Chevrolet Malibu

GM’s decision to overhaul the Malibu just a little more than three years since the current model debuted is not at all surprising. With competitors like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or the Ford Fusion around, the eighth-gen Malibu has been struggling sales-wise ever since it arrived into dealerships in 2012. Chevy hopes that will come to an end with the larger and sportier 2016 Malibu that just made its public debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

The beginnings of the Malibu name are tied to that of the Chevrolet Chevelle. That’s because the Malibu was a range-topping trim level of the Chevelle from 1964 to 1977. Featuring added luxury and the same powerful V-8s as the Chevelle, the Malibu went on to become the best-selling badge in the lineup by 1978, when it received its own model line. Although dropped in 1983, the moniker returned in 1997 and soldiered on through 2012, when the eighth-generation model was launched on GM’s Epsilon II platform, shared with the Buick LaCrosse and Regal. The new Malibu became a global vehicle, receiving a range of four-cylinder and V-6 engines, as well as three transmissions choices.

With the 2016 model, Chevrolet aims to turn the Malibu into a more upscale model, as well as a more efficient alternative to segment leaders from Toyota and Honda. Keep reading to find out if GM’s new midsize sedan stands a chance against its main competitors in the U.S.

Updated 12/10/2015: Chevrolet announced that the 2016 Malibu Hybrid LT will arrive at U.S. dealers in the spring of 2016 with a starting price of $28,645. General Motors estimates that the car will deliver 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined making it the best in the midsize car segment.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.