Chevy Delivers on the Hype

By Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit Email
Date posted: 11-01-2007


Here's the short answer on the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: It's good.

After almost a year's worth of buildup and anticipation, we have now driven the new Malibu. So the time has finally come to pass judgment.

You'll forgive us if we were a bit skeptical about the vehicle that GM's car khan Bob Lutz calls "one of the most important in 100 years for Chevy." We've been through this more than a couple times with domestic carmakers, a sequence of over-promise and under-delivery followed by over-promise on the next generation, and so forth and so on.

And so it is with considerable relief that we report that Chevy has broadly hit its mark with the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

Talking the Talk
This might sound remarkable, but the most notable thing about Chevy's presentation of the '08 Malibu is its stark assessment of the company's past performance with this model. Consider this sampling of honesty from GM executives:

"We'll take on the quality challenge which we've avoided in the past."

"It's going to take an extensive amount of time to get it [changing consumer perceptions] done."

"We came to work every day humble, with our heads down."

You might think that it would be difficult to not acknowledge the failings of its recent past, given how Honda, Nissan, Toyota and other players including Hyundai have absolutely eaten Chevy's lunch for the past couple of decades. But trust us, we've seen them attempt to swerve, duck and leap around that 800-pound gorilla before.

Speak Quietly
Chevy is taking a fairly sensible approach with the Malibu. The company has defined a couple of areas where it believes the Malibu can be best-in-class and has devoted human and financial resources to achieve it. According to Chevy, these areas include styling and the control of noise, vibration and harshness.

Repeated viewings of the car over the last year have drained some of the drama out of the Malibu's new look. But the car is smoothly handsome and free of styling gimmicks, which bodes well for its long-term appeal. And it has none of the self-conscious oddness of recent Honda and Toyota designs. At the very least, few potential customers will be put off by the new Malibu's look.

But styling is a largely subjective matter. Noise, vibration and harshness are far less so. Chevy spent the money to use quiet laminated glass for the windshield and the front-seat windows to reduce wind noise in the Malibu's cabin. The company specified spray-on acoustic insulation and composite liners within the wheel wells to reduce road noise. And more sound deadening at the dash and tighter orifices in the firewall reduce the amount of engine noise that can leak into the cabin.

Special attention went into controlling the honking ruckus that intake air makes while entering the standard 169-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4, which Chevy anticipates will power 70 percent of all the Malibu models sold. Incoming air encounters nine tuners and resonators before reaching the engine. The effect is, well, the absence of vice. The engine seems smoother and the average driver is probably more likely to keep his foot on the gas because the engine doesn't sound like it's eating itself. Meanwhile the optional 252-hp V6 is so smooth and sonorous that it feels plenty powerful mated to the standard six-speed automatic, even though it's not the most powerful V6 in its class.

Careful tuning of the Malibu's engine mounts also quells much of the vibration that would otherwise come zinging through the steering column and unibody. Whether you're in a Malibu four or V6, the car feels serene. This lends the Malibu a perceived quality that is worth whatever GM paid to get it done. (Naturally, the company won't say how much that might be.)

Welcome to Pleasantville
The new Malibu shares the same basic chassis as the well-received Saturn Aura, and this means the expected MacPherson strut front suspension and multilink independent rear. It differs from the Aura only in tuning, really. Chevrolet says it used a new tuning philosophy for the Malibu, and as far as we can tell, this means the car now slots between the mushy Camry and the sporty Accord.

For now, we've only driven the Malibu on smooth roads in Tennessee and Mississippi. Still, we feel comfortable saying Chevy has achieved its target here. The Malibu's big body (it rides on a 112.3-inch wheelbase that's the longest in its class) feels well-controlled over low-frequency undulations. It does not float. It does not bounce. The Malibu will not goad its operator into pushing the car to the outer limits of its performance envelope, but its high-speed cornering and general deportment is poised and confidence-inspiring.

The Malibu makes for an excellent highway cruiser. Sharper suspension inputs from things such as tar strips are not absorbed entirely but are largely heard as a light "thwack" rather than felt. Front and rear seat passengers will have little to complain about in terms of ride quality.

