What car is replacing Malibu?
There is no direct one-for-one replacement for the Chevrolet Malibu in Chevrolet’s current lineup. The brand has retired the model and shifted emphasis toward SUVs and trucks, leaving buyers who want a traditional midsize sedan with non-Malibu options from Chevrolet or other manufacturers.
The fate of the Malibu and what comes next
Chevrolet confirmed that the Malibu would not carry into the 2024 model year, effectively ending production after the 2023 model year. There is no direct sedan successor in Chevrolet’s catalog, as GM reorients development toward sport utility vehicles and trucks to match market demand and profitability.
Why GM moved away from sedans
The broader automotive market has shown a sustained preference for crossovers and SUVs, with shoppers often valuing higher seating position, cargo space, and perceived practicality. GM’s strategy reflects this trend, prioritizing higher-margin, more popular body styles over traditional mid-size sedans like the Malibu.
For shoppers seeking a Chevrolet vehicle with similar day-to-day usability, the closest options within the brand today are SUVs and a small electric hatchback, rather than a direct sedan replacement.
These considerations help explain why there is no exact Malibu successor in Chevrolet’s lineup and why buyers are steered toward alternative body styles or other brands’ sedans.
For those who specifically want a Chevrolet alternative that mirrors the Malibu’s size and practicality, the following models are the closest matches within the current lineup.
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Chevrolet Blazer
- Chevrolet Bolt EUV
These options provide practical family-friendly space and modern tech, but they are not mid-size sedans and do not replicate the Malibu’s exact balance of ride, handling, and interior packaging.
Other midsize sedan options to consider
If you are open to non-Chevrolet sedans, several popular midsize models remain in production and offer a traditional car experience with varying strengths in efficiency, interior space, and technology.
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Sonata
- Kia K5
- Nissan Altima
These models represent mainstream choices in the midsize sedan segment, each with its own balance of performance, economy, and features. It’s worth test-driving a few to determine which best matches your priorities.
Summary
The Malibu has been discontinued with no direct Chevrolet replacement. Chevrolet is prioritizing SUVs and trucks, while buyers in the sedan market can look to non-Chevrolet midsize sedans or nearby Chevrolet alternatives like the Equinox, Blazer, or Bolt EUV depending on their needs for space, efficiency, and price. The industry trend toward crossovers continues to shape which models automakers offer in the traditional sedan segment.
What will replace the Chevy Malibu in 2026?
The Focus Is Now on EVs
At the factory where the Malibu is built, Chevy is stopping sedan work to get ready for EVs. In its place, they will build the new Bolt EV and Cadillac XT4.
What is Chevy replacing Malibu with?
The Chevy Malibu is being replaced by the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas, where both vehicles will be produced. The next Bolt EV is expected to be a compact SUV or crossover, not a direct sedan successor to the Malibu, and will be built on GM's Ultium platform.
This video discusses the future of Chevy in NASCAR after the Malibu discontinuation: 1:34brakehardTikTok · May 9, 2024
- Vehicle Replacement: The production line for the Malibu is being converted to build the new Bolt EV. The Cadillac XT4 will also be produced at the same plant.
- Body Style: The new Bolt EV is expected to be a compact SUV or crossover, filling a gap in Chevy's electric lineup, rather than being an all-electric sedan replacement for the Malibu.
- Production Timeline: Production of the next-generation Bolt EV is anticipated to begin in 2025 or 2026.
Why is Chevy Malibu being discontinued?
The Chevy Malibu is being discontinued to focus on General Motors' shift to electric vehicles (EVs), reflecting a broader industry trend away from sedans in favor of SUVs and trucks. The Fairfax Assembly plant is being retooled to produce more EVs, such as the Chevrolet Bolt, and production of the Malibu ended in November 2024.
- Shift to EVs: General Motors is investing heavily in electric vehicles and needs to retool its factories to produce them, including the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas, which will be converted for EV production.
- Decline of sedans: Consumer demand has moved toward larger, more spacious vehicles like SUVs and trucks, causing sales for traditional sedans to decline.
- Market competition: The automotive market is changing, and with many brands offering competitive sedans, maintaining and updating the Malibu was becoming a challenge.
- Production timeline: The final 2025 model year was produced before the plant ceased Malibu production in November 2024.
Is there going to be a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes, a 2025 Chevy Malibu is available, though it is the final model year for the sedan, with production ending in 2025. It is offered in four trim levels (LS, RS, 1LT, and 2LT) and is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine.
- Trim levels: The 2025 Malibu is available in four trims: LS, RS, 1LT, and 2LT.
- Engine: All models feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 163 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
- Final model year: The 2025 model year will be the last for the Chevy Malibu, which will be discontinued after its long run.
- Production: Production of the 2025 Malibu began in July 2024 and is expected to conclude around July 2025, with all North American models being produced at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, USA.
