Car Rental Review: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT

National's 2013 Chevrolet Mailbu 2LT

• Rented From: Stamford, CT
• Car Class: Full Size (FCAR)
• Miles Out: 18,992
• Miles In: 19,561
• Fuel Economy: 22 city/34 highway with 2.5L Ecotec 4-cylinder engine and 6 speed automatic
• MSRP as rented: $24,890

Pros:

• Cute little storage cubby behind the MyLink screen.
• Good gas mileage with nice highway cruising range
• LED lighting accents are nice.
• Liked the color trip computer. 

Cons:

• Mileage a bit on the high side, and it felt like it.
• Engine could use a bit more pep.
• XM trial subscription was up, although the MyLink system worked nicely with iPhone and Spotify.

On a weekend road trip to Boston during the early days of Spring, I was offered one of these as a free upgrade at my usual local National location. Having never rented one, I figured I might as well try it out.

This silver Malibu with Ohio plates came with a black cloth and leatherette interior, and is a mid-level 2LT model. Some standard features on the 2LT include MyLink, remote start, dual zone automatic climate control, 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, electric parking brake, 17" wheels, and 8-way power driver's seat with 4 way lumbar support. Equipped with no other options, this Malibu's MSRP is $24,890.

While the Malibu was comfortable, it could use a few improvements. The engine felt a bit sluggish for the size of this car, and sometimes merging onto the highway took a bit of work. The engine seemed buzzy and lacked refinement. Transmission shifts were smooth and seamless. 

All in all, it was a pretty good rental. I ended up driving almost 600 miles between Connecticut, Boston and Rhode Island. I wouldn't mind renting another one...perhaps a LTZ with the 2.0 liter turbo.