Chevrolet’s 2008 Malibu drives to the head of its class

Chevrolet’s 2008 Malibu drives to the head of its class

2008 Chevrolet Malibu
By: Jim Robinson

MORRO BAY, Ca.: Finally a Chevrolet Malibu that can go head-to-head with Camry and Accord. When Chevy brought back the mid-size Malibu in 1997 they did what seemed the right thing to do at the time. Looking at what was attracting North American buyers to Accord and Camry, Chevrolet assumed (rightly as it turned out) that people in the U.S. wanted refrigerator-like dependability, good fuel mileage and contemporary, but not standout, styling. In other words, GM concluded that solid and stolid was good.

Problem was Honda and Toyota had moved on with style coming to the fore. The best example is the new Camry that looks good from any angle not to mention the luscious lines of the new Accord Coupe. Ergo the previous Malibu became about as attractive as a bowl of cold soup.

But back in Detroit, GM that once was the world leader in terms of car styling, had rediscovered its design roots starting with the Cadillac CTS not to mention the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, two of most handsome cars from any manufacturer. One of the best looking vehicles on the road, in my opinion, is the current Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra light truck because it looks so purposeful without a lot of embellishment.

So Chevy took apart its two main rivals with the objective of matching or bettering them on cost and looks, while ladling in more standard equipment per trim level.

At the recent launch of the 2008 Malibu, GM Canada had a whole set of comparisons showing how they were offering more for less to make sure we journos didn’t miss the point.

All Malibus come equipped with ABS, traction control, tire pressure monitor, six standard airbags and StabiliTrac (GM’s version of pitch and yaw control) on all but the base version.

Malibu also comes with OnStar with the Directions and Connections feature. Directions provides turn-by-turn voice and monitor screen directions to anywhere. Instead of having to punch in directions (assuming you can figure out how) into an onboard or aftermarket GPS device, you just press the OnStar button and a live person comes on the car’s speakerphone. All you do is give the address and the directions are fed into the car. You don’t have to worry about out of date DVD maps, OnStar is always up to the minute.

In my case, I was trying to find the hotel I was staying at but didn’t have the exact address. Working with just the hotel name, OnStar took me to the door.

The other thing is the Connections part that is a hands-free, voice-activated telephone. Halted because of a crash on California Highway 1, I was able to call ahead and advise GM I would be late just by pressing the telephone icon button and saying out loud “dial”. I also phoned my wife just if see if the long distance worked, and it did.

The 2008 Malibu will be offered in four models with three engines. The base Malibu LS has a starting price of $22,995. The LT package begins at $24,895 and the top of the line LTZ comes in at $33,610. In addition, the Malibu Hybrid model at $26,995 is the most affordable hybrid system on the market.  

Malibu offers two punchy yet fuel-efficient dual overhead cam engines, including a standard 169 hp (160 lb/ft of torque) 2.4-litre Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine that delivers 9.6L/100 km in the city and 6.5L/100 km on the highway. The topline engine is a 252 hp (251 lb/ft)) 3.6-litre DOHC V6 with variable valve timing that delivers 12.2L/100 km in the city and 7.8 L/100 on the highway. The Malibu Hybrid model is powered by a 2.4-litre Ecotec engine/electric motor (164 hp, 159 lb/ft) and achieves 8.5L/100km in the city and 6.2L/100 on the highway.

Right now the four-cylinder engines have a four-speed automatic and the V6 has a six-speed automatic. In the new year, the topline LTZ will be available with a four-cylinder engine in addition to the six-speed automatic making that a first in the mid-size segment and something long-distance commuters should love because it combines all the amenities of a luxury car with frugal gas consumption.

The new Malibu uses the same world platform and suspension setup as the Saturn Aura; the same car was named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit auto show. Derived from GM’s Opel Division in Germany, this car has the same taut ride and positive handling that one expects from German sports sedans.

Visually, the new Malibu looks more substantial than the previous model, with the Chevy bowtie logo integrated nicely into the new “family” one-bar grille. Interestingly, there are no less than 12 bowties on the exterior, some obvious, others small and discreet like on the headlight bulb reflectors.

In terms of everyday ride, it is a night and day improvement over the previous model. I mean here is a Malibu that likes to be put through its paces and I did on California’s Pacific Coast Highway with its endless twists and turns and breathtaking scenery.

With the longer and wider wheelbase, on California superhighways that are up to six lanes wide with surfaces varying from billiard table to pothole city, the Malibu soaked up everything it came across.

There are so many cars on the road there driven by people of a wide range of ability and attention spans that agility is a must. Being able to change a lane suddenly to avoid some jerk cutting across four lanes of traffic to get to an onramp is a necessity, and the Malibu was up to the challenge.

The interior of the Malibu, especially the LTZ with its wood trim accents, is a very pleasant place to be and a whole lot more inviting that the rental car look of the previous model. The instrument panel (IP) gives a hint of its European heritage due to its Opel DNA, but is not as “Euro” as the IP in the Saturn Astra I drove during the same event.

The front seat has a generous travel but when placed all the way back for long-legged drivers and the more portly (I’m the latter), it puts the seat directly behind the B-pillar. In terms of safety, it’s about as good as it gets. But if you sit well back, it means dragging your butt across the B-pillar. Oddly it’s awkward getting in, but not out, something I also noticed on the Saturn Aura, which has the identical cabin layout.

But on the whole, I definitely preferred the B-pillar between those California crazies and me.

I also briefly drove the hybrid that is a “mild” hybrid in that it can’t run on battery power alone. But GM figures that in urban use, the hybrid is good for an up to 20 per cent improvement in mileage because it turns itself off when stopped.

A “full” hybrid does get 50 per cent and better fuel economy but is about $5,000-$8,000 more expensive. One has to decide if he/she will save more than the purchase price over the life of his/her full hybrid.

The only difference I could find in terms of ride and handling between the hybrid and the stock four-cylinder LS was getting used to the engine stopping at rest and coming back to life when the brake was released.

As always, a day with the car is not real road test, so I will book the car early next year and get some serious seat time.

But for now, the Malibu has gone from a follower to a leader in the mid-size sedan segment.

CHEVROLET MALIBU 2008 AT A GLANCE

• BODY STYLE: Mid-size sedan.
• DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel-drive
• ENGINE: 2.4-litre, DOHC inline four-cylinder (169 hp, 160 lb/ft); 3.6-litre DOHC V6  (252 hp, 251 lb/ft); 2.4-litre gasoline engine/electric motor (164 hp, 159 lb/ft combined).
• FUEL ECONOMY: 2.4-litre, 9.6/6.5/8.2L/100 km city/highway/combined; 3.6-litre 12.2/7.8/10.2L/100 km; 2.4-litre hybrid, 8.5/6.2/7.5L/ 100 km.  
• PRICE: Base LS, $22,995; 1LT, $24,895;LTZ,$33,610; Malibu Hybrid,$26,995.
• WEBSITE: gmcanada.ca.

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