2016--2020 Chevrolet Malibu - 2.0L Turbo - Advantage

WOW.... The reviews here are not hyperbole.  I just installed this tune on my 2017 Malibu 2.0T and .... WOW... The car was pretty quick before if you would push it and anticipate turbo lag, etc.   None of that anymore! Power is on-demand, and it just keeps giving.  Seriously, the car is an absolute BEAST now.  

So I have been debating the purchase ever since I bought my 2017 Malibu 2.0 Premier 3 years ago.  I have to admit that I am an extreme pessimist and I half expected that everyone raving about this tune were suffering from a placebo effect (you want to believe its great so it seems great).  I was wrong!!  If I didn't know that the tune was installed, I would still know there is something awesomely different about the car. 

Biggest improvement is throttle response.  It no longer feels like the car is deciding when to accelerate, it feels like I am the driver again.  Every little movement of the pedal is instantly felt!
Second largest improvement is power.  The car doesn't hesitate to give you power anymore.  Its just there when you ask for it.  If you think the car was fast before, hold on!!  It gets better.

A big concern I had was with the 9 speed transmission and how the tune would change it.  With 9 gears I was worried the tune would make it shift oddly or hard.  I'm please to say that I don't notice any difference in shifting and I am glad that they haven't gone crazy making it shift hard or aggressive.

Someone else said it and its true.  The tune makes it a totally different car.  The tune not only woke the car the he$$ up but it also pissed it off!  Very happy with the tune and glad I bought it. 

Another satisfied customer! Ordered the tune two days ago, got my file the next day, and cable the day after that. Easy installation. And what a difference! Car had good power before, but now it really moves! More power, more aggressive and smoother shifting, when you want it or need it. Exhaust sounds better too. I read lots of reviews beforehand and visited several forums, was surprised to see such consistently positive reports, thought this must be rigged. Well, now I am so glad to be able to agree, it is as good as they say, and yes it does feel like a new car, at least a new engine! I was thinking of getting a new, more sporty car, a Camaro, but now after changing shocks and struts and bumping up the power thanks to Trifecta, no longer feel the need, now I have my own 'four door Camaro'. 

I could pretty much mirror and repeat what alot of people have said already. I waited a while to purchase cause I wasn't sure and  this is the best car performance purchase I have ever made. The car drives so much better not only the power but the transmission and shifting it's a whole new car. Michael was super helpful even remembering an email I had sent over a year ago regarding some questions about the tune. Now I only have one complaint. Where can I buy aTrifecta decal so I can slap it on the Malibu?

AAA+++ This tune is amazing!!

Before the tune my car was really sluggish. didn't wanna move and if you did push the gas it would take a few seconds for it to actually take off. now that the tune is installed the car takes off like a rocket! The low end of the car is outstanding I can't believe it. Thank you Trifecta for putting the spark back in my car! If you're thinking of buying the tune, I would! You don't lose gas mileage its truly amazing. Thanks again Trifecta you guys are AMAZING! 

Fantastic, over 155mph, 0 to 60 under 5 seconds, 13 second quarter mile, 2300 rpm at 100mph, 1800 at 80, pulls hard at any speed, torque steer manageable, shifts hold in corners, it's crazy...a blast every day.

2019 Premier, badged to an SS now on rear.

OEM spoiler, OEM lowering springs, Trifecta tune, roof painted gloss black, OEM black  bowties ,front lighted bowtie, OEM racing stripes, antenna painted red, and 19 inch Redline wheels w Michelin Pilot Sports.

Just uploaded the tune to my 2016 premier over the weekend. got on the highway a couple of times and this car wants to rocket. getting on the highway was good before, but now it's like damn!!! 1st and 2and feel like they shift later which is what I like. Very impressed and well worth it. 

My wife drives a 2018 Ford Focus ST with upgrades of...

-bigger intercooler

-cold air intake

-catless downpipe

-1step colder plugs

-EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC 2 235/40r18

-custom magnaflow exhaust system

-custom tune

Now what's the point of mentioning these?  My trifecta tuned 2017 Malibu 2.0T beat her merging on the freeway on-ramp from a stop light.  Also, she has been driving my car stock when I was deployed and after the tune, she said it felt like a different car. 

