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2004 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Ratings & Reviews

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5.0
Overall
2 Reviews

2004 Chevrolet Malibu - Reliable and economical commuter vehicle

Craig H
Burton, Michigan
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
1.0
Style
2.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
5.0
Reliability
5.0
The Malibu is a reliable vehicle for a great price. I use it every day for a 1.5 Hour commute, and have yet to experience any issues. It is cheap on gas, offers a comfortable ride, and is the perfect choice if you need an economical car that can comfortably fit 5 people. While it isn't the fastest car around, it takes me from point A to point B without worries. The no-frills stereo doesn't offer much in the way of features, but will keep you rocking as you make your day-to-day drive. You'll feel good about the decision as you drive away from the pump with money left in your pocket. While certainly not the most attractive ride, the Malibu isn't too hard on the eyes, and makes up for it with economy and reliability.
Story
My family will often pile into this car and drive out for ice cream. Before the purchase, we didn't realize how popular the Malibu was, but now that I own one the kids spot them everywhere. It makes you appreciate how popular this vehicle is.
Pros
The electronic power steering is a relief if you're tired of replacing pumps and seals. Both highway and city gas mileage are excellent. If you upgrade to the 6 cylinder, you'll only spend slightly more on gas, and have plenty of pep for merging onto the highway or passing another vehicle. The ride is quiet, and the look is tasteful and classy. This is definitely a great car for business trips or a night on the town. Four wheel disc brakes make for easy replacement of pads.
Cons
The CD player tends to eat CDs. You insert them, play them, and pray that they will eject. (They often don't.) This is a known issue with the Malibu; many complaints can be found on forums. Power is lacking in the 4 cylinder engine, making it difficult to pass or merge onto the highway. The brakes lack grip, but with such a small engine you probably won't be driving too fast anyway. The trim looks a bit dated. There are a few recalls related to power steering and lights.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu - Quality long-term car

Diana
Wheeling, Illinois
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
4.0
Style
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Fuel Economy
5.0
Reliability
5.0
We love our 2004 Chevy Malibu! We purchased it used in 2005. We think it was a great choice to purchase used to save so much off the price of a new car. This car turned out to be a great deal! We have had almost no problems with it. Really only one minor repair needed that was covered under warranty. It is a comfortable ride with comfortable seating. It still looks good despite being 18 years old with over 110,000 miles! It has always been very reliable, never broken down on us. It is a good-looking car with comfortable seating. It has had great gas mileage all these years too. My husband and I would highly recommend this car to anyone! We are sure we will still be using it for at least a few years to come.
Story
The dealer let us take the car for a test ride for a couple hours! That was so cool being given it for such a length of time to really get a feel for the car. We were sold right away! We loved the feel of the car, and it really still seemed new to us!
Pros
This vehicle was affordable, especially with buying used. It is comfortable, decently roomy with a good size trunk. It looks very nice. Drives very nicely. Back seats fold down for storing larger items from the trunk through to the backseat area. Very handy!
Cons
Only thing we really didn't care for with this car was the interior fabric. Since purchased used, there were already some stains in the fabric that we were never able to get out. The type of fabric really absorbs any stains immediately, and you really can't get them out. Wish we had gotten leather or wish they had a better fabric.

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