At last, a General Motors product with buzz. What is this world coming
to?
The all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is a bona fide head-turner. It has
been a hot seller out of the box and has even received hype from
national and international automotive media.
What’s not to like. The new Malibu delivers great performance, fuel
economy and refinement, wrapped in a clean, tailored design that carries
the global face of Chevrolet. The lineup of detailed, well-appointed and
efficient models includes the LS, LT, LTZ and Hybrid.
I drove both the LT and LTZ models and can confirm that praise for the
new Malibu is warranted.
The 2008 Malibu is a stylish, value-packed car that stacks up against
the most popular competitors without compromise. With a teaser sticker
set just below the $20,000 threshold for the base model, this car has
been flying off dealer showrooms with surprising frequency.
Designers focused on the attributes that matter most to midsize car
buyers such as families and commuters, and loaded the new Malibu with
standard features many competitors don’t offer at any price.
My top-of-the-line LTZ was equipped with a powerful and fuel-efficient
3.6-liter DOHC six-cylinder engine with variable valve timing that
generates 252 horsepower. Its mate is a six-speed automatic
transmission. There’s enough room to accommodate five adults in comfort,
and the EPA rating is 17 mpg city, 26 highway.
On the road, a wheels-at-the corner stance and rigid body structure
provide a controlled and confident driving experience. The four-wheel
independent suspension system has a MacPherson strut front suspension
design and multilink rear suspension, to provide the best balance of
responsiveness and smoothness.
Malibu’s combination of power, performance and size allows buyers with
families to experience a little bit of fun packaged with the function
necessary to make this car a viable option.
And Malibu is tough. During a recent softball practice, my tester’s
front passenger window was the recipient of an errant throw while my
wife was minding her own business, reading. The safety glass broke, but
did not shatter, sparing my lovely bride’s movie star good looks for
another day. Whew.
Standard equipment on all models includes anti-lock brakes, traction
control, XM satellite radio, StabiliTrak stability control, head curtain
side airbags and front-seat thorax airbags. A number of equipment
packages are also available and include features such as
power-adjustable pedals, premium seating, upgraded interiors, power
equipment groups and a deluxe audio system.
Among the added standard features on the LTZ model are remote vehicle
start, TAPshift manual shift control, premium eight-speaker stereo
system, and 18-inch ultra-bright aluminum polished wheels. A sunroof is
available on LT and LTZ.
Malibu’s interior is exceptionally quiet. Along with the robust chassis,
which minimizes vibration and noise, the body construction uses
noise-reducing materials, such as liquid spray-on sound deadener and
composite wheel liners, to provide one of the most refined rides in this
market segment.
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