• The front-wheel drive Malibu has a long history with Chevrolet, starting off as part of the Chevelle model lineup in the 1964 model year. The Malibu classifies as a mid-size sedan, which puts it in direct competition with the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, among others.
  
  

Interior

• The four-door Malibu provides seating for up to five passengers, with three people sitting in the car's rear seats. The front passengers get 39.4 inches of headroom while the rear passengers get 37.6 inches of headroom. The front passengers receive 41.9 inches of legroom, only slightly more than the 38 inches the rear passengers get. The front shoulder room for the front passengers comes in at 55.5 inches, while the rear passengers get 55.3 inches' worth. Both the front and rear passengers get 52 inches of hip room.
  
  

Exterior

• The sedan trim level of the Malibu weighs in at 3,053 pounds while the LS weighs 3,080 pounds. The total length of the car comes in at 190.4 inches and the wheelbase extends 107 inches. The car sits wide at 69.4 inches and measures 56.4 inches tall. The car's front track measures 59 inches wide, just slightly more narrow than the rear track, which measures 59.3 inches wide. The car's ground clearance comes in at 5.5 inches. The Malibu's turning diameter measures 36.3 feet.
  
  

Engines

• Both trim levels of the 2002 Malibu come with the same engine, a 3.1-liter V-6. The engine produces 170 horsepower at 5,200 RPM and 190 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 RPM. The engine's bore measured 3.5 inches and the stroke measured 3.3 inches. The only option for a transmission was an automatic with four speeds. The car achieved an estimated 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 miles per gallon in highway driving.