Chevrolet Malibu Generations: Through the Years

It’s been a muscle car, a family sedan, an economical commuter, and even a police cruiser. Look back at all the generations of the Chevrolet Malibu.

60 Years of the Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu has taken on many forms over its nine generations since its debut in 1964. The Malibu was originally marketed as an upmarket, family-oriented trim level for the Chevelle sedan. Since that time, it’s taken the shape of a muscle car, a commuter, an econobox, returned to a premium family sedan, and even worked as a police cruiser for a short while. Before Chevrolet pulls the plug on their final sedan, we’d like to take a look back at the various generations that made the Malibu such a successful nameplate.

First Generation Chevrolet Malibu (1964-1967)

1964 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com

1964 Chevrolet Malibu – chevrolet.com  |  Shop Chevrolet Malibu on Carsforsale.com

  • General Motors (GM) introduced the new A-Body in 1964. Utilizing this new mid-sized platform was the Buick Skylark, Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and the Chevrolet Chevelle.
  • The 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle came available with a top-of-the-line trim level known as the Malibu.
  • The Chevelle Malibu combined sporty, muscle car looks with standard premium features like vinyl upholstery, a deluxe Malibu steering wheel, and loop carpeting.
  • Shoppers could find the Malibu trim level available on two-door hardtops, two-door convertibles, four-door sedans, or station wagon versions of the Chevelle.
  • Over 200,000 examples of the Chevelle Malibu were sold in its first year.
  • The A-Body underpinning this generation of the Chevelle Malibu utilized independent front suspension and a live rear axle with a coil-sprung four-link suspension.
  • Chevrolet also hopped on the powerful muscle car trends that were coming into style for 1964 by introducing the Malibu Super Sport. This early muscle car was available as a two-door coupe or convertible and could be found with any of the other engines found on the Chevelle – including the four-barrel 327 CID V8 that produced 300 horsepower.
  • The Malibu SS also tacked on front bucket seats with a center console, unique engine gauges, and Malibu SS wheel covers.
  • The following year, Chevrolet provided a more powerful, higher compression 327 CID V8 that made 350 horsepower as an option on the Malibu SS. They also added the Regular Production Option (RPO) Z16 package for hardtop models which added the first ever big-block engine to the Malibu. Only 200 production examples received that package for the 396 CID V8 that made 375 horsepower.
  • 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu models gained a new grille, a revised rear-end design, and different tailpipes. The Malibu SS also further distinguished itself by adding on a black grille and new wheel covers.
  • 1966 separated the SS from the Malibu and replaced it with the Chevelle SS 396, where SS essentially denoted that the vehicle carried a big-block under the hood. This year also saw styling revisions to the Chevelle to give it Coke bottle looks, plus a four-door hardtop was added as an option for the Malibu.
  • 1967 further updated the model’s exterior design and introduced the Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Concours. This was a premium station wagon that featured classic wood paneling on the exterior as well as all the standard features found on other Malibu models.

Second Generation Chevrolet Malibu (1968-1972)

1968 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
1968 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The Chevelle continued riding on the A-Body platform for 1968, but its exterior design was overhauled with a longer hood, a shorter deck, and less boxy proportions.
  • Now all the rooflines on two-door hardtop Chevelles were semi-fastback, two-door wheelbases grew narrower at 112 inches, and four-door wheelbases grew to 116 inches.
  • Chevelle Malibu models gained a new Concours option package that heightened the already premium trim level by adding a center console, carpeted lower door panels, upgraded cloth or vinyl upholstered bench seating, woodgrain trim adorning the dash and door panels, and a floor shifter on convertibles and hardtop versions.
  • The Malibu Concours Estate again brought all the great Malibu features to the station wagon Chevelle and added exterior wood paneling.
  • The Chevelle Malibu could be had with the base 250 CID straight-six to the new 307 CID V8 up to the 330-horsepower 400 CID V8. Only SS 396 optioned versions could be had with the potent 396 CID V8 under the hood, and it could produce anywhere from 325 to 375 horsepower depending on which edition was ordered.
  • 1969 saw a couple of updates that revised the taillights, grilles, and rear deck lids of the Chevelle Malibu. It also updated the interior by adding federally mandated headrests on the front seats and updating the gauge clusters.
  • 1969 Also removed the optional 327 CID V8 engines in favor of a couple new 350 CID V8s that could produce anywhere from 255 to 300 horsepower depending on configuration.
  • Previously, the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission was only available on the SS 396 models, but it became available for engines inside any model in1969.
  • 1970 introduced a new Super Sport package – the SS 454. This added the LS6 454 CID big-block V8 that featured high-performance cylinder heads, high-compression aluminum pistons, solid lifters, forged rods, and a forged crankshaft. The race-ready unit produced 450 horsepower and was mated to a four-speed transmission.
  • 1970 also saw the taillights moved into the bumper, new grille designs, and an updated rear deck.
  • 1971 replaced the Chevelle’s dual headlights with single units and installed round taillights like the Camaro and Corvette of the same year.
  • 1971 also saw all GM’s engines detuned for low-octane unleaded gasoline.
  • 1972 Chevelle Malibu received new grilles and it’d be the final year that the model could be had with a hardtop or convertible configuration.

Third Generation Chevrolet Malibu (1973-1977)

1973 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
1973 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The next generation of the Chevrolet Chevelle was introduced for 1973. It rode on an updated version of the A-Body platform that continued on a 112-inch wheelbase for two-door coupes and 116-inch for four-door sedans and station wagons.
  • The third generation’s design was longer, wider, and heavier than previous generations. The Chevelle also featured better structural updates that included side-impact guard beams inside the doors.
  • The Chevelle retained the Malibu trim level and the Malibu SS returned, but they were now considered mid-level trims. The new top trim level was the Chevelle Laguna.
  • The Deluxe and Malibu trim levels were given federally mandated 5 mph bumpers that were supposed to prevent damage at low speeds.
  • Malibu trimmed models gained deep-twist carpeting, cloth and vinyl or completely vinyl upholstery.
  • The Malibu SS had the option of either a 350 CID small-block V8 or a 454 CID big-block V8, but they weren’t as potent as previous iterations with the move towards unleaded gasoline and the eventual addition of catalytic converters.
  • Malibu SS models featured a black grille, unique lower body striping, specialized rally wheels, SS emblems throughout the vehicle, and gained stabilizers at the front and rear.
  • In 1974, the base level Deluxe trim was dropped leaving the Malibu as the new base trim.
  • 1974 also introduced the Malibu Classic that acted as the new luxury trim level. This added carpeted door panels, woodgrain trimming, smaller rear opera windows, and a unique hood ornament.
  • 1975 updated the Chevelle’s grille and revised the exterior lighting designs.
  • The 454 engine was slowly phased out for the 1975 model year, leaving the 400 CID small-block V8 as the new top engine option.
  • 1976 gave the Malibu Classic a specialized crosshatch grill design and added stacked rectangular headlights.
  • The 1977 Chevrolet Malibu Classic was given a cloth and vinyl split-bench for the front seat, a completely color matched interior, and woodgrain surround the gauge cluster.
  • 1977 was the last year that the Malibu was associated with the Chevelle nameplate.

Fourth Generation Chevrolet Malibu (1978-1983)

1978 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
1978 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • 1978 brought about the Chevrolet Malibu as a standalone nameplate after the discontinuation of the Chevelle.
  • The model was shorter in length by a foot than the third generation and cut weight by about 1,000 pounds. The Malibu’s exterior design was made sharper and boxier than the previous model as well.
  • Fourth-generation Chevrolet Malibu models were available as a coupe, sedan, or station wagon.
  • The all-new Malibu also featured Chevrolet’s new 90° V6 engine series that included a 3.3L V6 and a 3.8L V6.
  • The Chevrolet Malibu could also be had a with a 5.0L small-block V8, but it could only achieve at best 145 horsepower.
  • The SS was gone from the Malibu with only the El Camino of the same era continuing the Super Sport option.
  • In 1979, the Chevrolet Malibu took the Nova’s place as a mid-sized police cruiser option.
  • A special dealer package was available in North and South Carolina called the M80. Around 1,900 Malibu M80 examples were produced that carried an F41 Sport Suspension package and the 5.0L V8. The exterior of these vehicles were white with blue stripes and featured front and rear spoilers.
  • GM moved the Chevrolet Malibu to the G Platform shared with the Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Regal in 1982 and phased out the coupe body style.
  • The 1983 model would be the last year to feature rear-wheel-drive on a Malibu model and coincided with a brief discontinuation of the nameplate.

