Chevrolet Malibu 2008–2012 car dimensions: 4872 mm long, 1786 mm wide and 1450 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,551 kg. Braked towing is 454 kg.
The LS cabin has a dual-cockpit layout with cloth bucket seats, power driver height adjuster, manual lumbar, tilt/telescopic wheel, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat. Manual air conditioning is standard along with cruise control, a driver information centre, power windows/locks/mirrors, and a 6-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with aux input. OnStar with turn-by-turn is standard. No advanced driver aids like cameras or sensors appear in the equipment lists. Automatic climate control is limited to higher trims.
Trunk volume is 428 litres with the rear seats up. The 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks allow longer items to fit when needed.
Maximum gross trailer weight is 454 kg. The Malibu is engineered for flat towing behind an RV. No heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension packages are listed for this model.
The cabin uses a dual-cockpit layout with cloth front buckets, a power height adjuster and manual lumbar on the driver seat, plus a 60/40 split-folding rear bench. Laminated acoustic glass on the windshield and front doors plus acoustic engine covers and foam help keep road and wind noise low for a quiet ride. Manual air conditioning, a sliding centre armrest, tilt/telescopic wheel and simple storage bins complete a practical, roomy interior that seats five without luxury extras on the LS.
Fuel economy for the LS 2.4L four-cylinder with 4-speed automatic is 9.5 L/100 km city and 6.5 L/100 km highway.
GM Oil Life Monitoring System signals oil changes based on driving conditions. change oil and filter at least once a year and reset the system.
NHTSA five-star ratings for frontal (driver and passenger) and side-impact crash tests.
IIHS Good ratings for moderate-overlap front and side-impact tests.
Standard safety kit includes six air bags (dual-stage frontal with passenger sensing, front thorax side-impact, front-to-rear head curtains), StabiliTrak with panic brake assist, traction control, four-wheel disc ABS and OnStar with one year of Directions & Connections.
The base LS runs a 169 hp 2.4L ECOTEC four-cylinder paired with a four-speed automatic. Canadian figures list 9.5 L/100 km city and 6.5 L/100 km highway. Higher trims with the six-speed automatic post 9.4 city and 5.9 highway. Regular unleaded is specified. A 61 L tank is fitted.
Servicing centres on the GM Oil Life Monitoring System displayed in the Driver Information Centre. Change the oil and filter when the system indicates, or at least once a year, then reset it. The system uses engine revolutions and temperature rather than fixed mileage. Follow the Maintenance I and II schedule in the owner’s manual for other items.
Safety equipment is strong for the class. Six air bags are standard across the range along with StabiliTrak electronic stability control that includes panic brake assist, full-function traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation is standard for the first year. The car earned five stars from NHTSA in frontal and side-impact tests and Good scores from IIHS in moderate-overlap frontal and side tests.
Keep the car by responding promptly to the oil-life message, checking tyre pressures regularly and using the scheduled maintenance intervals. The independent suspension and acoustic treatments support a quiet, composed daily drive when serviced on time. LATCH anchors and a tire-pressure monitor are standard.
Length 4872 mm, Width 1786 mm, Height 1450 mm, Wheelbase 2852 mm (Malibu 2008–2012)
Sources: manufacturer data, General Motors of Canada 2009 Chevrolet Malibu brochure, Seating of 5 is from the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu US select specifications sheet, The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu owner's manual lists fuel capacity as approximately 16.3 US gal.