Our only major quibble with the Malibu's dynamic package is its steering. Models with the four-cylinder engine feature electrically assisted steering, which has a short and ugly history at GM. (We're still trying to cleanse our memory of any recollection of the first-generation Saturn Vue.) Models with the V6 use conventional hydraulic assist. Neither is very good.

The electric assist feels less artificial than it used to, and GM should get some credit for that. But neither system feels natural or linear in the way, say, a Honda Accord's steering does. The Malibu's steering wheel feels dead on-center and then seems to abruptly come to life as you begin your turn. This might not be a deal-breaker for consumers, but it might be for people like us who like to drive.

The Story Inside
Passengers won't have a whole lot to complain about in terms of interior accoutrements. This Chevrolet sedan actually has a pretty nice interior. The dual-cowl architecture is a great improvement over the passionless previous interior. It also appears to be assembled with care.

Overall the new interior is attractive and cosseting, and it's even available in two-tone combinations with sassy names such as Brick, Cashmere and Cocoa. And they actually look pretty good. In the class, only the Accord's interior really stands clearly above the Malibu's effort, while the Camry shows evidence of Toyota's cost-consciousness and is certainly no better in terms of either design consistency or materials quality.

The Malibu's instrumentation and controls are clear and sensibly laid out, and there's plenty of room in the cabin both front and rear. We wish GM could figure out a way to make passenger grab handles compatible with the car's standard side curtain airbags. And we think it's a mistake on GM's part not to offer a navigation system. The company believes that OnStar (standard for every Malibu) and its turn-by-turn navigation is a good substitute. It's not. We tried it on our drive and found that at first it wouldn't work at all. Then it did work after awhile, but we kept a map at the ready because we had no faith in it.

The Heart of the, Um, Beast
The Malibu's powertrain offerings are par for the class. The 2.4-liter inline-4 is standard for all three trim lines, and its 169 hp and 160 lb-ft of torque put it squarely in the middle of the output range of the competition's offerings. Chevy's optional 24-valve 3.6-liter V6 makes a credible 252 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. That's less than the big three Japanese-brand sedans but more than the Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata can muster.

Despite a standard six-speed automatic, the V6-equipped Malibu returns fuel economy figures of 17 mpg city and 26 highway — a couple of mpg worse than its competitors. Possibly this is due in part to the Malibu's heft. At 3,649 pounds, the Malibu V6 is the fat kid of the group.

Even so, the Malibu four returns fuel economy of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway, which is competitive in its class. This fuel economy number is an estimate based on the four-cylinder mated with the four-speed automatic. Next spring, the four-cylinder will be offered with a six-speed automatic, which should improve the fuel economy numbers as well as the driving experience.

As it is, the four gear ratios in the current transmission feel too widely spaced and not capable of keeping the inline-4 in its power band. For now, we recommend the V6.

The Malibu will also be offered with the same mild-hybrid powertrain as the Saturn Aura Green Line and should return 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The electric motor adds only 6-7 horsepower to the gas engine under heavy load, so it's basically a four-cylinder car with an idle shut-off feature. It doesn't seem like a lot of efficiency improvement considering the $1,800 price premium over the standard car. Of course, the substantial federal tax break reduces the added cost of the hybrid to about $500 more.

Happy Crashing!
If you're the kind of driver who runs into things, you'll be happy to know that the Malibu will cover virtually the entire interior with inflatable bags.

Front and rear head curtain side-impact bags and front-seat-mounted thorax bags are standard, along with dual-stage front bags. Standard ABS and traction control along with electronic stability control (standard on the Malibu LT and Malibu LTZ models) are there to prevent impromptu testing of any of those airbags.

There isn't a competitor that offers a better allotment of standard safety features.

Furnishings and Financials
The base-level $19,995 LS comes with 16-inch wheels, the above-mentioned safety gear and XM Satellite Radio. The LT version adds 17-inch wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips and drive shift control. The full-zoot LTZ adds 18-inch wheels, LED taillamps and foglamps. It starts at $26,995. The Malibu Hybrid carries a $22,790 base price. Even though the new car starts a couple thousand dollars higher than the outgoing model, the 2008 Malibu is competitively priced.