Fifth Generation Chevrolet Malibu (1997-2005)

1997 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
1997 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The fifth-generation Chevrolet Malibu returned in 1997. The model now rode on the GM N Platform shared with the Pontiac Grand Am.
  • Its exterior was more rounded and bulbous than anything called a Malibu previously and was only available as a four-door sedan.
  • This is the first time the Malibu was available as a front-wheel-drive.
  • Powering this generation was either a 2.4L four-cylinder or a 3.1L V6 engine. Both engines were paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
  • 2000 replaced the Malibu logo on the front grille with a blue Chevrolet bowtie logo.
  • The 2000 model’s 3.1L V6 was also updated to produce 170 horsepower, a 15-horsepower bump over the previous models.
  • The 2.4L four-cylinder was dropped from the model for 2001.
  • Even though the sixth-generation Chevrolet Malibu was introduced in 2004, the N Platform Malibu continued as the Malibu Classic until 2005.
  • A 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder engine was added to the Malibu Classic for 2004.

Sixth Generation Chevrolet Malibu (2004-2008)

2004 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
2004 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The sixth-generation Chevrolet Malibu rode on the Epsilon platform starting on the 2004 model year. This was a platform developed by Opel over in Europe that also underpinned models like the Saab 9-3.
  • The Chevrolet Malibu was once again available as a four-door sedan, but a new five-door hatchback was added dubbed the Malibu Maxx.
  • Malibu Maxx models offered more rear cargo room than sedan models and the rear seats slide on a rail system to provide an additional seven inches of cargo or passenger space.
  • Engine options for the sixth-generation Malibu included a base 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder or a 3.5L “High Value” V6 that made 200 horsepower.
  • 2006 saw the larger 3.9L “High Value” V6 added that made 240 horsepower added to the Malibu, but it was only available on the newly returning SS trimmed models.
  • The SS also added a 4T65-E 4-speed automatic transmission with “Tap” shifting capability. Other additions included a sport tuned suspension, a strut bar, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, hydraulic power steering, sport styled seats, side skirts, chrome exhaust tips, and revised front and rear facias.
  • The Malibu Maxx was discontinued after the 2007 model year.
  • The Malibu sedan continued for another year as the Malibu Classic along the next generation Malibu that debuted in 2008.

Seventh Generation Chevrolet Malibu (2008-2012)

2008 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
2008 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The seventh-generation Chevrolet Malibu debuted for the 2008 model year riding on a revised, long-wheelbase version of the Epsilon platform that was shared with the Pontiac G6.
  • This generation was given more upmarket interior enhancements, better performance, and increased efficiency to compete with the likes of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
  • Powering this generation was either a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder, 3.5L High Value V6 (for fleet models), or a 3.6L High Feature V6.
  • There was also the first instance of a hybridized Malibu. The Malibu Hybrid carried a revised version of the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder that worked with an electric motor powered off a 36-volt battery to achieve a 24-mpg city and 32-mpg highway EPA ratings.
  • Inside the Chevrolet Malibu was high-quality materials, a two-tone design, and OnStar 8.0 was included as standard equipment.
  • OnStar was able to send out an automatic crash notification, send out remote diagnostics, and provide turn-by-turn navigation.
  • Safety was also enhanced for this generation. The Malibu featured two dual-stage front airbags, side-impact curtain airbags, and front passenger side-impact thorax airbags.
  • The driving tech was bolstered by added traction control, daytime running lamps, tire pressure monitoring, and the GM StabiliTrak electronic stability control.
  • Chevrolet added more standard features to the Malibu in 2011 that included Bluetooth audio connectivity, iPhone USB support, remote start, and an upgraded OnStar system.

