By New Car Test Drive
Overview
The Chevrolet Malibu is a superb midsize sedan. Fitting in the lineup just below the larger Impala, the Malibu competes with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion. Malibu blends a smooth ride with responsive handling, a quiet interior, effective crash performance and noteworthy build quality. For GM, it is a distinctly different level of car. Malibu is a midsize sedan with four-cylinder, V6, and hybrid gas-electric powertrains.
We found the Malibu to be a smooth, comfortable sedan with plenty of power when equipped with the V6. It strikes a nice balance between well-controlled handling and an even ride. Overall, the new Malibu feels smooth and is pleasant to drive. The cabin is nicely designed, attractive, and everything is easy to operate, though there are some hard plastics that detract from an otherwise first-rate interior. The seats are comfortable, with plenty of front-seat room and generous space in the rear.
Malibu offers value, with a lower purchase price, and fuel economy: EPA City/Highway ratings of 22/33 mpg for the four-cylinder with six-speed automatic, 17/26 mpg for the V6 engine and six-speed automatic, and 26/34 mpg for the Hybrid.
We think it stands up well against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the gold standards of midsize sedans. Choosing among them largely comes down to nitpicking, splitting hairs and personal preferences. The Camry and Accord may have an edge on resale value, but they’re also likely to come with higher price tags. In any case, we don’t see the gap between this Chevrolet and the imports that we used to see. Malibu, Camry and Accord are all superb midsize sedans.
For 2010, the changes are relatively few. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is E85-compatible, meaning it can operate on either gasoline or a mixture that includes up to 85 percent ethanol. The six-speed automatic is standard with the 1LT trim level, 17-inch Chrome Tech alloy wheels are standard with the 2LT, and driver’s-side power-adjustable lumbar support replaces manual adjustment on all models. Finally, there are some new colors. The Malibu was redesigned for the 2008 model year.
Safety features are comprehensive, with front, side and side-curtain airbags, tire-pressure monitoring, ABS with brake assist, and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with traction control.
The Malibu’s long wheelbase provides ample interior room for occupants and a smooth, quiet ride. The Malibu makes good use of its space, and also has an attractive wheels-at-the-corners look that is substantial, yet clean and crisp.
The body design is bold, long and sleek, with an especially appealing roofline that looks like it belongs on a luxury car. The bodysides are completely clean and uncluttered, and the twin round taillamps pay homage to the Corvette. The dual-port grille is a contemporary Chevrolet design cue, which gives the Malibu a distinctive look, and distinction is an important goal of the midsize sedan designer. Look closely and you’ll see tiny bowtie emblems imbedded in the headlights.
The Chevrolet Malibu has all the size, room, features and conveniences a middle-of-the-market sedan needs to be competitive, and the fits and finishes inside and out are world-class. Chevrolet has indeed built a car we can’t ignore. We think the new Chevy Malibu stands up well to the best in its class, including the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
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