greenwad
greenwad
View My AgentPage

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, malibu hybrid, review, sedan

Tag Links: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, malibu hybrid, review, sedan

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Review
Saving the planet is a good idea, as long as we’re willing to make sacrifices or drastically change the way we live. The automobile has been targeted as a polluter, so we must either get rid of it or find new ways to get around without further hurting the environment. Hybrid vehicles are the craze right now, bridging the gap between gas-powered and electric vehicles

But hybrids are on another mission, it seems. Hollywood celebrities always buy the latest environmentally-friendly vehicles for driving down to the Oscars; nothing looks socially better than stepping out of a green car before walking down the red carpet. The Toyota Prius was a hot seller in that regard, although I’m sure these actors also have a Hummer parked in their driveway.

Now, GM is entering the hybrid market with a full-fledged attack. On the frontline are the Malibu as well as the Saturn Vue Green Line and Aura Green Line, and they’re supported by heavy artillery such as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Later, the Cadillac Escalade and GM’s full-size pickups will offer hybrid powertrains.

Simpler hybrid system
Without reading the brochure or press material on how the Malibu’s powetrain works, one would think it’s a cheaper setup than what you’ll find shoehorned in hybrid Camrys or Altimas. And, well, that’s pretty much what it is; small battery pack, no glitzy LCD screen with system operation diagrams, but a lot a Hybrid badging on the outside.

Unlike the Camry, you cannot drive the Malibu on battery power alone. The latter acts as a support to the 2.4-litre engine to lighten the load, thus improving fuel economy. You can consider it as a mild application of a hybrid setup. It also benefits from a stop/start feature when the car is immobilized at stoplights and such, and the whole kit is mated to a 4-speed automatic.

The end result, though, is not exactly impressive; the on-board computer is displaying an average of 8.6 L/100 km, and calculating my consumption the old-fashioned way gave me a result that’s a little higher than that.

With 164 horsepower on tap, the Malibu Hybrid’s straight-line performance is not the car’s top priority, of course. But we managed a respectable 0-100 km/h time of 10.6 seconds, while the quarter-mile mark is reached in 17.4 seconds at 132 km/h. Read Article
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Review



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 8/19/2008 1:42:30 PM
+8 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
the malibu is certainly the best looking car in this class..ugly far from...the camry looks bloated, and oddly proportioned

reply to this comment
BoredBored - 8/19/2008 7:21:31 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
@ MT,

WTF is wrong with you?
I've avoided calling you a troll for the past 4-6 wks because I'd noticed that you've put more of an effort to have more balance in your comments by positively acknowledging competing manufacturers while maintaining your undying love for Toyota.

I thought you had finally got it. Only a worthless excuse for life desperate for attention would assume that blatant bias would get them noticed. That's what amazinBimmer does. Personally, I've enjoyed what I've thought to be the new "you" and have only wanted to complement your comments instead of what I normally do to troll with public insults and humiliation.

Most people prefer to ignore trolls. If prefer to deal with issues head-on. Both ways offer a temporary fix, but only the latter can lead to a permanent solution. So what I'm saying is "don't force my hand".

Anyway, the Camry is has always been dull, boring and uninspiring when it comes to looks and performance. That said, I would never call any generation of the Camry ugly and it has been a top seller for years, easily trumping my (and countless others) perception of it. Chevy tried that approach for the past 2 generations of the Malibu sedan and failed miserably. Now they have a hit. Not only is it not ugly but if it had a Toyota badge on it, you would never shut up about it.



reply to this comment
Agent63Agent63 - 8/19/2008 7:55:10 PMView My AgentSpace
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Why the Camry? because you drive one? LOL

reply to this comment
CRS2112CRS2112 - 8/19/2008 9:25:09 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I can't get past the rear lights. Other then that I like the looks of the car.

reply to this comment
delandelan - 8/19/2008 1:36:43 PMView My AgentSpace
+6 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I disagree! The Malibu is far from ugly, and in my opinion is the best in class from any of the big 3 offerings.

reply to this comment
bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 8/19/2008 1:56:40 PM
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
lol ok, whatever that means....

reply to this comment
WhelanWhelan - 8/19/2008 3:11:21 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I love the new Malibu, its a hot looking car that looks much classier than the Camry and Accord, is better proportioned, and would lineup next to the Altima in my top two out of the 4 (not counting the upcoming Mazda 6 which is finally in the same size class). And Fusion is left out cause it just sucks, give me a Mondeo and we can talk.



reply to this comment
olscuulolscuul - 8/19/2008 7:05:19 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
such a smart guy. what kind of fuel mileage did the malibu reviewer get?


