A year after the launch of the new generation Malibu, Chevrolet gives the car a complete makeover to make it more competitive. It is an attempt to fix all that was wrong with the outgoing model. To know if the changes made to the 2014 model are successful we have to wait for the market to react to it, but the new Malibu looks a bit better, and it’s roomier and more refined.

So generally, it is a better car than the one it replaces. But there is still a whiff of blandness about the car. All Malibus had that going back to the beginning of this century. The main revisions made to the 2014 model includes a new front-end design that is sleeker and more handsome – inspired by the new Impala, increased rear leg room, and a new center console.

Underneath the car now boasts an upgraded suspension tuned to provide a more refined ride, and it now comes with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert safety features.

Engine-wise, the 2014 Chevy Malibu is available with GM’s new 2.5 liter four-banger with variable valve lift control and start/stop technology and estimated fuel economy ratings of 23 city / 35 highway, and a revised version of the 2.0 liter turbo motor, now offering a sizable 295 lb-ft of torque (400 Nm).

These are welcome changes for the Malibu, but still, the only way for Chevy to save this car is to offer it with an unbelievably reasonable price tag. Otherwise, the Korean and Japanese rivals will eat it alive.