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Chevy Malibu
Review: General Motors is about to try something gutsy. According to
Marketing Daily, GM is gearing up to do experiments in two markets where
it allows, and even encourages, shoppers to drive competing brands. Why
such confidence now? because GM is building cars like the new Chevy
Malibu.
It takes a lot of
swagger to do that. If you're interested in a Chevy, GM will also hand
you the keys to, let's say, a Honda, a Ford and a Toyota. They think
you'll be impressed enough to buy the GM product after you've
test-driven all the competition.
When the current Malibu
was first introduced a couple of years ago, I simply couldn't believe
it. Here was a car with the lowly Chevy badge and a very affordable
price, yet its build quality was almost Lexus-like. It took everything
undesirable about the old GM, the disposable plastic interiors, the
tractor engines, the styling that makes you snore, and threw them out
the window.
This was a car that
looked fantastic, had the build quality of a luxury car and more
refinement than any of its competition. It was the kind of car that
would terrify Japanese auto executives.
Now fast forward to
today, and a lot of people still don't realize that Chevy makes one of
the world's best mid-size cars. It's a big reason the company has added
the tag line "May the best car win" to most of its advertising,
encouraging people to shop for quality above all else, not just shouting
about low prices or tugging at our heartstrings with blind patriotism.
The Malibu doesn't have
to resort to that. Get behind the wheel, and you'll find yourself
surrounded by precision and performance.
The precision part
comes from looking at how the dash is built. It's no longer hard plastic
held together with chewing gum, but soft-touch materials covering a dash
that feels like it's made of polished marble. Everything is so solid,
and so upscale, that you'd swear it was a European luxury car if not for
the Chevy labels.
The performance part
comes once you leave park and feel how effortlessly this car drives.
It's never going to be a drag race winner, that's not what this kind of
car is about, but it does drive with poise and confidence.
Its suspension is a big
reason it feels so good. It has a great combination of sportiness and
comfort, slotting perfectly between the hard feeling of a Honda and the
lifeless, soft suspension in a Toyota, giving you just the right amount
of feedback for enjoyable driving.
Two engines are
available, both of which are surprisingly refined. A 2.4-liter
four-cylinder gets up to 33 mpg, while a more powerful 3.6-liter V6
delivers 252 horsepower while still getting 26 mpg on the highway.
Pricing starts at
$21,825 for the Malibu LS, and it tops out at $26,955 for the luxurious
Malibu LTZ, which comes with leather seats and a Bose stereo.
Don't think that a low
price equates with a cheap car though, in the case of the Malibu, it
doesn't.
What was tested?
The 2010 Chevy Malibu 1LT with a base price of $22,715. Options on the
test car: Power convenience package for $525, Bluetooth for $250 and a
compact spare tire for $100. Total MSRP price as tested including the
$720 destination charge: $24,310.
Why avoid it?
The good-looking rear pillars hamper visibility from the inside.
Why buy it? It's
as good, if not better, than anything currently available from Honda or
Toyota. It drives with the sophistication of a more expensive car, and
its build quality will blow you away.
By Derek Price ©
AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
The Bottom Line:
The current 2010 Chevy Malibu looks like a more expensive car than it
is. Better yet, the beauty is more than skin deep, as its driving feel
and interior are far better than you'd expect from such an affordable
Chevy. Wood trim that cascades down the dash looks fantastic in the
Malibu, which has one of the most well-crafted interiors in any
mass-produced sedan. It's a testament to GM's turnaround in recent
years.
Bottom Line
Review provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
“Tony the Car Guy”
is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay
Area. If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to
TonyLeo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at
www.autowire.net
And remember: “ You Are
what you Drive ”
Chevy Home Page
Column Name: Chevy
Malibu makes you rethink GM
Topic: The 2010 Chevy
Malibu
Word Count: 793
Photo Caption: The 2010
Chevy Malibu
Photo Credits: Chevy
Malibu Internet Media
Series #: 2010 - 26
Download
the Microsoft Word version here:
2010 Chevy Malibu
Download the Original Image File here:
2010 Chevy Malibu
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