The Chevy Malibu 2016 is a nice mid-size sedan whether the driver is a family man or likes to go out with their friends to the nearest club. It comes in six different trims, so there are plenty of choices, and each trim has its own specs and features that make it unique and desirable. To give a good idea of what one will find in each, we’re taking a look at the specs and features of the most basic trim, the high-end trim, and then somewhere in the middle: the L, the 2LT, and the Premier.

Capabilities

When it comes to the engine and transmission, the L series differs whereas the 2LT and Premier trims both share the same engine specs. The Chevy Malibu L has a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, and is able to generate 160-horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The 2LT and the Premier on the other hand have a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, generating 250-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

All of these trims have 4-wheel disc brakes and 4-wheel ABS. ABS is a form of traction control that specializes in keeping the wheels from locking-up or skidding in less-than-preferred weather conditions such as driving in the rain.

When it comes to the capabilities of a car, there aren’t many differences between the trims, but it’s nice to know there won’t be much of a difference if a driver decides to go with a basic model. Features of each trim on the other hand vary greatly from one trim to the other, so we’re going to cover that next.

Features

Let’s cover safety first. It’s nice to know all of these trims have a total of ten air bags, and they all share many of the same safety features. The only differences are mostly novelties we’ve been driving without for ages. For instance, all trims have daytime running lamps, but the 2LT and the Premier have LED lamps. In addition, the 2LT and Premier have a rear vision camera whereas the L series does not.

Another difference between the three trims would be a recently new feature: side blind zone alert with lane change alert. This system alerts the driver if another vehicle is in their blind spot before changing lanes. Common sense would suggest that a driver can simply look over their shoulder before changing lanes, but if for some reason they are not able to or the other vehicle is in their blind spot, this system lets the driver know that it’s not safe to change lanes. The L series does not have this, it’s a standard feature for the 2LT, and it’s an add-on option for the Premier.

For entertainment, the L series only has AM/FM radio and as far as we can tell, no auxiliary port. The 2LT has Chevrolet MyLink Radio with a 7” color touch-screen and AM/FM radio whereas the Premier has an 8” color touch screen, AM/FM radio, and a navigation system. 2LT and the Premier also have SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The L and 2LT have a 6-speaker system whereas the Premier has a Bose premium 9-speaker system.

In terms of convenience, the 2LT and the Premier have the remote vehicle starter system that’s been popping up lately. They also both have a USB charging port. Another convenient feature is the driver information center which shows the status of many vehicle systems. Many of these may not be used, but a nice one everyone likes is the status of one’s fuel consumption. How far can a driver go on the yellow gas light?

Fuel efficiency doesn’t vary much between the three trims. The L series has 27/37 MPG on the city/highway, whereas the 2LT and 1LT have 22/33 MPG.

There are other features that vary between these trims, but some of them aren’t a huge loss. An example would be how the Premier trim has heated seating for the driver and passenger while the others do not. Unless the driver lives in Canada, they probably won’t make much use of that. Of course, covering all the differences might prove to be a bit laborious. The purpose here was to cover some of the major differences.