Chevrolet is refreshing three of its passenger cars — the Malibu, Cruze, and Spark — for the 2019 model year in an attempt to bring new buyers to the models at a time when utility vehicles have become increasingly popular.

The Malibu midsize sedan is Chevrolet's top-selling fleet car and was named the 2016 Fleet Car of the Year by Automotive Fleet and Business Fleet. Chevrolet first offered the Malibu in 1964. Chevrolet has sold the Cruze compact sedan since 2008 and Spark subcompact car since 1998.

For 2019, the Malibu will add a sporty RS model with blacked-out styling, 18-inch wheels, and a dual-outlet exhaust. Other features include a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and a standard 8-inch touchscreen for the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system. The 2019 Malibu will be available in the fall.

The Cruze will receive an updated front fascia, new interior color options, and a new infotainment system with a 7-inch color touchscreen. Options include remote start and automatic climate control, which are standard on the LT and Premier models. The Cruze Hatch adds the LS trim. The company will also continue to offer the Cruze Diesel model, said Nick Jaynes Morgan, a Chevrolet spokesman.

Chevrolet's Spark adds new front-end styling that aligns it with the Malibu and Cruze, new exterior colors, and available low speed automatic braking. The 2019 Cruze will be available in the fall, while the Spark will arrive in late summer.

General Motors plans to cease production of the Chevrolet Sonic and is considering phasing out the Chevrolet Impala amid growing public demand for sport-utility vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported.