2008 Chevrolet Malibu

With few exceptions, American sedans typically fall short of the quality standards set by their Japanese and European competitors. Last year's Malibu was a decent car, but couldn't match the refinement and value offered from competing sedans from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. When Chevrolet redesigned the Malibu for the 2008 model year, I kept my expectations low. Despite the rave reviews from the automotive press, I had doubts that GM could build a family sedan that could successfully compete with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.


Style: 9/10

Though Detroit has pumped out some nice looking family sedans recently, i.e. the Chrysler 300C, there have been far more flops over the past ten years than endearing designs. While the Malibu's sheet metal may not be completely original (many of its styling cues have been taken from sedans ranging from the European Volkswagen Passat to the Japanese Acura TL) it's is a simple yet elegant sedan that looks decidedly more upscale and expensive than its base $19,000 MSRP suggests. I especially like the chrome accented window frames. Not many cars in this class can pull off chrome accented windows without looking tacky. The Malibu, on the contrary, pulls the chrome accents off beautifully. The only gripe I have with the Malibu's new styling is its somewhat out-of-place front fascia. While the Malibu's profile and rear end tell a story of sophistication and elegance, the front end, with its tacky mesh front grille, appears amateur and pretentious. All in all, the new Chevrolet Malibu is a great looking American sedan that definitely gives potential Accord and Camry buyers something as attractive to look at.

Performance:

Acceleration: 9/10

The Malibu can be had with one of three available power plants: the base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making a measly 169 horsepower, a 2.4-liter with hybrid technology making slightly less horsepower than the base engine, and a 3.6-liter V6 making a muscular 252 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft of torque. I chose the Malibu LTZ with its standard V6 engine coupled to the only transmission that it can be coupled to: a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Note: No manual transmission can be had with any of the available power plants.

Though the Malibu LTZ's V6 totes around 10% less horsepower than the Accord and Camry's optional V6's, it feels equally as powerful. Pushing the Malibu's throttle to the floor results in instantaneous acceleration with plenty of grunt from idle all the way to redline. Where the Malibu's engine shines the most, however, is how quickly it accelerates while at speed. For example, stabbing the throttle to the floor at, say, 20 MPH results in excellent pick-up with no complaint from either the engine or transmission.

Engine Quality: 9/10

Though the Malibu doesn't boast all the technology that Honda has put into the Accord's V6 engine, the V6 in the Malibu feels just as refined. I especially appreciate the way this DOHC V6 sounds. Below 4,000 RPM the Malibu's V6 is nearly silent, but as the revs approach redline it emits a pleasant racy exhaust note that should be music to most owner's ears. Overall, engine quality ranks above average, however the Camry and Accord still have an edge when it comes to refinement, albeit very small.

Transmission: 10/10

The Malibu LTZ V6 doesn't just boast a refined and powerful engine, it also has one of the smoothest automatic transmissions on the market. One of my biggest gripes with the Accord's automatic was its tendency to hunt for gears at low speeds. The Malibu's transmission always seems to be the right gear and unlike the 2008 Honda Accord the Malibu's 6-speed automatic responds to throttle input with no noticeable lag while up-shifting or down-shifting. The LTZ trim also comes equipped with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. While the paddle shifters don't improve acceleration at all, they come in handy when manual downshifting/up-shifting is desired.

Handling: 8/10

Save for a few exceptions, i.e. the Mazda6, family sedans costing less than 30K usually aren't very fun to drive on twisty roads. The 2008 Malibu, however, tackles twisty roads with more finesse than just about all of its sub 30K competitors. With a tight suspension, a relatively wide track, wide 225/50 18" all season tires, the Malibu LTZ feels stable on twisty roads exhibiting only minimal body roll, even through harsh turns and tracks well even on twisty roads with nasty surface imperfections. Steering response/feedback is also much quicker this year, and despite the Malibu LTZ being a front wheel drive sedan boasting a V6 making more than 250 lbs.-ft. of torque, accelerating through sharp turn's results in no noticeable torque steer. Braking is also excellent. Outfitted with standard 4-wheel disc brakes and ABS as standard equipment, stopping power is strong with no fade or vibration under heavy use.

On the highway: 8/10

While both the Accord EX-L and Camry XLE offer slightly quieter rides on the highway, the Malibu LTZ does very well in this category. Atypical of many American sedans in this class, the Malibu is nearly silent at freeway speeds: inside the cabin there is virtually no engine or wind noise. GM has done an excellent job with the Malibu's suspension as well. The Malibu doesn't offer a supple ride by any stretch of the imagination, however the ride is far from being jarring. Moderate potholes and bumps in the road are with a solid thud.

The Malibu's powertrain works excellently on the highway. For example, if a quick passing maneuver is needed the 6-speed automatic transmission quickly downshifts almost undetectably providing immediate acceleration with no noticeable throttle lag. The Malibu also does an excellent job tackling steep inclines. The Malibu's engine offers a surplus of power for climbing steep hills and its 6-speed automatic always feels as if it's in the right gear, so there is no gear hunting on hills; something that I found all too common with the 2008 Accord.


