Historical context of the Malibu name
The Malibu name has a long lineage at Chevrolet. In its modern form (from the late 1990s onward), it has been a four-door sedan. Earlier eras used the Malibu name on other Chevelle-based body styles, including two-door variants, but the contemporary Malibu is categorized as a sedan.
Summary
The Chevy Malibu is a sedan, specifically a four-door model. While its design may evoke a sportier silhouette, it remains a four-door passenger car rather than a two-door coupe. As of the early 2020s, the Malibu was discontinued in the U.S. after the 2023 model year, though used examples from earlier generations remain available and the name has appeared in select markets outside the United States.
Does Chevy have a coupe?
Chevrolet coupes include two defining names in American muscle: Corvette and Camaro.
What type of car is a Chevy Malibu?
Unlike many other family sedans, the Malibu is only available with a single powertrain: a dutiful 163-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through a CVT. The Malibu won't be confused for a luxury car, but its ride comfort and quality are above average for this segment.
What counts as a sedan car?
A sedan is defined as a 4-door passenger car with a trunk that is separate from the passengers with a three-box body: the engine, the area for passengers, and the trunk.
What is a Chevy Malibu classified as?
A mid-size sedan with big appeal
From its stylish exterior to its spacious and comfortable interior, Malibu is the mid-size car that has elevated style and practicality to get excited about.
