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2008 Chevy Malibu: Lexus Like?
During a recent Chevrolet press trip, my driving partner and I were like two gabby girlfriends dishing about all the latest Hollywood gossip. She’s plugged into the LA entertainment scene, so I was able to catch up on all the dirt, like which rapper was dating an “A-list” diva.
There was another obvious LA connection about this test drive. We were sampling the newly designed 2008 Chevy Malibu, appropriately named after Southern California’s beachfront enclave that’s crawling with celebs.
Adding to our giddy attitude was the fact that we were also testing the Malibu Hybrid. Now I don’t usually gush about a vehicle, but this car is truly gush-worthy. Especially since gas just hit $5 a gallon in California.
It was the luck of the draw that we sampled the hybrid during the first leg of our drive. And it turned out to be the perfect choice, given the fabulous feast we had the night before at the famous BB King’s Bar B-Que joint. We were still stuffed from devouring two pounds of succulent ribs so the last thing we wanted to encounter was a bumpy ride.
After going just a short distance, to our amazement, the ride and drive soon began feeling more like a ride and glide. The Malibu was peacefully smooth and noticeably quiet. We were oblivious to any outside noise. It created an almost cocoon feeling. This is where the Malibu Hybrid’s engineers should get big bonuses in their paychecks.
You may not see it with your own eyes as to why this car brings outdoor noise to a hush, but you sure do notice it. It has to do with the sturdy chassis, which minimizes vibration and noise, and the body construction which uses noise-reducing materials. And what you get is one of the segment’s quietest, most refined driving experiences. Laminated “quiet glass” also contributes to a soothing ambiance.
And adding to that ambiance are these extras. An inviting interior design with a choice of cloth, suede and leather appointments; available two-tone cockpit in a number of color combos; gauges with Chevrolet blue LED backlighting all add a touch of elegance. My-co-pilot and I also appreciated the ambient lighting in areas such as the overhead console and door-pull pockets.
Well you’d think that with all this celebrity chatter we’d be cruising past sprawling mansions in Beverly Hills, instead we were zooming past sprawling cotton fields along the back roads of rural Mississippi. And that caught us completely off guard.
After leaving Memphis behind in the dust, we were so busy yacking and enjoying our ride, that we were unaware that we had crossed into Mississippi. That’s where General Motor’s OnStar came to the rescue. A quick push of the blue call button and a friendly Advisor told us our exact location. You’ve got to love that OnStar is on-point.
The fuel-saving Malibu Hybrid isn’t a full hybrid and doesn’t rely on just battery power. It combines a four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor. Every time we came to a stop the engine shut off, then restarted when we lifted off the brake. It’s rated at 24/32 mpg. I’ll admit to being a latecomer to jump on the hybrid bandwagon, but after giving this one a trial run, I’ve now become a true believer. Even with the steeper price tag of $1800 for the package, the current federal tax credit of $1300 makes economic and environmental sense.
To make a fair comparison, we next jumped in the four-cylinder offering and the driving difference was like night and day. The ride was noticeably rougher and somehow didn’t seem as quiet.
The Malibu does sport an in-your-face stance, but something about the huge Chevy emblem slapped on the front and back just takes the overall appearance down a notch. The Chevy folks are calling this car Lexus-like. Well, that may be a stretch. And I didn’t quite see the Corvette lines they pointed out during the presentation. The comparison to Lexus has to do with the price tag. The Chevy marketing team boasts that the ‘08 resembles a $40,000 car but only costs half that. Again, I don’t think it looks like a $40,000 car, but it does appear more expensive than the 20 grand sticker price.
The four-cylinder version we tested comes with a four-speed transmission with overdrive. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with the 3.6-liter V6.
The 2008 Malibu comes in several trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ, all with a nice list of standard features -- head curtain side air bags and front-seat thorax air bags, OnStar, ABS brakes, traction control and XM Satellite Radio. StabiliTrak stability control with panic brake assist is standard on LT, LTZ and Hybrid models. There are also a number of equipment packages that feature power-adjustable pedals, uplevel interiors, power equipment groups and a deluxe audio systems.
And get a load of these other extras -- a standard anti-theft system, remote vehicle starter, and standard universal home remote available on some models. Supporting these models are sixteen-inch standard wheels on LS and an available family of larger wheels, including 18-inch aluminum polished wheels available on 2LT and standard on LTZ.
The ‘08 Malibu is attempting to overtake their mid-size competition by going nose to nose with the ever-popular Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The four-cylinder has 164 horsepower, the V6 has 252. The hybrid pumps out about 170 horsepower.
Chevy is also hoping that customers buy into the saying “bigger is better.” This latest offering is quite a bit larger than its 2005-2007 predecessor. And I can attest to that because at one point I shared the backseat with a few pieces of luggage and I didn’t feel cramped.
The Chevy marketing folks are using words like drama and emotion to describe this car. This may sound sexist but those buzz words tell me, “we’re marketing to women.”
This is evidenced by a creative new ad campaign geared toward women that combines high fashion and the made-over Malibu.
“We are going to have a 10-city mall tour in key markets. It starts in November and runs through February. Conde’ Nast will be showcasing the hottest fashion trends and the Malibu will be on display for people to interact with the car,” says Nancy Libby, Chevrolet Communications.
Makes sense. My driving partner and I agreed that this could be a great car for young, urban, professional women who want a car that evokes drama and emotion, but doesn’t break the Coach pocketbook. With all the money you’d save buying the 2008 Malibu, you’ll probably have some left over to throw in a pair of Jimmy Choos.
For additional Automotive Rhythms sedan reviews, see:
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