Fuel Economy:

Fuel economy ranks about average for this class. The EPA, with its new stricter ratings for 2008, estimates that the Malibu will get 17 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway (about 2 MPG less in both the city and highway than the Accord V6 Sedan). If fuel economy is a must-have on your shopping list and are willing to sacrifice about 100 horsepower, the Malibu is now available with hybrid technology that boosts fuel economy a couple MPG over the base 4-cylinder trim levels.

Interior Accommodation:

Styling: 9/10

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises with the redesigned Malibu is its stylish interior. Cars in this class generally don't offer much in the way of interior styling, however the Malibu LTZ is just as stylish inside as it is out. While the Malibu's interior color scheme isn't for everyone, I found the brick-red on black color scheme to be tasteful and more reminiscent of something to come from Germany than the US. The materials in the cabin also look rich: the leather looks expensive and the dash and door panels offer a nice textured look giving the appearance of high quality plastics typically found in more expensive sedans.

Ergonomics: 9/10

While GM has been known for wonky ergonomics, the 2008 Malibu offers a user-friendly interior that, while loaded with embellishments, hasn't stayed from being kept simple. Aside from the HVAC controls being located a bit too low on the center stack, all the switchgear is in easy reach of the driver for eyes on road use.


Quality: 8/10

When GM set out to build an Accord/Camry killer they had their work cut out for them, especially when it came to interior quality. In the past, a sedan from Chevrolet usually meant hard interior plastics, exposed screws, cheap leather, etc. GM has up'ed their game with the new Malibu by equipping it with high quality materials, including soft plastics, no exposed screws, and rich leather surfaces. But I digress, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry still outshine the Malibu in terms of interior quality. This year, however, the gap has become extremely small: interior quality certainly shouldn't be a deal breaker this go-round.

Standard Amenities: 10/10

Every Malibu comes well equipped, however if you are a gadget junky the LTZ trim is the way to go. Standard on all Malibu's come power windows and locks, cruise control, Onstar, air conditioning, side/side curtain/ and front driver and passenger air bags, tilt and telescoping steering, and a 6-speaker CD system. Add around $7,000 for the top-of-the line LTZ and in addition to a much more powerful V6 engine over the base model's 4, you get audio mounted steering wheel controls, paddle shifters, heated leather seats & leather steering wheel, an upgraded 6-disc in-dash CD changer with 2 extra speakers, fog lights, traction control, and a host of other standard features. The only gripe that I have with the Malibu LTZ's standard equipment is the lack of a standard sunroof. While the comparably priced Accord EX-L comes standard with a sunroof, you'll have to shell out another $800 for this feature for the Malibu LTZ.

Interior Room: 8/10

Although the 2008 Malibu Sedan is both longer and wider than the outgoing models, interior room is about the same. Still, even with no marked increase in interior room, the Malibu is able to seat 5 adults easily: the driver and front passenger are offered ample room for stretching out and relaxing. The rear of the cabin, however, is a bit tight considering the exterior dimensions of this sedan. While rear of the Malibu is by no means a penalty box, more rear legroom will probably be desired by passengers over 6' tall.

Storage: 7/10

The Malibu is in a smaller size class than the Accord, however it offers equally if not better interior storage. The Malibu offers a deep center console with a sliding cover that opens to accommodate larger items. The trunk is also quite large, and though it doesn't offer the widest opening in this class, it doesn't have those annoying space robbing hinges still found in most of its competitors, i.e. the Accord and Nissan Altima. Also, unlike the Accord that has done away with 60/40 split seats, the Malibu still boasts the flexibility of 60/40 rear seats for increased storage while still being able to cater to a rear passenger..

Price/Warranty:

Whether you opt for the base LS trim or the top-of-the-line LTZ trim, the Malibu remains an affordable sedan. The base LS sedan starts out at just $19,645 and tops out at around 28,000 for the fully loaded LTZ trim (or about $500 less than a comparably equipped Accord/Camry/Altima). Since the LTZ comes loaded with standard embellishments, the MSRP of 28,000 is most likely the final sticker price that you will pay. Warranty coverage is adequate. While the standard bumper-bumper warranty for the Malibu is a tad stingy at 36,000-miles/3 years there is an impressive 5-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Overall: 9/10

If you thought it was impossible for an American sedan to compete with the Japanese, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with new Malibu LTZ. The 2008 Malibu is refined, roomy, powerful, smooth, and offers tons of standard amenities. The price of the Malibu is also about $500 less than a comparably equipped Accord or Camry, and boasts a more impressive warranty. With this being the case, the new Malibu is an excellent family sedan that should not be ignored if you are on the market for a new family hauler: the 2008 Malibu LTZ is recommended 100%


- Happy Car Shopping!