The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu is once again offered with either a 169-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at an economical 22 mpg city and 30 highway, or a gutsy 3.6-liter V-6, which is very responsive and better suited to sporty driving. In these fuel-price-conscious times, the four-cylinder mill is easily the most popular option, but if you plan to haul full loads or take on mountain passes, the V-6 is the preferred choice.

      Reviews for the Malibu's performance are mixed. ConsumerGuide notes there might as well be "caffeine under the hood" of the 2010 Malibu, as it offers energetic performance. Edmunds, on the other hand, finds the four-cylinder model “on the slow side for this class.”