A statement of power and pride, according to ChatGPT
Author of the article:
Renita Naraine
Published May 19, 2023 • Last updated May 19, 2023 • 6 minute read
If you’ve purchased a vehicle in the past year and want to share your experiences with Driving.ca readers, we want to hear from you! Send us a note telling us a bit about the vehicle you bought to info@driving.ca and you might be covered in an upcoming Owner Review.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Owner Review: 2022 Chevrolet Malibu RS | Reviews Back to video
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
As SUVs become more and more popular, it’s a breath of fresh air when a Driving reader pops into our mailbox to passionately tell us about their new sedan purchase. In this case, it’s a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu RS that Mykhaylo Vlasov recently bought. His passion, not only for his new Malibu, but cars in general, quickly became apparent, despite knowing he was entering an endangered segment.
Advertisem*nt 2
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
1 of 9
All 9 Photos for Gallery
Function Not Available
Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.
You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.
“I was buying an ageing Chevrolet sedan,” said Vlasov, “that will probably be phased out soon — as GM did to its other cars — in a poor ‘sporty’ RS trim.” He wanted a commuter car that could get him to work and occasionally fit his whole family.
Learn more about the cars
2022 Chevrolet Malibu 3.70out of 5 MSRP $25,598 to $38,198
Vlasov mentioned even the dealer seemed a bit surprised by his purchase choice, looking like he wanted to ask something along the lines of “What’s wrong with your life, man? Why don’t you just buy a truck or an SUV?”
Cross-shopping the competition
As we all know, the sedan segment is dwindling, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t competition. Depending on your budget, and what your specific needs may be, there are still some great car options out there.
Recommended from Editorial
- Driving By Numbers: 10 Best-Selling Vehicles In Canada In 2022
- Going back to my Maritime roots with the 2016 Chevy Malibu
Advertisem*nt 3
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Vlasov said the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu “is a full-style competitor to theBMW 5 Series, Volvo S60” and more. The “Malibu offers more rear shoulder, leg and hip space than BMW 5-Series… But can you really compare a Malibu to the BMW 5-Series? Probably not.” Certainly not if we’re talking about price — the 2022 Malibu ranged from $25,598 for the base trim all the way up to $38,198 for the Premier; the 2022 5-Series started just under $65k.
The 2022 Chevy Malibu’s price point is closer to the Honda Civic, which started at $25,370 for the base LX trim in 2022. However, Vlasov said the “Civic will be similar to a cramped condo in a downtown Toronto skyscraper, full of digital gimmicks and with a modern design.” Whereas the cramped condo would cost an arm and a leg, you could take that same money and find a modest house in the suburbs — with slightly overdue renovations needed. In the case of the two vehicles, it’s a similar situation. For roughly the same price, you can get the more spacious Malibu — it’s really a matter of preference.
Advertisem*nt 4
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Vlasov mentioned that he also cross-shopped the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata, but in the end, it was likely to be a GM product since he tends to like the company’s vehicles.
Six months post-purchase
After roughly half a year of driving and 20,000 kilometres in the Malibu, Vlasov has quite a few good things to say about his vehicle.
The 1.5L four-cylinder engine produces 160 horsepower and takes 7.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. It’s “not bad,” he said, “but not good either.” It’s“on par with Corvettes and Camaros of the ’70s.” Sure, that’s a very old comparison, but those are good cars, right? “If you want a more recent comparison,” said Vlasov, the “Chevy Malibu will keep up with BMW i3 or Honda Civic.”
Compare similar sedans, including the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, and more
Advertisem*nt 5
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Good features in the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu RS
- You can manually choose the direction of airflow in any combination using just three buttons. “I honestly do not understand who invented the five-button split that actually limits your options, while you can do all the same with three buttons and give better flexibility to the owner,” said Vlasov. “Thank you GM for keeping with the tradition of three separate buttons for windshield, chest and legs.”
- “Space — both cargo and passenger capacities — is generous.” By the numbers, the 2022 Malibu has 445L of cargo space. Meanwhile, if you’re trying to fit a few adults into the mid-size sedan, you’ve got some space to work with — 993 mm of headroom in the front and 952 mm in the back, as well as 1,054 mm of legroom in the front and 968 mm in the rear.
- The “ride is soft and quiet.” What more can we say?
- Vlasov even appreciates the paint colour. “That white colour is in trend nowadays as it reflects sunlight and heat — climate change, you know.”
Advertisem*nt 6
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu has one flaw
- In the winter months, it’s good to note that after a huge dump of snow, you need to be careful when opening the trunk, as Vlasov noted “snow will fall into the trunk space if you open the lid when it is covered with snow.”
More about the owner
Vlasov is a self-proclaimed “middle-aged, married family man, who enjoys backyard barbecues in summer and front-yard snow shovelling in winter.” He also describes himself as as a petrolhead with a history of owning or driving numerous cars in the past, including:
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class
- Ford Mustang EcoBoost, Mondeo, Focus, Fiesta, and Sierra
- Chevrolet Spark
- Porsche Cayenne S
- Nissan Qashqai
- VW Touran
- Suzuki Vitara and Swift
- Peugeot 206 (the first car he owned)
- Caterham Super 7
- Seat Ibiza
Advertisem*nt 7
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
In addition to his 2022 Chevrolet Malibu RS, Vlasov currently owns a 2020 Kia Sedona, which is the family travel van and the vehicle his wife usually drives. He also has a 1992 Caterham Super 7, the “sunny weekend vehicle,” as he calls it. Additionally, he owns a 1996 Lancia K Coupe that is sitting in another country. “I would love to bring it to Canada one day,” he said, noting that he would love to have the option of deciding which “sunny weekend” car to use.
His dream car is the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with a white exterior and natural dipped interior.
Final thoughts
“This is not a car which will make heads turn. In fact, literally no one will turn a head to see you in your Chevy Malibu RS,” except maybe another Malibu owner.
Advertisem*nt 8
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Circling back to his reference about downtown Toronto versus the suburbs, Vlasov considers whether he would recommend the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu RS to a friend. “Well, I live in a modest house in the suburbs with overdue renovation.” Once again, the choice of sedan will really come down to certain preferences.
Vlasov also sent over a poem about the Chevrolet Malibu RS, prompted by him in ChatGPT.
In sleek lines and curves,
The Chevrolet Malibu RS swerves,
On the open road it purrs,
A beauty that truly deserves.
With its sporty design and flair,
Driving it is an experience rare,
With every turn and every glare,
It proves its worth beyond compare.
The Malibu RS is more than a ride,
It’s a statement of power and pride,
A symbol of style that can’t be denied,
A car that’s sure to impress and provide.
So let’s raise a toast to this car so fine,
A true gem of the Chevrolet line,
May it continue to shine and define,
The spirit of driving that’s so divine.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.
Renita Naraine
Soon after joining the Driving.ca team in 2021 as an online editor, Renita also began writing car reviews under the Millennial Mom title. When she isn’t overwhelmed by her three kids, you’ll likely find her writing about them throughout her reviews of family vehicles - her favourites being anything within the minivan segment. Whenever she gets the chance, Renita also likes to spin some pop culture into her reviews.
Summary
Current online editor at Driving.ca Specializes in car reviews with a lifestyle approach, focusing on family aspects, such as whether you can fit three car seats side-by-side in a car Millennial mom
Experience
While many of her colleagues have been in the auto industry for numerous years, Renita is new to the field - having dabbled in a variety of areas throughout her career. Soon after graduating from Durham College, she worked as an editor and writer with Tribute Entertainment Media Group (the magazines that used to be in movie theatres). Other interesting experiences Renita has had throughout the last 15 years include - but are definitely not limited to - working in a portrait studio, taking a TESL (teaching English as a second language) course, as well as receiving a medical office administration diploma that led her to work some eye-opening night shifts in the ER. More recently, she graduated from Seneca’s PR and Communications program where she was encouraged to start a parenting blog.
Education
Renita graduated from the Journalism program at Durham College, where she studied both print and broadcast. She also received a post-graduate Certificate in Public Relations and Internal Communications from Seneca College.
Contact info
Email: rnaraine@postmedia.com
Learn more about Author
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Create an AccountSign in
Join the Conversation
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
Trending
- Tesla Cybertruck orders open in Canada, starts at $137,990
- Nissan announces 2025 Kicks Canadian pricing, starting at $27,199
- Wild GM Futurliner bus listed on Facebook for million bucks
- Canadian company first to armour up Ineos Grenadier SUV
- Cost of EV batteries down 90% over past 15 years: report
POPULAR VEHICLE COMPARISONS
Read Next
Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor
All things automotive: breaking news, reviews and more. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Latest from Gear Guide
- Best Car Accessories Every Driver Should Buy There's lots of aftermarket gear out there, but get these add-ons first—they'll make your daily drive more comfortable and safe
with Video
March 6, 2024 Gear Guide
- Best Trailer Accessories and Gear for Summer 2024 Best trailer accessories and towing equipment for those getting away from it all – and taking it with them.
with Video
June 19, 2024 Gear Guide
Advertisem*nt 1
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
- Best retrofit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto units You don't need to buy a new car to add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
April 13, 2024 Gear Guide
- Best Camping Gear for Summer 2024 Equipment for those of us hitting the great outdoors this summer
with Video
May 23, 2024 Gear Guide
- Best Car Wax—the top rated car waxes online There are a lot of options when it comes to car wax. To make things easy for you, here are the top rated car waxes online.
with Video
June 7, 2024 Gear Guide