The Malibu competes well with comparable cars from Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai without the bland looks. This is something GM should have done a while ago.
The exterior styling is appealing to the eye, but not overdone or borrowed like other cars.
The engine is smooth, refined, and powerful.
Braking is responsive without fade. Much needed in car this powerful.
After test driving the Accord and Sonata the Malibu matches them for smoothness and trumps them in quietness.