2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo First Drive Review: Chevy turns up the power & performance to 11

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo is the fastest and most powerful Malibu that you can purchase.

It comes with a  2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces a strong 259 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Of course all of that power hits the pavement through the front wheels. General Motors has joined the fraternity of automakers who are using turbocharged four-cylinder engines to match, or surpass, the power of the V6s they replace.

Name-wise, Chevy’s Malibu has been around since the 1970s and has proven to be a popular name for the automaker. The front-wheel drive variant of the Chevrolet Malibu debuted in 1997 to battle vehicles like the highly successful Toyota Camry. Despite a poor first attempt, the Malibu has had massive improvements over the past few years.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu lives in a very crowded market segment and completes with best selling cars like the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord as well as the new Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

We recently had the opportunity to test drive the new Malibu Turbo  in the hills outside of San Francisco. So how does the new Malibu turbo perform?

Check out this first drive review to find out.