When you slip behind the wheel of the 2020 Chevy Malibu, what you will be greeted with depends mainly on which trim level you have chosen. There are five to choose from, including L, LS, RS, LT, and Premier.
The base L trim level offers air conditioning, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, keyless ignition/entry, and smartphone compatibility via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System that is displayed on an 8-inch color touchscreen and features Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling. You can listen to music through the standard 6-speaker stereo system, and the tilt-and-telescoping steering column can be manually adjusted to suit your height. For long drives, you can easily set the cruise control.
The LS version adds comfort and convenience features like sound-reducing glass and OnStar technology. With this system comes a 4G LTE Wifi hotspot to keep you connected everywhere you go. The outside temperature is also displayed, and the rearview camera prevents you from backing into objects while in reverse. It also assists with parallel street parking.
Moving to the RS trim level will get you more exterior styling additions, which we will cover later. However, it does add a few enhancements to the interior, such as power-adjustable seats covered in premium cloth upholstery and elegant leather wrappings on the steering wheel and shift knob. The backseat also features an armrest for extra comfort.
The LT trim level adds comfort features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air vents. Convenience add-ons include satellite radio, visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, and remote start.
The top-of-the-line Premier model is similar to the LT with added leather seating and a sunroof. Technology upgrades include a built-in navigation system and a premium 9-speaker Bose stereo system to optimized music listening. A 120-volt power outlet has also been added as well as a USB port for charging your mobile device.
Safety features many include forward collision alert, blindspot monitoring, adaptive cruise control lane-departure warning, rear parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and pedestrian braking. All of these operations work together to help prevent accidents on the road. They come with the Driver Confidence Package.
For protection during a crash, ten airbags have been installed. Front and knee airbags protect the driver and passenger, while the seat-mounted side-impact airbags and head-curtain airbags protect all outboard seating positions. This also comes with the Passenger Sensing System that will turn the front passenger airbags on or off depending on whether or not there is a front passenger.
There are also many other packages that can be added to the trim levels. Convenience Package 1 adds the remote start kit and a cargo net, and Convenience Package 2 includes all-weather floor mats and a universal tablet holder. A first aid kit can also be provided, because you never know when it will come in handy.
The dimensions of the 2020 Chevy Malibu remain the same across all trim levels. The trunk is 15.7 cubic feet, which is ample for a mid-size model. The front headroom is measured at 39.10 inches, front legroom is 41.5 inches, and the front shoulder room is 58.5 inches.