AUTO REVIEW: Chevy Malibu is GM’s bright star
By Edward R. Noble
Almost lost in all of the bad news for General Motors in the past couple of years is a bright spot in the Chevrolet Malibu sedan.
General Motors still can design and build world-class, family-type sedans. While Toyota and Honda have almost dominated the mid-size sedan market, Chevy’s Malibu has dug into their one-time, safe-customer base. The Malibu beats the offshore cars in every category. And, you can identify a Malibu from blocks away, unlike a Toyota and the rest of the Asian copycats.
Even after a nearly unchanged two-year run, the Malibu still looks fresh. The interior is downright exciting, especially in the top-of-the line LTZ model with its two-tone color combinations. There are three models, starting with the base LS and the middle child LT. The LTZ with all of the desirable optional accessories, including the V-6 engine, will cost about $5,000 more. That puts it in a pricing advantage with its competition.
There is a base 4-cylinder with 2.4 liter, 169 horsepower and the standard 6-speed automatic transmission that is perfectly adequate for most family customers. The 4- cylinder engine delivers 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. The base 4-cylinder model is equipped with an electric power steering, and that works just fine, but there is no real road feel back. This arrangement boosts the mpg slightly. Few buyers will care, and this is the most popular model. The V-6 model has the old-style power steering. At present, there is no all-wheel drive option.
I tested the middle level model LT with the standard 169 horsepower, 2.4 DHOC 4-cylinder engine and optional 6-speed automatic transmission. The 252 horsepower V-6 will add about $1,600 to the price. The Mocha Steel Metallic paint job was perfect. Seventeen-inch chrome wheel covers that look like real alloy wheels were an attractive accent to the slick styling that makes the Chevy Malibu a parking lot standout.
A family-sized trunk is home to a $100 optional compact spare tire. If you don’t pay for it, an inflator bottle and tire sealant is what you will deal with if you get a flat. My experience has encouraged me to pay for the real spare tire even if it’s a compact. Could save a long walk or an expensive road service call.
Under the hood, there is a good effort to keep everything tidy and the 4-cylinder engine looks reasonably easy to service. There are reports that the V-6 engine is more trouble-free. But, the standard 4-cylinder should get up to 33 mpg, and with the price of gas nearing $3 a gallon, the four is worth considering. I’d get the V-6, and just take fewer trips.
Given the LT was just the middle equipment model, it had all of the important accessories and only a few extra cost options such as the Power Convenience Package at $525, Bluetooth for cell phone USB port and 110 volt outlet for $250 and the $100 spare tire, bringing the total price to $24,310. Not bad, and well within or even lower than the offshore models. A 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is standard, but it only goes for five years and that is where General Motors lags behind some of the competitors with theirs going for 10 years.
Interior styling is just as important as the exterior, and the Malibu is the best I have seen.
The mid-model LT even had a little touch of luxury with a band of faux burl wood round the cabin area. Be sure to take a look at the LTZ Malibu and the deep red and black leather combination for the interior. At night, the analog gauges are exciting with their color combination of lighting. All of this is stunning and makes every other sedan in this or even higher price class look old and tired. Hats off to the stylist that did the Malibu interior.
The proof is in the driving, and the Malibu will reassure the owner that it lives up to its good looks.
Even the 4-cylinder and the 6-speed automatic were going from 0 to 60 in just over 9 seconds, but too slow for me. On the expressway, the 4-cylinder engine seemed satisfactory. Perhaps you will not notice or care about the electric power steering, but I like the feel of the old-fashioned system with better connection to the road.
Almost lost in all of the bad news for General Motors in the past couple of years is a bright spot in the Chevrolet Malibu sedan.
General Motors still can design and build world-class, family-type sedans. While Toyota and Honda have almost dominated the mid-size sedan market, Chevy’s Malibu has dug into their one-time, safe-customer base. The Malibu beats the offshore cars in every category. And, you can identify a Malibu from blocks away, unlike a Toyota and the rest of the Asian copycats.
Even after a nearly unchanged two-year run, the Malibu still looks fresh. The interior is downright exciting, especially in the top-of-the line LTZ model with its two-tone color combinations. There are three models, starting with the base LS and the middle child LT. The LTZ with all of the desirable optional accessories, including the V-6 engine, will cost about $5,000 more. That puts it in a pricing advantage with its competition.
There is a base 4-cylinder with 2.4 liter, 169 horsepower and the standard 6-speed automatic transmission that is perfectly adequate for most family customers. The 4- cylinder engine delivers 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway. The base 4-cylinder model is equipped with an electric power steering, and that works just fine, but there is no real road feel back. This arrangement boosts the mpg slightly. Few buyers will care, and this is the most popular model. The V-6 model has the old-style power steering. At present, there is no all-wheel drive option.
I tested the middle level model LT with the standard 169 horsepower, 2.4 DHOC 4-cylinder engine and optional 6-speed automatic transmission. The 252 horsepower V-6 will add about $1,600 to the price. The Mocha Steel Metallic paint job was perfect. Seventeen-inch chrome wheel covers that look like real alloy wheels were an attractive accent to the slick styling that makes the Chevy Malibu a parking lot standout.
A family-sized trunk is home to a $100 optional compact spare tire. If you don’t pay for it, an inflator bottle and tire sealant is what you will deal with if you get a flat. My experience has encouraged me to pay for the real spare tire even if it’s a compact. Could save a long walk or an expensive road service call.
Under the hood, there is a good effort to keep everything tidy and the 4-cylinder engine looks reasonably easy to service. There are reports that the V-6 engine is more trouble-free. But, the standard 4-cylinder should get up to 33 mpg, and with the price of gas nearing $3 a gallon, the four is worth considering. I’d get the V-6, and just take fewer trips.
Given the LT was just the middle equipment model, it had all of the important accessories and only a few extra cost options such as the Power Convenience Package at $525, Bluetooth for cell phone USB port and 110 volt outlet for $250 and the $100 spare tire, bringing the total price to $24,310. Not bad, and well within or even lower than the offshore models. A 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is standard, but it only goes for five years and that is where General Motors lags behind some of the competitors with theirs going for 10 years.
Interior styling is just as important as the exterior, and the Malibu is the best I have seen.
The mid-model LT even had a little touch of luxury with a band of faux burl wood round the cabin area. Be sure to take a look at the LTZ Malibu and the deep red and black leather combination for the interior. At night, the analog gauges are exciting with their color combination of lighting. All of this is stunning and makes every other sedan in this or even higher price class look old and tired. Hats off to the stylist that did the Malibu interior.
The proof is in the driving, and the Malibu will reassure the owner that it lives up to its good looks.
Even the 4-cylinder and the 6-speed automatic were going from 0 to 60 in just over 9 seconds, but too slow for me. On the expressway, the 4-cylinder engine seemed satisfactory. Perhaps you will not notice or care about the electric power steering, but I like the feel of the old-fashioned system with better connection to the road.
posted by Edward Noble at
9:04 PM
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