The newest generation of the Chevrolet Malibu continues to amaze me with its grace and beauty, its great performance and handling, and just the fact that it proves General Motors can build a car that can compete with the best from those popular Japanese automakers.
What’s still shocking to me, though, it that this car is not outselling at least the Honda Accord, if not the segment-leading Toyota Camry.
After thorough tests of all of the similarly priced midsize sedans on the market today, the two top sellers in my book should be not the Camry and Accord – which are very nice vehicles, of course – but the Malibu and Nissan Altima.
Both of these vehicles posted strong sales for 2008, with the Altima coming in third among midsize sedans with 284,762 sold, followed not by the Malibu, but the slightly larger Chevrolet Impala, which posted sales of 265,840.
The Malibu, whose newest model made its debut for 2008, did rack up 178,253 sales for the year, so that with the sales of the Malibu and Impala combined, Chevrolet did manage to sell more large sedans than Honda did (372,789). That was even more sales than the Camry achieved (436,617).
But I believe that if many of today’s consumers could put their anti-American-car bias aside long enough to check out the Malibu, they might conclude, just as I have, that this new Chevy is a first-class competitor that outshines its biggest competitors.
Diehard Camry and Accord fans are hard to sway, I know. But when we go car shopping, we ought to do so with an open mind, and if we’re doing that, we’re going to have the Malibu on our shopping lists at least for thoughtful consideration.
There was some discussion among auto analysts and others knowledgeable about the industry that GM would have been better off calling the new Malibu something else. The argument was that it is so far ahead of the previous-generation model that it deserved not to have any possible negative images of the older version handed down to the new one.
Some of us baby boomers still have positive images in our minds of the original Malibu, though, such as the 1971 model that was my second new-car purchase. But even as much as I liked that Malibu, the 2009 model is eons ahead of it.
This Malibu might very well be the best car in the midsize-sedan class that Detroit has ever produced. At the very least, it should level the field in the midsize-sedan market, giving even longtime Japanese-car buyers an “American car” alternative that they could be comfortable owning.
The Malibu has the look of a premium sedan inside and out, coming across more like a Lexus than a Toyota, but with a Toyota price.
Driving it, though, proves that it’s more than your average Camry or Accord. First, it’s as quiet inside as a Lexus. But its roadhandling and performance are much better than those of the average Japanese family sedan.
It has more of the sports car flair that we would expect from, say, a Volkswagen, Nissan or BMW product (all three of those are brands that take care to produce vehicles that are fun to drive, not just comfortable to ride in).
The Malibu’s four-wheel independent suspension and power steering gave precise control of the vehicle at all times, a surprise for a mass-market family sedan.
For 2009, the Malibu returns essentially the same as when it arrived for ’08, but there are a few tweaks. One important change was to make the six-speed automatic transmission standard on two of the four-cylinder versions, the midlevel 2LT and the uplevel LTZ. The base transmission, used on the four-cylinder LS and 1LT models is a four-speed automatic, but the six-speed now also is offered as an option on the 1LT models.
The six-speed provides better highway fuel economy, as the top two speeds are both overdrive gears. With this transmission and the base 2.4-liter, 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine, the Malibu is EPA rated at 22 miles per gallon city/33 highway. With the four-speed transmission, the mileage of 22 city/30 highway.
Models with the optional 3.6-liter, 252-horsepower V-6 engine, which comes only with the six-speed gearbox, are rated at 17 city/26 highway.
Most people will find the four-cylinder quite adequate for their everyday needs, but the V-6 does offer a greater level of power for those who want it and don’t mind paying the extra money for the engine and the additional gas it will use.
The six-speed automatic transmission comes with a manual-shift function that is controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel – one on each side. But there is no actual manual transmission offered on any Malibu.
Malibu also is offered in a gasoline-electric hybrid version, which has EPA ratings of 26 city/34 highway.
Electronic stability control is now standard on all models, complete with traction control and brake assist.