So the Malibu is good. Let's hope it's the beginning of a long sustained effort to regain and retain a competitive position in the midsize market for Chevy, and in passenger cars generally.

For now, Chevy is talking the right talk and has made its first step in a long walk.

What a Difference a Year Makes

By Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
Date posted: 12-09-2007


Whether you call them bread-and-butter cars or mainstreamers, one thing's for certain: The four automobiles we've assembled here — the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry — truly represent America's top models. Forget hotcakes, because midsize sedans sell like iPods.

True, the volume sellers are entry-level variants equipped with four-cylinder engines and rudimentary appointments. But for those families with the means, a slice of luxury to go with a main dish of practicality makes the whole sedan meal a lot more appetizing. And what's more appealing than a smooth, powerful V6 and a host of amenities?

Each of the four entrants chosen for our comparison test represents the highest available trim level, and each is also packed with nearly every available option and an overachieving V6 power plant driving the front wheels. Heck, the least powerful engine in this test churns out 252 horsepower, a figure that was unheard of in the mainstream sedan world not long ago.

When we last rounded up V6-powered family sedans in March 2006, the 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6 came out on top, granting it an instant ticket to this year's face-off. But the competition is much different now, and its rivals this time around include the Nissan Altima, wholly redesigned in 2007, and all-new 2008 versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord.

We offered up two of our long-term test cars for this comparison test, a 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE and a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with Navigation. The Altima is equipped with a $6,400 technology package which requires a $900 stability control package, plus a $130 set of splash guards. Honda's option strategy is a bit tricky, as the company simply offers several trim levels with increasing levels of standard equipment. For example, our Accord EX-L with Navigation is equipped with no options yet carries XM satellite radio, leather, premium audio, dual-zone HVAC and navigation as "standard."

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ in this comparison test, optioned only with a $250 Rear Power Package, is so new that it was driven to our office straight from the model's introduction to the media. All three sedans faced off against a 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6, this time optioned with a $1,200 navigation package, a $650 stability control option, a $450 smart key system, $440 worth of heated front seats and a $199 carpet/trunk mat set.

The as-tested prices of the vehicles range from a low of $27,245 for the Malibu to a high of $32,545 for the Altima. As comprehensively equipped as these midsizers are, they aren't luxury sedans, so value counts for a lot. Price alone accounts for 25 percent of each car's final score, with feature content responsible for another 20 percent.

4th Place: 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6
Kapow! The Camry, the clear winner of our last comparison test for V6 sedans, has been blown off by its newly refurbished rivals. Though it finishes in last place, the Camry remains well-equipped and powerful, but it's simply been leapfrogged by a new generation of competitors, largely because of driving dynamics.

And we're not just referring to driving on the ragged edge like some hooligan either. Even in routine driving, the Camry's soft ride and deliberate chassis responses make it feel poorly controlled, as if it's wallowing down the road. Similarly, the Camry's steering is reasonably precise, yet it feels almost completely numb. The result is a limp driving character that seems even more pronounced in contrast to the far more engaging personalities of its rivals. The Malibu in particular demonstrates that body control and a compliant ride are not mutually exclusive.

Then you floor the throttle and the Camry aims to erase these impressions, flinging itself to the quarter-mile mark in 14.9 seconds at 96.4 mph, quicker and faster than any other car in this test. Its 268-hp V6 and six-speed automatic combine to deliver a sweet powertrain, with plenty of power everywhere in the rev range and a willingness to flex its muscles even during routine driving. Several times we found ourselves remarking that the Camry's chassis is almost comically overshadowed by the refined performance of this V6.

Front headroom is tight for anyone taller than 6 feet, but the Camry XLE's backseat accommodations are pretty luxurious. There is plenty of space, plus contoured seats that recline, a feature not found in any of the other sedans. Unfortunately, this design forces the deletion of the 60/40-split-folding function, and there's just a small pass-through into the trunk. Lesser trim levels of the Camry offer a split-folding seat, so you can decide whether your priority is passenger accommodation or available cargo volume.

