10. 2012/2013 Chevrolet Malibu: 199,721 Cars Through October 2012
Intellichoice reports that nearly 93 percent of all Malibus sold thus far in 2012 have been four-bangers, which makes sense: even though dealers are still working to offload 2012 Malibus, the majority offered to consumers have been equipped with four-cylinder engines. Although the 2012 Malibu offered a 3.6-liter V-6 as an option, the all-new 2013 Malibu – which has been slooooowwwly rolled into the lineup since this spring – boasts an all-four-cylinder lineup.
The mild-hybrid 2013 Malibu eAssist model is rated at 25/37 mpg city/highway. The middle-of-the road 2.5-liter I-4 earns a 22/34 rating from the EPA, which is about on-par with the 2012 2.4-liter model, which was rated at 22/33 mpg. Even the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, which provides power comparable to the outgoing V-6, rings in at 21/30. The only Malibu presently available that doesn’t earn a 30-mpg gold star? That would be 2012 Malibu V-6, which is rated at a dismal 17/20 mpg city/highway.
Fret not; that old V-6 model won’t be around for long — but will Malibu volumes remain this high once the 2013 model is in full production? Will Chevy’s midsize model remain steady against new competitors, like the slinky new 2013 Ford Fusion? Only time will tell.