The only aftermarket upgrade I got was a custom exhaust system(same as my wife's) and a turbo blanket.  Now the sound matches my performance, which is a minor con cuz people wanna mess with me since I also have quad tips with it too.  Prior to the exhaust upgrade, the "stock" looking Malibu just QUIETLY zips past ANY STOCK v6 and below vehicles from a dead stop.  I love the usable power(20mph-90mph) it produces.  Passing is a breeze.  Gas mileage is the same as stock.

Owners of dodge charger/challenger v6, camaro v6/2.0T, mustang v6, Subaru wrx sti, civic si, Subaru brz, dodge magnum hemi, RAM 1500 hemi, all have the SURPRISED PIKACHU face when i punch it.  They try to step on it but when they realized the truth, they just get smaller in my rear view mirror.  

IMHO, this is the best thing to get 1st, then ultra high performance tires since the conti OEM 245/40r19 I have don't grip really well with the tune.

I convinced my wife that this is what I wanted for Christmas.  I am not returning this gift!

I downloaded the guide and the software.  Read it one more time and did the install with transparency.  Went flawless.  Great, but how does it run?  It is a different car.

The performance makes me feel that the Malibu is actually a track-car.  No hesitation.  Push me back in the seat acceleration and very crisp shifts.  I have not noticed an increase in fuel economy but that could be because of the grin on my face as I push the throttle!!

Wow is all I can say. It totally lives up to it's word. The car went from a pretty quick 2016 Malibu 2.0 T with a sweet spot for the turbo around 3K RPM to EVERY WHERE AND EVERY TIME you step on the gas, it's a sweet spot. My cousin sells cars at a Chevy, GM, dealership so he test rides the high end Camaros and Corvettes all the time.

When he drove my car he said it was impossible for that car to be performing like it was. It was not the same car he drove a few months earlier and those cars aren't supposed to accelerate like it was. He was shocked. So I had my uncle who has a 2014 Corvette Z-06 and he was impressed as well.

This was the first time for me doing anything like this so I was really nervous, but you just download the software, download the tune configuration file from your e-mail, plug in the cable to your car's computer and the other end into your computer, choose the tune file and it does everything automatically for you.

The only problem I had was in the beginning, I chose to use the transparency option, and I received an error message about it. So when I loaded it, my car wouldn't start.
I reset the car back to factory settings because that is an option with the software and the car started. WHEWWWWWWWWW! I thought I really screwed my car up and I'd have to explain to the dealer how and blah blah blah.

So I e-mailed Trifecta support on a Saturday afternoon with what happened and that I received an error message in the beginning about not being able to apply the transparency feature.
Within an hour Steven from support e-mailed me stating they were working on the issue and would get back to me.

Within a couple more hours, Steven wrote back that they knew what caused the issue.

Well, I was nervous as hell, but I reloaded the tune just like Steven said and the car started right up. I took it for a ride and let my brother drive it. Needless to say he was trying to take the tires off the rims and the car just had more to give. He couldn't even push it to the max. It thrusts at 80 mph when you hit the gas. It's Insane!

Sunday morning, Steven sent a follow up e-mail checking to see how I made out. Who does that on Saturday and Sunday for support?  I'm in IT and I don't even do that. LOL
Thank you, Steven and Trifecta.

These guys are legit and have the proven track record and support to prove it.
If you're a noob or rookie like I am, are a little nervous and afraid, don't be. They'll take care of whatever issues you're having and get you running right. And the best part about it is if you add no other hardware like an intake or exhaust etc, Technically, this car is all Stock. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The expressions on other guys faces in Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers is pretty funny.

Don't get me wrong, I don't go looking to race people let alone the higher end models because I'm obviously not in the same class HP wise, but once in a while I'll crack the gas and 0-60 I'm right there with them. That's when they are like what the hell is that and what kind of engine is in it.
I've taken the emblems off the car recently except the black Chevy Bow ties. I tell them it's a stock 2016 Malibu 2.0 L Turbo with a smile. 

Best Regards,
Steve Taylor  
Toms River, NJ

Very nice tune for a stock tune. Love the get up and go and it feels like a different car. Love it and very happy with the tune. Would do it all over again. Great job!!