The build quality of our Camry test car trailed the others, and we noted more inconsistent interior panel gaps and interior squeaks and rattles than we'd expect from a car with fewer than 11,000 miles. The equipment level of this XLE model is fairly high, but it also results in the second highest as-tested price of $31,619, which proves to be yet another factor that weighs against it in the final analysis.

Time has marched on, and what was outstanding a year ago is merely good today.

3rd Place: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
The 2008 Malibu has literally entered the big time. Riding on a longer wheelbase and weighing more than any of its rivals, the 2008 Malibu has stepped up both its size and its game. As if to underscore its arrival, the big Chevy's presence is graced with distinctively elegant styling.

At the same time, there are practical compromises forced by the Malibu's style. The small greenhouse and thick C-pillars noticeably compromise outward visibility and impart a less spacious feel to the cabin. Meanwhile, the high-bustle tail has the highest trunk liftover height in our test. On the plus side, the Malibu's deck lid has scissor-type hinges that don't intrude on trunk space at all, unlike the gooseneck hinges on the other cars.

Though our opinions about the interior color scheme of this Malibu LTZ were sharply divided, we all agree that the interior itself simultaneously impresses and frustrates. The Malibu's dashboard is impeccably fitted, yet the black plastic pieces look cheap. And if you're looking for dual-zone HVAC, Bluetooth compatibility, and keyless ignition, you won't find them in the Malibu, as this car's cost-conscious character means they can't even be found on the options list. However, OnStar is standard on the Malibu, a feature no other car in this comparison offers.

Freeway cruises are a treat in the Malibu, as it's extremely quiet and quells wind noise better than any other car in our test. The front seats were universally lauded as the best in this bunch thanks to a first-rate combination of both comfort and support. By contrast, the rear seat offers the least amount of useful space and the fewest frills of all the cars here. Rear headroom is snug, the seat cushions are flat and there's no flip-down center armrest. (The Malibu is the only car here without one.)

On the dynamic front, the Malibu's steering lacks feel, yet the effort loads up nicely in a corner and matches the well-controlled body motions. In fact, the Malibu sports the best compromise between ride and handling in our test, admirably dispensing with road harshness while still maintaining composure on winding bits of pavement. Moreover, the Malibu's brakes have plenty of stopping power, and this car turns in the shortest stopping distance from 60 mph.

The Malibu ties the Camry in the sprint to 60 mph and posts the second-quickest quarter-mile time thanks to the solid traction available when it's launched hard. The Chevy's trap speed in the quarter-mile reflects a power deficit in this comparison, yet 252 hp and 251 pound-feet of torque from the 3.6-liter DOHC V6 ensure the Malibu never feels lacking for oomph when the throttle pedal meets the carpet.

The Malibu's six-speed automatic transmission garners some black marks from us due to its lazy part-throttle calibration, which dulls the engine's potency. Top gear is summoned at every opportunity, and the gearbox doggedly refuses to downshift in a timely fashion. This is clearly a measure to enhance fuel economy, yet it also gives the car a sluggish disposition around town despite the V6's respectably broad power band.

With a $27,245 as-tested price that undercuts its competition, the Malibu has a head start in our test scoring, but a relative lack of equipment and indifferent evaluation scores ultimately place it midpack. These shortcomings aside, the Malibu is a stylish, impressive car that commands attention and also deserves it.

2nd Place: 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE
Of all the sedans tested here, the Nissan Altima is the most sporting of the bunch. Not just because it blasts past the competition with a 67.3-mph pass through the slalom, but also because it feels just right through the controls. Thanks to the weight of the steering effort and character of the response, the action and feel of the brake pedal, and the suspension's firm control of body motion, the Altima speaks more clearly to enthusiasts than any other car here.

At the same time, you don't have to be a car nut to appreciate the benefits of a communicative driving experience. The more attuned a driver is to a vehicle, the more confidence he will have behind the wheel. And as far as we're concerned, safety begins with confidence.

Stiff tire sidewalls and firm damping contribute to the Nissan's precise character on the road, but they also produce a choppy ride, and this is the downside to the Altima's sporty bent. In addition, this is the only car in our test that recommends the use of premium fuel — the others drink regular, which can add up to real savings in the long run.

