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It Was a Long Way to Malibu
Malibu is a lofty name for a car, given the beachside colony’s luster. Chevy has used the name since the mid-1960s, except for a 14 year hiatus ending in 1997. The automaker hasn’t always produced a car with the gleam of Hollywood’s “suburb.” The fourth generation was downright tarnished. While its competitors V-6 engines put out 200 horsepower, the Chevy’s rating was a 155 – about the same as the Accord’s four-cylinder. While it looked OK, the interior was cheap and over all the finish was worse. For example: Sharp edges of sheet metal on the upper corner of the driver’s door that could rip a shirt sleeve or tear flesh. The generation that followed was an improvement, but dull.
With this generation, Chevy wiped the slate clean and built a car that shines among its competitors. Attractive outside and in, well finished and with plenty of power, the Malibu is a pleasure to drive. The interior plastics could be better, but hardly falls so short that it handicaps the car in any way. The six-speed transmission works well in automatic mode and makes for an entertaining drive in manual shift mode. It takes some finesse to get a smooth shift, which is typical of many manual-mode automatics. Once you get the hang of it, the car responds with a healthy dose of acceleration, thanks to the 252 horsepower V-6. Fuel economy has been about 20 mpg, right inline with the EPA’s combined rating. In comparison, the 2008 Honda Accord has a combined rating of 22 mpg. Not enough difference to quibble over.
It’s only a few short years ago that Chevy had little other than the Corvette to offer. With this car, the automaker has come a long way. All the way from nowhere to Malibu.
Bob Beamesderfer
MyRide.com Road Test Editor
Photo credit: GM
Whew!
As the introductory event attendee, I was the first person on staff to have any significant wheel time in the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. I came away impressed, very impressed in fact, proclaiming that the new ‘Bu debuted at the top of its class.
Still, I had a little nagging doubt. With so many disappointments in its past, could GM have really hit such a convincing home run? Had I just drank too deeply of the Chevrolet Kool-Aid? Caught a case of first-drive fever? It happens sometimes, and even though some of us like to think we’re immune, once in a while a car that impresses on the unfamiliar roads used on a first-drive event winds up unsatisfactory once you get it home.
But hey, I’m a card-carrying Professional Automotive Journalist, right? I’ve been doing this for years. Besides, I drove my very own previous-generation Honda Accord – the 2008 Malibu’s primary benchmark – to the airport earlier that day. “Nah,” I thought, brushing aside the self-doubt. “The Malibu’s just really that good.”
(I think.)
Anyhow, out in our parking lot at MyRide world headquarters, we now have a Malibu LTZ nearly identical in equipment, trim, and even color to the one I drove back in Memphis. Lo and behold, it still holds up, even driving it literally back-to-back with my Accord. It’s still quiet. It’s still comfortable. It’s still a joy to look at inside and out. The little touches that impressed me when I first saw the Malibu – like the Chevy bowties in the headlights – are still proof that GM is putting its best foot forward. Think about it: If Chevy hadn’t put those little bowties there, nobody would notice. But there they are, ready to provide a, “Hey, lookit that!” experience for unaware owners, a small testament to the company’s commitment to building a car people will enjoy owning. I love this car’s style, and I like the way it drives too. I could do with out the torque steer, but not the torque itself, or the way it confidently takes a set in a corner.
So, I’m going to run right out and trade in my Accord for a new Malibu, right? Well, not exactly. I still like my Accord just fine, and upon closer inspection, it would have been nice if Chevy had worked a bit harder to lose the sheen on some of its plastics. The dash is made up of too many pieces, too, and an extra push on refinement would be in order.
Still, I got to thinking. If my Accord were wrecked or stolen, for example, and I wound up with a big fat insurance check in my hand, would I automatically go to another Honda dealership for an all-new 2008 Accord, or would I maybe swing by the Chevy shop? I’m not sure where I’d cash it in, but I can definitely say that it’d be a tough call.
Keith Buglewicz
MyRide Road Test Editor
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