Eighth Generation Chevrolet Malibu (2013-2016)

2014 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
2014 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com
  • The Chevrolet Malibu entered its eighth generation in 2013 riding on the Epsilon II platform that was shared with the Buick Regal.
  • The exterior of the vehicle featured more pronounced headlights and taillights but retained much of the same design language of the previous generation fitted to a newer platform.
  • The most notable addition to this generation was the introduction of the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. It featured a touchscreen display, integrated backup camera, satellite radio, and smartphone mirroring capability.
  • Other improvements were increased cargo space and the addition of acoustic glass that dampened road noise.
  • Powering the eighth-generation Chevrolet Malibu was either a 2.5L four-cylinder, a mild hybrid 2.4L four-cylinder, or a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder. A V6 was no longer available on the Malibu for the first time in North America.
  • Additional safety features that were added to this generation were an option lane departure warning system and second row side-impact airbags.
  • 2014, just 18 months after its debut, Chevrolet gave the malibu an exterior refresh that updated the front-end styling to match the Impala and Traverse of the same year.
  • 2014 also added a new six-speed automatic transmission aided in fuel efficiency and featured the first instance of a non-hybrid GM vehicle utilizing start/stop technology.
  • This generation was renamed the Malibu Limited for 2016 and sold alongside the next generation of the Malibu.

Ninth Generation Chevrolet Malibu (2016-2025)

2018 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com

2018 Chevrolet Malibu – chevrolet.com  |  Shop Chevrolet Malibu on Carsforsale.com

  • The ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu debuted for the 2016 model year featuring a sleeker appearance with influence from the full-sized Impala of the same year.
  • The Malibu’s wheelbase was lengthened by nearly four inches which allowed it to provide additional interior space.
  • This generation also cut nearly 300 pounds which made it more fuel efficient as well.
  • The standard engine offered in the Chevrolet Malibu is a turbocharged 1.5L Ecotec four-cylinder, but a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder was also available.
  • There was also the first ever full hybrid Chevrolet Malibu available. This powertrain utilized a 1.8L four-cylinder mated to two electric motors powered by an1.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It could drive fully electric up to 55 mph before the gas engine kicked in. The EPA gave it a rating of 46 mpg combined.
  • Inside was a tech-forward experience thanks to the upgraded OnStar 4G LTE in-vehicle connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless phone charging, and an extensive list of advanced driver assistance systems. Forward collision avoidance, rear cross traffic alerts, follow distance indicator, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and even automatic parking assist were all made available.
  • The Chevrolet Malibu also featured a Teen Driver feature that set maximum speeds, added unique alerts, muted the radio until seatbelts buckled, and allowed parents to review their children’s driving.
  • 2016 was also a huge milestone for the Chevrolet Malibu. More than 10 million examples of the Malibu had been sold up to that point internationally since the nameplate debuted 51 years earlier.
  • The Chevrolet Malibu received a refresh in 2019 the revised the front facia to carry a larger grille and moderately updated the rear end. The new RS trim was introduced that provided sporty elements to the Malibu like a blacked-out grille and a dual exhaust.
  • 2019 also updated the interior with a new standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus HD system on Hybrid and Premier models.
  • A continuously variable transmission replaced the 6-speed automatic transmission on models outfitted with the 1.5L engine.
  • 2019 also adds available safety features like IntelliBeam high beam assist headlights, semi-automated parking assistance, and low speed forward automatic braking.
  • Chevrolet discontinued the Malibu Hybrid in 2020.
  • The Chevrolet Malibu continues to be prevalent in fleet sales, but Chevrolet has announced the end of the Malibu’s production by November of 2024. There are currently no plans for a replacement for Chevrolet’s last sedan and there aren’t any plans to resurrect the nameplate as an electric vehicle at the moment.
2024 Chevrolet Malibu - chevrolet.com

2024 Chevrolet Malibu – chevrolet.com |  Shop new Chevrolet Malibu on Carsforsale.com

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Jesse McGraw

Jesse McGraw brings his life-long car obsession into his writing. A fun childhood that involved growing up around race tracks, working on a rusty ‘99 Dodge Dakota held together by zip ties, and collecting Hot Wheels developed into a strong appreciation for automotive history. If there is an old, obscure, or rare car, he wants to know about it. With a bachelor's degree in Web Development & Design from Dakota State University, Jesse can talk shop about car or computer specs, focusing on classic cars, imports, and car culture.

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