Mild-mannered Chevy Malibu sedan features modern, smartphone interface

Ford is making much ado about the Mustang’s 50th birthday this year, and yet Chevy isn’t throwing the Malibu, which also launched in 1964, much of a party. Among the reasons for this lack of acclaim: the Malibu was more of a trim level than a distinct model when it launched; Chevy released a major update for the 2013 model rather than holding the update for a celebratory year; and the Malibu is a sedan rather than a more emotionally appealing coupe.

The 2014 Chevy Malibu, in its current styling, doesn’t look like it’s up for a party. The conservative styling suggests going to bed at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Compared to the Ford Fusion and the Mazda6, two more attractive designs in the mid-size sedan segment, the Malibu’s styling works more as suburban camouflage. The Malibu won’t stand out much in the parking lot, but then, some people prefer a less ostentatious ride.