Nissan's 270-hp 3.5-liter V6 has received accolades for years, and it remains a terrific all-around performer. The big surprise this time is that the Altima's continuously variable transmission (CVT) reaps the highest scores of any gearbox in our test.

This CVT behaves as if it's been hard-wired into the mind of the driver, as its ability to know when to let 'er rip and when to dial things back is completely uncanny. The CVT also helps lend the Altima a far more eager disposition than the quicker-by-the-clock Malibu. And we love the CVT's refined yet super-quick manual-mode shift program.

Broad, flat front seats are a glaring flaw in the Altima's driver-oriented mission, as they don't provide the support that's necessary. Backseat passengers fare better, though headroom is lacking. The surroundings in either situation are of high quality, if on the austere side.

If you want features, the Altima is the car for you. Armed with a back-up camera, dual-zone HVAC, a keyless ignition system, DVD-based navigation, sunroof and Bluetooth, our Altima is the most comprehensively equipped sedan here.

You pay for all this, though. At $32,545 as-tested, the Altima is the most expensive car of the bunch, a factor that takes a toll on the car's final placement in this comparison. And be aware that the Altima's options are clustered into expensive packages rather than being available à la carte.

1st Place: 2008 Honda Accord EX-L
The 2008 Accord isn't the cheapest, fastest or most feature-laden car in our comparison. But if you're familiar with the Goldilocks effect, you already know how the Accord came to finish in 1st place.

The Accord is a full 2.4 inches wider than the Malibu and devotes all of this to interior space, and the result is a notable impression of spaciousness combined with excellent visibility. Rear seat passengers are likewise treated very well, with ample thigh support and space easily sufficient for 6-footers during long road trips. There are also more useful storage bins and little nooks than in the other cars in this comparison.

The quality of the materials is best in class. And since there are few of the usual chrome-plated bits masquerading as style items, the number of distracting reflections is kept to an absolute minimum. One area of the interior that could use some more work is the busy collection of buttons on the Accord's center stack. They're large and clearly labeled, but there are just too many of them lined up like bathroom tiles. On the other hand, the interface for the Accord EX-L's navigation system is the most intuitive to use by far, and there's thankfully no touchscreen to accumulate smeared fingerprints.

Though it has a large cabin, the Accord doesn't drive like a large car. Its steering manages to be quick and communicative right around center, and this helps make the driving experience feel natural and intuitive. As it goes down the road, the Accord responds to surface imperfections with crisp suspension action that has just enough compliance to minimize complaints from the passengers, yet keep the driver in touch with reality. At the same time, we'll acknowledge that the Accord does feel a little too busy over some pocks and bumps, so the Honda engineers still have something to fuss over.

Acceleration from the Accord's mannerly 3.5-liter SOHC V6 trails the pack on paper, since midrange grunt is not this engine's strong suit. Nevertheless, the Accord manages to squirt through the urban jungle with respectable speed thanks in large part to its cooperative five-speed transmission. Though the competition has adopted six-speed transmissions, Honda's five-speed manages to overcome its disadvantage with smart calibration and quick shift action. You won't miss the extra gear while climbing hills, since the transmission's excellent grade logic makes for frustration-free ascents.

This V6 also incorporates cylinder deactivation, a system that promises to improve fuel economy, and it's easier to feel the transition between the system's modes than we'd hoped. Nevertheless, the Accord's EPA fuel economy estimates of 19 city/29 highway are the best in this group (once the 2007 models are adjusted to the 2008 EPA standards), and we're curious to see if the expected gains will materialize during our extended test of this long-term car. So far we've seen an average of 22.8 mpg over 2,200 miles, just slightly better than the 21.2 mpg over 18,575 miles recorded by our long-term Altima.

Chart-topping evaluation scores and strong feature content at the second-lowest price in our test give the Accord the edge. And this reflects the wave of progress in this class of family sedans. Though these cars are not Camry-like in detail, they share the Camry's overall spirit of well-equipped quality, a measure of luxury in the family sedan world. The Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry have now left behind any overtones of down-size cheapness and embraced a new spirit of full-size sophistication.