Another Article:
I'm really liking these constant reports and praises...especially if GM/Chevy intends to follow this path with the Camaro.
Suppose I said the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize sedan worth considering alongside the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Would you believe me?
I could understand if you didn't.
The Malibu competes in the toughest part of the auto market, one dominated by Camry/Accord/Altima.
Chevrolet, once the center of the American automotive cosmos, buried its reputation long ago under tons of Corsicas, Luminas andCelebritys that promised quality but failed to deliver.
Not so with this baby.
The new Malibu is the finest midsize car Chevy has produced in three decades.
I'm not alone in that thinking. The Malibu elicited many questions from co-workers — and it turned heads wherever it went. Its sleek lines evoke the 2008 Cadillac CTS. Subtly beveled sheetmetal and chrome trim reinforce the deception. This handsome car is a sharp contrast to the new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which seem dowdy by comparison.
Unlike previous Chevrolet interiors, which must've been targeted by GM accountants for cost-cutting, the Malibu boasts the same soft-touch surfaces, ambient lighting and expensive detailing seen in Asian rivals. The twin cockpit dashboard design recalls '60s-era Corvettes. A two-tone color scheme is carried throughout the cabin. The instrument panel is refreshingly simple, lacking the overload of buttons that plagues too many cars in this class.
The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive. The seat bottoms have good depth and thigh support. The rear seat is comfortably high off the floor, though it lacks a fold-down center armrest. Legroom is plentiful.
And there are little delights throughout, such as the rear power outlets, adjustable foot pedals, rear sunshade.
But the Malibu offers more than great styling and build quality. Underneath is a platform that exhibits equal finesse.
Malibu isn't a sports sedan, but it has enough agility to make the daily commute entertaining. Its personality is more like a European car. Yes, there's body roll during cornering, but it's offset by good grip. The car insolates occupants from road impacts without robbing the driver of road feel. Steering is responsive and precise. This Chevy's excellent balance between ride and handling is surprising for a family hauler.
Performance comes from two smooth engines. For fuel-economy fans, there's a 169-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine hooked to a four-speed automatic. It provides adequate power, but the power-hungry will want the 252-horse, double-overhead-cam 3.6-liter V-6. It comes with a six-speed automatic that can be shifted manually via steering-wheel paddles. The car reaches 60 mph in less than 7 seconds, and it returns good fuel economy. The V-6 test car had overall mileage of 24 mpg.
And it's very serene, with just a bit of road noise. The solitude can be banished with the AM/FM/XM/CD audio system.
The trunk is very deep, but not tall.
The car Chevrolet sent for testing was the top-of-the-line LTZ model. Standard equipment includes anti-lock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, 18-inch wheels, heated outside mirrors, heated leather seats; split folding rear seats, power adjustable foot pedals, tilt/telescopic steering wheel wrapped in leather, and remote starting.
GM is charging Wal-Mart prices for a product with Nordstrom elan.
.safercar.gov).
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ymalibu07.html