Holden Malibu Review Australia | Features, Specification, Price

• Car Reviews,
• Nov 21, 2020

 

Have you been on the road and saw a pair of two square LED lights instead of the usual circular taillights? Well, chances are that you are one of the lucky ones to have laid eyes on the Holden Malibu. Okay, I think I just exaggerated a bit. The car may be unique, but it has been around for some time now and you must have seen one on the streets.

The Holden Malibu is made to be a midsize vehicle and incorporates quite a lot of things, to tell the truth. It follows the aggressive styling that has come to be associated with all Holden vehicles, especially the HSV series. There is no chance, therefore, that the name is similar to the HSV Maloo. However, the name is extended from the Chevrolet Malibu, which is no less than an icon in the USA.

Now that you mention, the Holden car was introduced to the Australian market as the eighth generation of the Chevrolet Malibu. It was designed specifically for the North American market. It is based on a European platform and is produced in South Korea. In short, the Holden Malibu draws from around the globe and has come to Australia with only one aim: to give the rivals a run for their money.

 

The story starts with the production of the Chevrolet Malibu, back in 1964. It was revealed as a mid-size car and was initially offered in rear-wheel drive. In 1997, General Motors revived the Malibu and offered it as a front-wheel drive. The car is named after the coastal community of Malibu, California and was marketed primarily in North America.

The eight generation of the Chevrolet Malibu was made available globally, with sales commencing in six continents. In Australia, it was launched as the Holden Malibu, replacing the Holden Epica. It is placed above the Holden Cruze and below the popular Holden Commodore.

 

Variants and Engine options:

The Holden Malibu gives a good array of choice, depending on what you want. It is available in two models, namely the Malibu CD and the Malibu CDX. The Holden Malibu CDX review would exceed the scope of this article, so we focus primarily on the Malibu CD here.

There are a couple of petrol and diesel engines offered as well. The petrol engine is a four-cylinder 2.4-liter one, which produces 123 kW of power and a peak torque of 225 Nm. For 100 km, you can expect 8-liters of petrol if you talk about the Holden Malibu fuel economy.

The Holden Malibu diesel is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that is capable of producing 117 kW of power and 350 Nm peak torque. The diesel engine is more efficient, with 6.4-liters per 100km.

 

Exterior:

From the outside, there is a lot to like and love. The overall look is that of masculinity, and the nose further adds to that feel. Most other cars in this class aim for the vanilla look. But not the Malibu. It offers a much trendier and refreshing look, which is also grounding and far from vanilla.

The 17-inch alloy wheels, in contrast to the steel wheels, found on other cars in the class, further enhance the look.

 

Interior:

Once you step inside, the cabin feels modern and looks similar to its VF Commodore sibling. There are a bunch of features that catch the eye, like passive entry, 7-inch touch screen and push to start button. The space is also ample for both the front and rear passengers.

However, there are some issues in the interior as well. The glovebox joins unevenly with the dashboard while there is an ill-fitting trim that exposes some of the underside plastic. The plastic, combined with a combination of imitation carbon fiber, chrome and gloss finish makes the console look cheap.

The 7-inch infotainment system supports Bluetooth and Holden’s MyLink apps, but satellite navigation and voice control are absent.

 

Safety features:

The Holden Malibu has received the maximum 5-star rating from ANCAP, so you can have peace of mind in that regard. Key safety features include airbags, parking sensors and rear-view camera.

 

Equipment and Technology:

For the Malibu CD, there are tons of features for the base model.

 

These include:
✔ Six airbags
✔ Adaptive cruise control
✔ Bluetooth compatibility
✔ Rear parking sensors
✔ Reverse camera
✔ Trip computer
✔ Automatic headlights
✔ Touch screen display
✔ Remote central locking
 
Things even get better for the Malibu CDX which further adds the following:
✔ Plush leather trim
✔ Heated front seats
✔ Power adjustable front seats
✔ Dual zone climate control
✔ Rain sensing wipers

 

Price:

The base model Holden Malibu price for the CD is a mere $28,500. The price is justified, in our opinion, since the car is bigger and better than the Toyota Camry, which is expensive than the Malibu.
The top-grade Malibu CDX is priced at $32,000 which further adds better equipment and safety features. The diesel engine is optional, which can be added for an additional $4,000.

 

Pros:

✔ Reasonable price and better equipment
✔ Big boot and split-fold practicality
✔ Almost no engine noise
✔ Impressive handling and robustly build
 
Cons:

✔ Interior is below average 
✔ Engine is just average
✔ Steering lacks precision
✔ Lack of air-vents in the rear seats

 

Holden Malibu Problems:

We tried to find problems and issues in regard to the Holden Malibu, but surprisingly there have been none. There have been no horror stories reported and no recalls whatsoever. In theory, the Holden Malibu is built on relatively simple mechanics which means that there are rarely any issues to be had.

 

Competitors:

Hyundai i40: This is a widely popular car that has been in the same class as the Holden Malibu. The driving dynamics are excellent, but the weird power steering spoils that somewhat. The styling is better and even overdone for some.

Mazda 6: Now this is a car that is arguably better than the Malibu in some ways. It is built better, with better driving performance. It is also even more expensive.

 

Conclusion:

When compared to the other Holden models, like the Cruze and VF Commodore, you might think there is some inconsistency somewhere. In fact, Holden Malibu would appear to be somewhat incomplete. That being said, the Malibu offers solid body control, an impressive list of equipment and a reasonable price.

 

If this review has helped you in making a clear choice of purchasing your dream car, then you must get a detailed history, as well. So, stop waiting and visit our official site Quick Revs to get all the needed information regarding the car within minutes.