Interior Comfort
By doing this, I found that the front buckets provide quite good lateral support and that I could find a comfortable driving position quickly and easily. When you get bounced around by our roads at this time of year, you soon find out how comfortable the car is. Another discovery was that the suede seating surfaces didn't cling to the fabric in women's clothing like some previous materials did. Aside from making entry and exit much easier, there is less static electricity produced and in our dry climate, that can be a significant comfort feature.
Transmission
In addition, the six-speed automatic, when left in drive does such a competent job of going up through the gears that I never thought of using the "Tap Shift" buttons on the steering wheel. I did use them a few times on other days, but found that their location on the steering wheel wasn't comfortable for me and didn't add to the driving experience significantly.
Satellite Radio
What did add significantly, was being able to supplement our local radio stations with Satellite Radio. In this age of streaming audio, when I no longer have to listen to a program when it is broadcast or if I don't want to wait for weather, satellite radio has its place.
Family Use
On a more sedate pace, with the whole family in the car, the back seat was a bit crowded. Long, tall and skinny found head room to be a bit tight while Mr. "off-the-rack-medium was quite comfortable. Both admitted the rear seat itself was quite comfortable once in place. Large cut and properly shaped rear doors made getting in and out pretty easy. Foot, leg and knee room were a bit tight behind my wife and if you tired to sit behind me, space was at a premium.
Up front, my wife was always comfortable and I was the same in the driver's seat. Instruments were always visible and are easily read. Switches and controls, which are standard in nearly every Chevrolet fall readily to hand and are clearly marked, although some of the markings could be a bit larger.
Grins per Kilometer
I enjoyed the Malibu much more than I thought I would, and if I were in the market for a mid-sized car, I certainly wouldn't let the corporate chest beating and union wailing, at the national level deter me from driving a Malibu.
photo:Charles Renny
By doing this, I found that the front buckets provide quite good lateral support and that I could find a comfortable driving position quickly and easily. When you get bounced around by our roads at this time of year, you soon find out how comfortable the car is. Another discovery was that the suede seating surfaces didn't cling to the fabric in women's clothing like some previous materials did. Aside from making entry and exit much easier, there is less static electricity produced and in our dry climate, that can be a significant comfort feature.
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| I could find a comfortable driving position quickly and easily. |
Transmission
In addition, the six-speed automatic, when left in drive does such a competent job of going up through the gears that I never thought of using the "Tap Shift" buttons on the steering wheel. I did use them a few times on other days, but found that their location on the steering wheel wasn't comfortable for me and didn't add to the driving experience significantly.
Satellite Radio
What did add significantly, was being able to supplement our local radio stations with Satellite Radio. In this age of streaming audio, when I no longer have to listen to a program when it is broadcast or if I don't want to wait for weather, satellite radio has its place.
Family Use
On a more sedate pace, with the whole family in the car, the back seat was a bit crowded. Long, tall and skinny found head room to be a bit tight while Mr. "off-the-rack-medium was quite comfortable. Both admitted the rear seat itself was quite comfortable once in place. Large cut and properly shaped rear doors made getting in and out pretty easy. Foot, leg and knee room were a bit tight behind my wife and if you tired to sit behind me, space was at a premium.
Up front, my wife was always comfortable and I was the same in the driver's seat. Instruments were always visible and are easily read. Switches and controls, which are standard in nearly every Chevrolet fall readily to hand and are clearly marked, although some of the markings could be a bit larger.
Grins per Kilometer
I enjoyed the Malibu much more than I thought I would, and if I were in the market for a mid-sized car, I certainly wouldn't let the corporate chest beating and union wailing, at the national level deter me from driving a Malibu.
photo:Charles Renny
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