Official EPA estimates are not yet available for any of the Malibu’s powertrains. It’s more than $1,000 less than the Toyota Camry’s base price of $23,895, but a few hundred more than the Hyundai Sonata and Mazda6 sedans. We could tell Chevrolet wanted to come out guns ‘a blazing with the 2016 Malibu, and the pricing strategy seems to reflect the ideal.

That kind of a starting price undercuts numerous big competitors the Malibu has struggled to beat, such as the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. These features are standard on the top Premier trim level. It features around 4 inches additional leg space in its rear portion, compared to the previous more compact model. Its more economical engine and lighter weight allows the 2016 Malibu to offer customers an improved fuel economy. The LT model adds LED daytime running lamps and 8-way power driving seats.

Midsize auto sales have stalled amid low gas prices and as consumers are increasingly choosing crossovers, SUVs and trucks over sedans.

Higher demands mean a steeper price, therefore the LS variant will need at least $23,995 to show up in your driveway. Similarly, Malibu sales fell to around 2.5 percent. GM executives have said that they expect the next-gen Malibu to contribute about $1,500 in extra variable profit vs. the current Malibu.

What’s standard on the base Malibu is a single USB input, OnStar with a six-month subscription, an engine stop-start system and push-button start with proximity keyless entry. Additionally, a hybrid model is also undergoing manufacturing at the moment, which is expected to give around 47 mpg. Unfortunately, those interested will have to wait a bit longer, as the next-generation Malibu will be available at dealerships in the United States before the end of this year.

Pricing for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid will be announced closer to the model’s launch and GM is now estimating that it will return 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.