Finally bit the bullet and purchased the calibration for my 2016 Malibu 2.0T Premier and what a difference! Acceleration is phenomenal and an instant kick in the butt. No hesitation like stock while it asks if that's what I really want. Super easy installation. If I can do it, anyone can do it ( At 64 I'm over the hill. In dog years I'm already dead). Many thanks! Bob

I just finished my tune and took my car for a spin and all I have to say is wow. Definitely $400 well spent. Pedal control is much more responsive, shifts better for power and there is a huge noticeable increase of power. If you own a Malibu with the 2.0 turbo engine you must get this tune. It’s so easy to install and it instantly transforms the car into a monster. Props to trifecta for coming out with such a nice product.

I had a technical question before I placed my order and got an immediate reply. Great customer service! I can hardly wait to install my tune.

Amazing, love it on my Malibu 2.0 Premier.

I will start out by saying that I know virtually nothing about working on cars, tuning cars, or anything relative to increasing performance on cars. When I got my 2016 Malibu, I was happy with its performance. Through a discussion with a friend, he suggested that I could increase performance quite a bit more by simply calibrating the car. He did research and came across Trifecta and what it could offer. As I read through its description, I realized that this is almost exactly what I wanted; increased performance, won't harm the car, won't trigger any sensors, won't destroy gas mileage, etc.

I sat on my decision for a year before finally making a purchase decision. Part of what influenced my decision making was how helpful their support has been. A lot of the questions I asked before purchasing were already answered within the description, which I didn't realize until afterward. Instead of being rude or telling me where to look, Michael from Trifecta Support happily answered every question I had. As a complete novice, it was reassuring knowing that if I ran into issues, I would get the assistance that I'd need.

That is enough background information. Let me tell you, once I got my download file and got the software downloaded, it was really straightforward. It took about 20 minutes before it was finished. After it completed, I took it for a trial run and it was like driving a whole different car. It was much snappier. 10-60 MPH is a breeze, 60 MPH and beyond is also much quicker. It's been a very enjoyable experience! I am very happy with this product.

Only things I'd mention are the following:

-I have ran it with Premium and Regular gasoline. It is much better performance with Premium, almost night and day better.

-You will need to download the software to load it into your car, which is available immediately. You won't have your custom calibration for your car right away, so you will have to wait for that. You use the software to install the calibration.

-My city gas mileage seems better but my highway gas mileage did decrease a little.

In summary, I would highly recommend this product if you are looking for extra performance in your car. It makes it even more thrilling to drive and I can't wait for the road conditions to improve again so I can have some more fun (it's winter here in Michigan).

This tune really brings the car alive! Was really impressed with the outcome! Love the shift points and power pushing your forward!

I just uploaded the Trifecta tune to my 2017 Malibu 2.0L and I gotta say it's a whole different car. Pulls hard, shifts solid and revs out. It's night and day difference and the best $400 I've ever spent on a car "part".

Using a app on my phone (Called: GPS Acceleration. Not super reliable but it's what I got) my rolling 10-70mph went from not spinning the traction tires in the wet and 10.8s to spinning the first two gears and 6.8s. It felt that much faster also. The best part is when you tip in the throttle it downshifts to the proper gear to match the throttle position and how aggressive you want to accelerate. It's truly a new car, it was a total plug before.

And just so you don't think I'm some clown that doesn't know cars. I built and tuned my Turbo Charged, EFI, 1972 Datsun 510 with a laptop myself. Timing and Fuel Maps, conversion from MAF to MAP based.. you name it.

This is the real deal.

Josh-

This is my first time computer tuning any of my cars, and it was well worth it. Not because of the added horsepower, which is great, or the added torque, which you can really feel, the best part is the shifting. Last few years GM has been programming their transmissions to get into top gear as soon as possible leaving a sluggish feeling. This tune eliminates that. If your just barely feathering the accelerator, it shifts early, but if you wanting a little more, it will shift later, it's now all in your foot control. All the added torque is coming from the 6.5 pounds of extra boost. Stock boost topped out around 17.5 and Trifecta's tune it now tops out at 23.5.

I traded in my 2016 Colorado Z71 with the 3.6L at 3800 miles because the shifting really really sucked, and I am willing to bet Trifecta would of taken care of that problem, But oh well, I like my new Malibu even better now.