CRS2112CRS2112 - 8/19/2008 8:06:03 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Don't most mags rate the Fusion higher then the Malibu?? None are in the top but I usually see the Fusion around 4 and the Malibu around 6/7 place.

I bought my wife a 2008 Fusion cause she just doesn't care. I could have bought here a used Fiero and should would have been happy.

Since I do the most commuting - I have sort of inherited when I drive into work. I really only have two complaints.

1. The interior is just terrible - as most american cars are
2. The transmission is not very smooth - seems to hang at high rpms

Other then that - the car is not all that bad. Certainly not going win any performance awards - but as a people mover - it does it's job.




mr3speedmr3speed - 8/19/2008 7:21:20 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
i love the new malibu but the new fusion hybrid is going to kill it in feul economy

reply to this comment
DrFill2009DrFill2009 - 8/19/2008 9:42:16 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The Malibu AND Camry are good-looking cars.
The Camry is just a MUCH better hybrid.
MUCH faster and MUCH more efficient.
Expect 0-60 in sub-8sec and 33-35 MPG
DrFill

reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
The Genesis is stealing sales, but from who?Maserati MC Sport Line Package for the GranTurismoProduction 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid RevealedUAW Feels The Heat And Suspends Job Bank And Delays Trust Payments Until 2010The All New Mazda3 5 Door Hatch Debuts In BolognaDoes It Have What It Takes To Be At The Top? The 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet - Quick Reference GuideOut of Time, Out of Money, Out of Options GM Spirals Into The AbyssPorsche Panamera Tuned by 9ff and Russian firm's Top Car and CardiBreaking: 2009 BMW Z4 UnveiledVolkswagen Scirocco Studie R Concept unveiled in BolognaAll-New Mazda3 Hatch Unveiled at Bologna Motor ShowDetroit's Big 3 request totals $34 billionMichelin presents Active Wheel systemAudi anticipates record sales in 2008Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback to feature Ralliart and GTS EditionsNovember Luxury Car Sales - Is Infiniti ready for a flagship?UPDATED: First Audi A5/S5 Convertible Photos- STUDS or DUDS? Why No Hardtop?V8 Car Cookout: Bratwurst (Audi S5), Beef Teriyaki (Lexus IS-F) or Bacon Cheeseburgers (Challenger SRT-8)?GM Says It Will Sacrific SAAB, Saturn, Hummer, And Hobble Pontiac For Federal FundsNissan Sales Sour By 44.4% In November: Infiniti Drops 28.0% UPDATED: Audi Sales Ends The Free Ride By Skidding 25.4% In NovemberDETROIT AUTO SHOW: Audi Flexes It's Muscle And Is Set To Debut V10 R8 Sports-CarHonda Civic sales down nearly 30%, Toyota Highlander sales up nearly 50%Chrysler Outpaces GM To The Bottom Of The Heap: November Sales Fall 47%Ford Asks Congress For $9 Billion In Stand By Credit But Has No Plans To Use ItGM Sales Out Does Them All In A Bad Way: Sales Implode 41.3% In November2010 Nissan GT-R Spec V Reportedly Will Cost $160,000 but Not Get More hpJaguar and Land Rover in Big Trouble as Tata on the BubbleMercedes Benz Sales Crumble 38.2% In NovemberMazda Sales Tank 31.3% For NovemberHyundai Makes Everyone Else Look Good In November By Falling 40%Porsche and BMW to Halt Production Honda Sales Falter 30.6% In November: Acura Freefalls 38.9%The World Bids Farewell to the YugoBMW Sales Plummet 36.1% Mini Sales Explode 43.1% In NovemberGM Ceases All Corporate Jet Flights: To Sell Remaining JetsToyota Sales Spiral In November Down 33.9%: Lexus Basement Bound Down 34.7%FOMOCO Sales Continue To Flatline: Down 30.6% In NovemberVolkswagen Finally Fumbles In 2008: November Sales Drop 19.2%Japanese and South Korean Car Sales Plummet in NovemberComparison Test: 2008 BMW M5 vs. 2009 Cadillac CTS-V vs. 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63The Big Three Bailout According to SNLNissan 370Z goes from 0 to 60 in the same time as the BMW M3Mulally chooses Escape Hybrid for D.C. road tripFisker to unveil production Karma Hybrid in DetroitToyota Halts Production And Cuts Management Bonuses To Maintain Positive CashflowChrysler says 2011 Charger and 300 will pass fuel-economy standards2009 GMC Yukon XL DenaliFORD CEO Alan Mulally Will Drive to Washington D.C. To BEG For Money - But What Car Will He Drive To D.C.? His Lexus, OR Perhaps Maybe a Ford Product?Industry Sales Likely To Be Down 28% In November GM May Fare Worse