Chevy earns awards across many of its vehicles in the lineup from J.D. Power and Associates. You may have seen their commercials featuring ‘real people’ endorsing the Equinox, the Traverse, and the Silverado. When it comes to the midsize sedan segment, the Chevy Malibu is a solid contender with plenty to offer as well.

But some consumers may be wondering, despite all of its accolades and hype, is the Malibu really safe? If safety is a primary concern on your checklist and you have the 2020 Chevy Malibu in your sights, here’s everything you need to know about safety.

What’s new for the 2020 Chevy Malibu?

Not much has changed this year for the Malibu. You’ll still enjoy a roomy cabin with easy-to-use infotainment. The style is slightly refined but doesn’t vary much from past model years in this generation.

Several packages for the Malibu have new names this year, and the hybrid model has been dropped. So, is the Malibu a safe car?

How U.S. News & World Report ranks the Chevy Malibu

Often a great source for reviews and road tests is U.S. News & World Report. The experts, in addition to their overall review of a vehicle, will also assign a safety score. These scores are based on crash test ratings and evaluations from the IIHS and NHTSA, as well as their own professional opinions formed behind the wheel. The 2020 Chevy Malibu’s scorecard is strong, with an 8.9 rating on a scale of one to ten.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Ratings

The IIHS performs independent crash tests to then score and rank a vehicle’s ability to perform in specific types of accidents. The score is designed to tell a consumer how well the equipment and safety mechanisms will protect the occupants and driver of the car.

On a system that labels each test with poor, marginal, acceptable, or good, the 2020 Chevy Malibu receives ‘good’ marks for almost every scenario. It did earn a ‘marginal’ rating in the passenger side, small overlap frontal crash test, and a ‘superior’ remark in mitigation and crash avoidance exercises.

How did the Chevy Malibu perform on other crash tests?

Similar to the IIHS, the NHTSA performs rigorous crash tests to then assign one to five stars based on a vehicle’s ability to protect the occupants. The Chevy Malibu earns the highest, five-star rating overall. An overall score is based on a series of front and side-impact evaluations, as well as rollover scenario testing.

Airbags and family safety features

Every Chevy Malibu comes with 10 standard airbags for increased occupant and driver protection. There are also child seat LATCH connectors and childproof locks standard for those with little ones.

Another standard feature is the GM Rear Seat Reminder, which is designed to help the driver to check the back seat, for children and pets, before getting out of the vehicle.

Driver assistance features

The Chevy Malibu also has a robust menu of driver assistance features, some standard, and others available at higher trim levels. In addition to OnStar, other features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise are standard. Rear cross-traffic alert, self-parking aids, and blind-spot monitoring are also available.

Hands-free connectivity

To combat distracted driving, the Chevy Malibu will present a good range of hands-free connectivity and infotainment options. The entry-level model comes capable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model also comes with a backup camera, telescopic steering wheel, an eight-in display screen, and Bluetooth.

The 2020 Chevy Malibu is a solid midsize sedan with plenty to offer in terms of safety. The competition in this vehicle class is steep, so you may find other models out there with a little more pizazz. But, if safety is your priority before making your purchase, you can breathe a little easier knowing the Malibu prioritizes safety too.