2025 Chevrolet Malibu: The Final Year, and What to Know Before You Buy

The 2025 Malibu is the last one. Chevrolet ended production, closing out a nameplate that ran for decades and leaving the Corvette as the only car in the lineup.

That changes how you should shop it — not whether you should. Here’s what the final Malibu offers and what to check if you’re buying one now.

What It Is

A 1.5-liter turbocharged four producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission.

That’s the powertrain. If you’ve read about a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo Malibu, that was an earlier car — the larger engine hasn’t been offered for several model years.

The 1.5T is tuned for efficiency rather than speed, and it does that job well. Merging and passing are adequate; the reward is at the pump on a long highway run.

Interior

Seating for five with genuinely generous rear legroom — one of the Malibu’s quiet strengths, and part of why it worked so well as a family sedan.

Chevrolet Infotainment 3 on a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus available built-in Alexa for voice control.

An available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports throughout.

An available Bose 9-speaker premium audio system.

Available comfort features include leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Exterior

A sculpted grille with chrome accents flanked by angular LED headlights. Standard LED daytime running lights and taillights, with available LED headlights for better night illumination.

Wheels in 17-, 18-, and 19-inch designs, and colors from Summit White to Cherry Red Tintcoat.

The tapered roofline and smooth body aren’t only styling — the Malibu’s aerodynamics are a real contributor to its highway fuel economy.

Safety

Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim:

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Following Distance Indicator
• Front Pedestrian Braking

Available: Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and additional driver-assistance features by trim.

Teen Driver technology lets you set speed and volume limits and generates a report card on driving behavior — worth asking about if this is going to a new driver.

A standard Rear Vision Camera on all trims.

What Discontinuation Actually Means

Worth being straight about, because it’s the question behind every search for this car right now.

What doesn’t change: Factory warranty coverage continues normally. Parts and service support continue — GM supports vehicles long after production ends, and our service center will be working on Malibus for many years. Recall work is handled the same way it always was.

What does change: New inventory is finite. If you want a specific trim, color, or equipment combination, the selection only narrows from here.

On resale: Discontinued models sometimes soften on the used market and sometimes hold up well, particularly when the car was popular and well-regarded. The Malibu was both. If you’re planning to keep it a long time, that matters less than it sounds.

Buying a Malibu Now

Whether you’re looking at remaining new inventory or a pre-owned example, check the same things:

The in-service date, which tells you how much factory warranty remains — coverage runs from that date, not the model year.

Open recalls, which are VIN-specific and free to remedy at any franchised dealer. Look up any VIN through NHTSA, or we’ll run it for you.

Service history on a used car, particularly transmission service.

The out-the-door price in writing, itemizing every fee plus tax, title, and registration. That’s the number to compare between sellers.

If You’d Rather Buy Something Still in Production

Fair, and worth saying plainly rather than pretending otherwise.

Equinox — the closest replacement in practice. Similar interior space, better cargo flexibility, available all-wheel drive, and a Google-based infotainment system that’s a real step up.

Trax — lower price, strong fuel economy, more cargo room than a sedan.

Trailblazer — available all-wheel drive in a similar footprint.

Most Malibu owners who trade end up in an Equinox. It’s the closest thing to the same ownership experience in the current lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Malibu discontinued? Yes. Chevrolet ended Malibu production, making the 2025 the final model year.

What engine does the 2025 Malibu have? A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. The 2.0-liter turbo was discontinued several model years earlier.

Will Chevrolet still service the Malibu? Yes. Warranty coverage, parts, and service support continue after production ends. Our service center handles Malibu maintenance, warranty, and recall work.

Does the factory warranty still apply? Yes. Coverage runs from the original in-service date and is unaffected by the model being discontinued. Ask for that date to know what remains.

How many people does the Malibu seat? Five, with generous rear legroom for the class.

What safety features are standard? Chevy Safety Assist on every trim, including Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Front Pedestrian Braking, and a Following Distance Indicator, plus a standard Rear Vision Camera.

What should I buy instead if I want something new? The Equinox is the closest match for most Malibu owners, with similar interior space plus cargo flexibility and available all-wheel drive.

Where can I find a Malibu near Gadsden? Team One Chevrolet of Gadsden at 413 E. Meighan Blvd in Gadsden, AL, serving Gadsden, Anniston, Albertville, and Sand Mountain. Check our pre-owned inventory or contact us at (256) 459-2614.

Come Take a Look

If a Malibu is what you want, we’ll help you find one — and tell you honestly what remaining availability looks like.

Browse our pre-owned inventory, certified pre-owned selection, vehicles priced to move, or those priced under $20,000.

If you’d rather look at something current, browse our new inventory or start with the Equinox.

Trading a Malibu in? Value your trade or get an offer through our we’ll buy your car program — we buy vehicles whether or not you’re purchasing from us.

Estimate a payment or apply for financing before you visit.

Our service center handles Malibu maintenance, warranty, and recall work, and you can schedule service online any time.