2005 Chevrolet Malibu Review: One of the Best All-Around Mid-Sizes Available, Despite Electrical Concerns

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu is a very well-rounded mid-size. It’s sporty, comfortable, roomy, fuel efficient, and fairly priced. There are some recurring electrical issues that may be worrying, but major mechanical failures are few and far between.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – The 2005 Malibu is a very good all-arounder.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The only mark against the Malibu in the comfort and cargo department is the lack of fold-flat seating, so trunk space, though generous, can’t be expanded into the backseats.
• Reliability 7/10 – You can expect the transmission and engine to make at least 200,000 miles. But you’ll be making a lot of little electrical repairs along the way.
• Safety 6/10 – This would be an easy seven or eight if the side airbags came as a standard feature, but they don’t, resulting in miserable side-impact scores from the IIHS and NHTSA.
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – 22/30 miles to the gallon, city/highway, is pretty darn good for a twenty year old V6 mid-size.
• Value 8/10 – The Ford Taurus is arguably the best overall value if you’re shopping for a 2005 mid-size, but it just barely wins by a nose.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?

Consumer Reports found the 2005 Malibu to be “well-rounded,” praising the quiet interior, smooth ride, zippy acceleration, and solid fuel economy. The only negative CR reported had to do with side airbags not being included as a standard feature.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2005 Malibu a fairly strong 90% recommendation praising the car’s longevity, with many owners reporting more than 200,000 miles on the original engine. One driver reports walking out of a head-on collision without a scratch. The most common complaint: Lots of little repairs.

Edmunds liked the Malibu’s smooth riding suspension and fuel-efficient V6. They found the interior to be spacious, and they liked the remote-start feature (a novelty back in 2005). They were less impressed with the cheap-feeling interior trim, wimpy brakes, and lack of manual transmission options.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Have?

With 692 reports on file, steering complaints make up around half of the 2005 Malibu’s 1,369 total complaints registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There was a recall for loss of power steering in 2014, but complaints are still rolling in as late as 2022.

Drivers have reported a wide range of electrical problems, with 256 complaints on file in total. Issues range from sudden power loss to cruise control failure and the anti-theft system kicking in and stopping drivers from starting up their own vehicles.

Drivers are reporting relatively few powertrain and engine issues for such an old car, with most reports pointing to electrical rather than mechanical issues. There is a recall in effect for a broken shift cable, so check the VIN and make sure that’s been sorted.

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu has 7 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which isn’t bad for a car that came out around twenty years ago.

How Long Will the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Last?

Chevrolet Malibu drivers typically report a minimum mileage of around 200,000, with some reaching 300,000 on the original engine and transmission. If you’re buying used, you’ll want to place your bets on a maximum life expectancy of 250,000 with good maintenance. Beyond that, repairs will probably start to get pretty expensive.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of $532, with new exhaust manifolds being the most expensive common fix, starting at around $541.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is decent for a 2005 sedan. The iPhone was still a few years off in 2005, so you can’t expect Bluetooth connectivity or anything like that. But, CD players come standard and the LT trim features a programmable Driver Information Center.

Safety technology is good for 2005. Anti-lock brakes and traction control come standard. But, side airbags are only available in the higher trims, and the standard model earned an IIHS crash test score of Poor as a result of the missing airbags.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu a Good Value?

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu is a very good value. The Base model typically lists at around $3,023, the LS for $3,770, and the LT for $4,011. These are for models with around 140,000 miles on the odometer, and you’ll probably get another 60,000 miles out of them at a minimum, and possibly another 100,000.

Cost of ownership is fairly low, as well. You might have to replace a few wiring harnesses early on, but beyond the car isn’t known for expensive breakdowns, and the car gets decent mileage for a 2005 sedan.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?

The 2005 Chevrolet Malibu is offered in just three trim levels, from the entry-level Base to the high-end LT.

With the Base model you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• CD player
• Manual air conditioning
• Anti-lock brakes and traction control
• Cruise control
• Power windows, door locks, and lift-gate
• Remote keyless entry

The mid-range LS adds:

• Programmable Driver Information Center
• Premium cloth seating
• Driver lumbar support

Finally, the top-of-the-line LT features:

• Heated 6-way power adjust seats
• Automatic air conditioning
• UltraLux leather seating 6 speakers
• Side airbags
• Rear sound system with headphone jacks and two sets of headphones

What Engines Come In the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?

• All three Malibus come packed with a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 200 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive, and it averages around 22/30 miles to the gallon, city/highway.

What Colors Does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?

The 2005 Malibu is pretty comfortable. The ride is smooth, the seats are nice and firm, and you’ve got 52 inches of hiproom in the back, so you should have no problem packing the whole crew onboard.

Suspension complaints are few, so the shocks and struts have held up well over the years. Just make sure to see how the car performs on speed bumps when you take it for a test drive.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Have?

The 2005 Malibu’s trunk space is generous, at 15.4 cubic feet. That’ll hold four or five medium sized suitcases easy. But, the seats don’t fold flat, so you’ll need some bungee cords for awkward items like bicycles and furniture.

Inside the cabin you’ve got more slots and pockets than you’ll likely need, and four cupholders in total. So you probably won’t be stacking notebooks and tablets and phones and wallets on the seats, you’ve got somewhere to put everything you want to bring with you on the trip.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2005 Malibu was the second model in the nameplate’s 6th Generation, running from 2004 to 2007.

2002: There were no big updates for 2002, but the Base model got a CD player, and there are some color options that weren’t available in 2001.

2003: No big changes for 2003, either. At this point, Chevy were preparing the launch of the sixth gen model, so updating the fifth gen was a low priority.

2004: The Malibu was totally redesigned for 2004. The interior is more spacious, the V6 engine is brand new, and the styling is sharper and more modern.

2005: No big changes to the main lineup, but a 3.9L V6 Malibu SS was introduced as a separate vehicle.

2006: Some minor visual redesigns saw the Malibu getting sleeker edges and a new wheel design.

2007: Chevy added dual-stage front airbags for 2007.

How Does the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Compare to the Competition?

The Chevrolet Malibu’s closest competitors in the mid-00’s were the Nissan Altima and the Ford Taurus.

A base SE model 2005 Ford Taurus delivers just 153 horsepower for about the same price, so at the entry level the 200 horsepower Malibu is the sportier option. But, the Taurus has half as many complaints on file with the NHTSA and just one recall, and the 205 horsepower SEL Taurus costs about the same as an LT Malibu.

The 2005 Nissan Altima starts at around a thousand dollars more than the base Malibu, and that’s for a 175 horsepower 2.5 model. A 250 horsepower 3.5 outperforms the Malibu by fifty horses, but starts at around $1,500 more.

You could pull any of these three cars out of a hat and you’d probably be happy with the purchase. But the Taurus is arguably the best all-around choice for the price.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu?