The first-ever Chevrolet Malibu RS offers a sporty, personalized appearance starting at around $25,000, driven by styling cues that include 18-inch machined wheels, black sport grille, black bowtie emblems, a rear spoiler and a dual-outlet exhaust. Inside, Malibu RS features a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, black cloth seats and a standard 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system.
A new CVT transmission is standard on models with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.
Unlike the Cruze, there is something new in the Malibu’s powertrain. For 2019, Chevy is ditching the six-speed automatic that currently transmits power from the standard 1.5-liter turbocharged I4, replacing it with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you're not a fan of CVTs, there’s still a traditional nine-speed automatic mated to the 2.0-liter I4 that powers the premier trim.