LS and 1LT models also now come with 17-inch spoke wheels and touring tires, and there are four new metallic exterior colors offered: silver ice, summit white, gold mist and silver moss.
In addition, GM has added Bluetooth connectivity to the OnStar 8.0 system that is standard in the Malibu.
Prices for the 2009 Malibu range from $21,605 (plus $650 freight) for the base LS four-cylinder model to $26,880 for the top-of-the-line LTZ with the four-cylinder engine. The V-6 is available on the LT or LTZ models as a $1,595 option, but its popularity waned considerably during the period of high gasoline prices last year.
Our test vehicle was the LTZ four-cylinder model, which came with a long list of standard amenities, including the six-speed automatic transmission; fog lights; dual chrome exhaust outlets; 18-inch bright aluminum wheels; a premium eight-speaker, 210-watt audio system with XM satellite radio; and a leather interior with heated front seats.
Other LTZ features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed console shifter. Leather interior also is standard on the 2LT models.
Options included a power sunroof ($800) and red jewel tintcoat exterior paint ($295), which also brought an upgraded cocoa/cashmere leather interior combination.
Total sticker of our tester was $28,625, including freight and options.
Our front bucket seats were quite comfortable for a car under $30,000. The driver’s side had an eight-way power adjustment, while there was six-way power adjustment for the passenger side. Also standard were power-adjustable foot pedals.
The audio and automatic climate-control systems are built into an attractive center stack, and they are easy to adjust without taking eyes off the road. The audio system has volume and tuning knobs, making it much more user-friendly than some of the newer systems that have eliminated knobs.
Controls for the audio and cruise-control systems also were included on the steering wheel of our tester.
The instrument panel has large, easy-to-read analog gauges as well as a digital driver-information readout at the bottom. The speedometer, tachometer and other gauges have white needles backed by green illumination, which looks great night or day.
The center console includes two cupholders and a storage bin, and there is another storage bin on top of the dash right in the middle. Molded door pockets on each side have room for a map or two, and each one has a separate section that serves as a cupholder.
A faux wood trim strip runs from the back of each of the front doors around the dash, where it dips below the center-dash air-conditioning vents. It’s quite elegant looking, especially with the cocoa/cashmere two-tone door, dashboard and seat trim.
Three adults can sit comfortably on the rear bench seat, and there is decent leg and knee room even with the front seats all the way back to accommodate long-legged people up front.
Power windows, outside mirrors and door locks are standard, of course, and the remote control locks and unlocks the doors, opens the trunk, and can start the car as well. The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at 210-250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
The package: Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, four-cylinder or V-6 powered, front-drive sedan.
Highlights: Chevrolet’s redesigned Malibu offers the best from the Detroit Three yet in this vehicle class, giving GM a strong competitor against the segment-leading Japanese models. This car has the look and feel of a premium sedan at a mass-market price.
Negatives: No manual gearbox offered for those who want a sportier driving experience.
Engine: 2.4-liter inline four cylinder; 3.6-liter V-6.
Transmission: Four- or six-speed automatic.
Power/torque: 169 HP/160 foot-pounds (I-4); 252 HP/251 foot-pounds (V-6).
Length: 191.8 inches.
Curb weight: 3,415-3,649 pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Trunk volume: 15.1 cubic feet.
Side air bags: Front seat-mounted, roof-mounted side-curtain for both rows, standard.
Electronic stability control: Standard.
Fuel capacity/type: 16.3 gallons/unleaded regular.
EPA fuel economy: 22 city/30 highway (I-4, four-speed automatic); 22/33 (I-4, six-speed automatic); 17/26 (V-6); 26/34 (Hybrid).
Major competitors: Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 6, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Subaru Legacy.
Base price range: $21,605-$26,880 plus $650 freight.
Price as tested: $28,625 including freight and options (LTZ four-cylinder).
On the Road rating: 9.7 (of a possible 10).
Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary.
