The 2014 Malibu will Offer Automatic Stop/Start as a Standard Feature

Once reserved only as an option for luxury cars, the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu will be the first sedan to offer a stop/start fuel function as standard equipment on 2.5L base models, helping drivers to increase efficiency. The philosophy behind stop/start technology is if your car doesn’t need to move at the moment, why should the engine be on? After all, you switch off a burner on the stove if you’re not going to be cooking on it for a bit.

Every bit of fuel saved, even if its just during a 15 second pause, counts towards savings. This is especially helpful in city driving, where stop and go driving can take a gradual, but huge toll on your fuel economy. Just think of all the lights you stop at everyday.

All in all, the 2014 Malibu will have an EPA estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This marks a 14% improvement in city fuel economy.

How Stop/Start Works

How does it work? The Malibu automatically shuts off the engine when the car comes with a stop. The engine automatically restarts when the driver takes their foot off of the brake. Instead of putting all of this electrical strain on the main battery, an auxiliary 12-volt battery takes over vehicle accessories during these restarts, including the air conditioning, the power windows, and the radio.

More Changes in Store

Also new for 2014, the Malibu is getting a few changes to the body. On the outside, Chevy is fitting its popular sedan with a slightly revised, more aggressive grille. In the cabin, Chevy is adding more room to the rear passenger area by decreasing the thickness of the front seats. Despite this decrease in thickness, Chevy claims that seats are more comfortable.

Watch for the new Malibu at Cox Chevy

Expect the 2014 Malibu by the end of the year at Cox Chevy in Bradenton! We’re located at 2900 Cortez Road W., just a short drive from Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and many other Suncoast communities. If you would like to take the current, 2013 Malibu out for a test drive, we encourage you to stop by our dealership!