Comfort

The Malibu’s front seats are supremely comfortable, with supportive padding and non-slip leather in our test car. Care was taken to ensure that everything the driver is likely to touch feels good, too: the steering wheel, the shifter, the softly padded window sill, and so forth. Even the wheel-mounted shifter buttons have a rubber surface, giving the driver a luxurious tactile sense that would be lacking with just plastic.

Rear passengers aren’t given short shrift, either. There is plenty of leg room even for tall passengers, and the rear seat cushion is comfortable and supportive. The Malibu’s low-slung roofline makes getting in a little difficult, and tall riders will want to watch their heads to avoid smacking themselves on the door opening. Still, once ensconced, there are the same high-quality materials and features, including an optional three-prong 120-volt outlet in the back of the center console. The only demerit is a tiny door pocket that’s barely large enough to hold an empty envelope.

Controls

All the controls in the Malibu feel first-rate. From the window switches to the headlights to the audio system adjustments, it all feels expensive and classy, as if GM had suddenly started shopping at Acura suppliers for its gear. It’s also placed well, with everything in ergonomically acceptable reach, and no obvious faults.

Advice: Selling Points

There is a lot to recommend here. The Malibu has the looks, performance, refinement and subjective quality to make it a serious contender in the mid-size sedan category. No longer a backmarker or a rental-fleet king, the Malibu has the chops to go head to head with the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Honda Accord entirely on its merits as a car, and not because of the amount of money GM has in incentives.

Deal Breakers

None, really. The Accord still has an edge in overall refinement and size, and is clearly the sportier offering. The Nissan Altima has a sport-tuned suspension as well. The Camry and most of the rest of the crowd tends toward a smooth quiet ride, but the Malibu matches them at every turn.