2013 Malibu starts at $23,150
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DETROIT -- The price of the base model 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will be $23,150, up 1 percent from the base 2012's $22,870. Both prices include shipping. The 2013 Malibu goes on sale in August.
The family sedan is priced above some key competitors' redesigned mid-sized sedans. The price is $870 more than the base 2013 Nissan Altima and $335 above the base 2012 Toyota Camry. Prices have not been announced for the redesigned Ford Fusion and Honda Accord, which go on sale this fall.
Buyers of the redesigned Malibu will be getting a lot more for their money compared with the outgoing Malibu, General Motors says. A new 2.5-liter engine will produce 197 hp, or 17 percent more than the outgoing 2.4-liter engine. GM says the Malibu also has a roomier, quieter cabin.
The base model, the Malibu LS, likely won't offer a meaningful jump in fuel economy from the current Malibu, though.
While EPA mileage ratings have not been assigned yet, GM said mileage for the Malibu with the 2.5-liter engine "will be competitive for the segment, with highway mileage expected to approach the mid-30s." The current Malibu gets 33 mpg on the highway.
More fuel-conscious buyers could choose the Malibu Eco, which GM launched in March. It stickers for $26,095, including shipping, and mates GM's 2.4-liter engine to its eAssist mild hybrid system to get 37 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in city driving.
Malibu sales rose 11 percent during the first five months of the year, to 110,035, making it GM's top-selling car and No. 2 nameplate behind the Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
The base price on the 2013 Malibu's higher trims will be slightly lower than prices on comparable 2012 models. For example, the 2013 Malibu LTZ, which offers heated front seats, remote start and 18-inch wheels, will have a sticker price of $28,590, including shipping, vs. $29,245 for that trim level on a 2012 Malibu.
You can reach Mike Colias at mcolias@crain.com.
