Ditto for the
Volkswagen Passat wagon, really nice but really pricey. There's a
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| While its styling may turn off some, it's nevertheless completely original in the midsize class. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
bunch of compact 5-doors available too, but they don't directly compete in the Maxx's midsize market. Factor in the price, performance and upscale features that come standard on Chevy's Malibu Maxx and it's extremely competitive. Its styling may turn off some but nevertheless is completely original in the midsize class, which to a great deal of prospective customers bored with the same old, same old, will be a positive attribute. An even stronger selling point will be interior seating and cargo flexibility, where it wins hands down over its rivals.
But lastly, Chevy has one card up its sleeve that will be sure to woo fence-sitters, the highest ranked placement in the 2004 J. D. Powers and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) in the Entry Midsize Car category. While the study surveys owners of 2001 model year cars, which in the case of the Malibu was an
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| The Malibu ranked highest in its category in the 2004 J. D. Powers and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
entirely different generation, it's a good indication of potential reliability, especially when factoring in that the Malibu won the award in the 2003 VDS as well. Backing up the VDS test, the new Malibu rated in 3rd place in the Entry Midsize Car category in the same analyst firm's 2004 Initial Quality Study (IQS), beat out by another GM product, the soon to be defunct Oldsmobile Alero which came in 2nd, and the Hyundai Sonata that placed 1st. The two previous years prior, when the Malibu was still in its previous generation, it won the category outright, which shows that the first-year model is most likely going through some teething pains.
