Chevrolet's new Malibu is a front-wheel-drive four-door sedan that has been warmly embraced by the critics and public alike. Although the Malibu holds a rich history, over time it evolved into a plebian grocery-getter losing much of its former glory in the process. Can the latest incarnation of this once worshipped Chevy rekindle the spirit?
Breaking the mold
The 2008 Malibu is quite a departure stylistically from its predecessor. The car now projects a clean, Euro-influenced design that is emphasized by swept-back headlights, flared wheel wells and a heavily raked front windshield. This is bold stuff for Chevy, and it's definitely paying off.
The interior treatment is equally as daring for GM's conservative division. Cabin architecture projects a twin cockpit theme in which the dash flows gracefully into a "feature" centre stack and console arrangement. The curvature of the twin cockpit is beautifully highlighted by a thin woodgrain applique that runs uninterrupted across the dash before tapering smoothly into the trim of each front door.
This is perhaps the most artistic interior Chevy has ever penned for a mid-size sedan that hits the bricks at just $22,995. Two-tone interior trim is available to take the cabin further upscale. Not unexpected though is the presence of plenty of hard plastic used to trim the lower reaches.
I did find an objection though. The heavily raked "A" pillars connecting the roof to the car body are enormously wide, causing an intrusion into the driver's line of sight. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of sideview mirrors. Drivers must exercise extra vigilance to overcome the combined obstructions when making a turn.
Four-cylinder engine tepid but refined
The base engine powering the Malibu is a wonderfully refined, 2.4-liter DOHC ECOTEC unit featuring variable valve timing technology. I'm not generally a fan of four-bangers in mid-size sedans. They often lack gusto and operational refinement; albeit what this engine lacks in pep it makes up for in polish.
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| The 2008 Malibu is quite a departure stylistically from its predecessor. |
Breaking the mold
The 2008 Malibu is quite a departure stylistically from its predecessor. The car now projects a clean, Euro-influenced design that is emphasized by swept-back headlights, flared wheel wells and a heavily raked front windshield. This is bold stuff for Chevy, and it's definitely paying off.
The interior treatment is equally as daring for GM's conservative division. Cabin architecture projects a twin cockpit theme in which the dash flows gracefully into a "feature" centre stack and console arrangement. The curvature of the twin cockpit is beautifully highlighted by a thin woodgrain applique that runs uninterrupted across the dash before tapering smoothly into the trim of each front door.
This is perhaps the most artistic interior Chevy has ever penned for a mid-size sedan that hits the bricks at just $22,995. Two-tone interior trim is available to take the cabin further upscale. Not unexpected though is the presence of plenty of hard plastic used to trim the lower reaches.
I did find an objection though. The heavily raked "A" pillars connecting the roof to the car body are enormously wide, causing an intrusion into the driver's line of sight. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of sideview mirrors. Drivers must exercise extra vigilance to overcome the combined obstructions when making a turn.
 |
| This is perhaps the most artistic interior Chevy has ever penned for a mid-size sedan that hits the bricks at just $22,995. |
Four-cylinder engine tepid but refined
The base engine powering the Malibu is a wonderfully refined, 2.4-liter DOHC ECOTEC unit featuring variable valve timing technology. I'm not generally a fan of four-bangers in mid-size sedans. They often lack gusto and operational refinement; albeit what this engine lacks in pep it makes up for in polish.