2009 Chevrolet Malibu Road Test
If General Motors produced more cars of the calibre of the Chevrolet
Malibu and not the likes of the lowly Cobalt, the company would not be
in the predicament it finds itself today.
The interior is a particularly nice place to while away the
kilometres. The seats, which have faux suede inserts, are comfortable
and the driving position is all it should be. There's better than
expected visibility to the sides and rear, which surprised me given the
relatively large pillars and the size of the car. It is also tastefully
attired - the slim wood-like inlay that rings the cabin brightened up
the tester's predominantly black interior.
The Malibu's layout is remarkably logical. The controls are large and
easily reached, and the centre stack is arranged in the right order -
the radio, complete with steering wheel-mounted controls, resides at the
top with the climate controls below. The lone ergonomic gripe is the
placement of the seat heater switches. They sit on the outboard forward
corner of the front seats where they can be easily activated by accident.
And when they are switched on, you can fry eggs on the seats, which is
great in the winter but a royal pain in warmer weather.
The Malibu's long 2,852-millimetre wheelbase brings a ton of interior
space and limo-like rear-seat legroom, allowing the car to carry five
larger adults in comfort. The trunk follows this lead. The backs of the
60/40-split/folding seats are finished in hard plastic and, at 15.1
cubic feet, there is plenty of trunk space.
When it comes to power, the Malibu is offered in three rather
different configurations. The standard engine - and the one residing in
the test car - is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder. The 169 horsepower and 160
pound-feet of torque is fine if you spend the bulk of your time prowling
suburbia. It does not blaze a trail when the gas pedal is punched, but,
thanks to the six-speed manumatic transmission and its paddle shifters,
there is sufficient motivation that merging on to the highway is
accomplished with ease.
It is also very good on gas, despite the fact it is a full-sized
family sedan that tips the scales at 1,561 kilograms. I managed to
squeeze 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres out of the tester, in the midst of
a snowy winter.
If you're after better fuel economy, the hybrid is the right solution.
Using GM's belt/alternator/starter (BAS) hybrid system, this powertrain
delivers the same horsepower and torque - at least on paper. In reality,
the electric motor that replaces the starter and alternator is used to
boost performance.
Under hard acceleration, the motor acts like an electric super-charger.
As such, it gives an extra kick when it's most needed, which makes the
hybrid feel more alive in the low and mid ranges. The other advantage is
better fuel economy - a rating of 7.9 L/100 km in the city and a very
good 5.8 L/100 km on the highway.
If power is the order of the day, the optional 3.6L V6 and its 252 hp
and 251 lb-ft of torque work wonders. It is easily a match for any of
the competition's sixes, both in terms of its work ethic and refinement.
Chevrolet Malibu car Chrysler
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