Chevrolet Malibu 

Trusty and proven, but dull. That was my final verdict on the second

Presenting the new Chevrolet Malibu for 2008. (Photo: GM)

generation front wheel drive Malibu that I spent the better part of an afternoon driving around in, during the summer of last year. This has been the case with every Malibu since it was reborn as a budget front-wheel drive family sedan back in 1997; it never could reach beyond vanilla. Even the SS model with its 3.9-litre cam-in-block V6 performance engine and beefed up suspension was still only French vanilla at best. And though the Malibu catered to families just as well as any other midsize car, it just doesn't have the panache of Ford's Fusion or Chrysler's luxurious new Sebring, not to mention countless other competitors from across the globe. Of course, it's now a geriatric compared to its peers, so in order to give the golden bowtie's midsize model a fighting chance for 2008, the brand has added a couple of new flavours to the Malibu mix. Don't expect rocky road or tiramisu, but chocolate and strawberry should certainly be a step up from vanilla.

In highly competitive segments such as the midsize class, being

Malibu sports Chevrolet's new grille. It's a truck-like unit, admittedly, but so was the last one. (Photo: GM)

able to stand out is important. Ford learned quickly with the Fusion that boldness pays dividends; likewise with Chrysler and its 300 plus Dodge's Magnum and Charger. This is why Chevrolet felt the need to give its own brand an all new face, starting with the Malibu, the car that needed an image enhancement the most. It might take a bit of time to become accustomed to the Malibu's new look, but it's a step forward; people are going to notice the massive grille with its tough body-coloured centre bar. It sits ahead of the headlamps, which have been pulled back and wrap around the tops of the front fenders. The shape of the body is also different than before, now a little less cookie-cutter. The side windows, inset into the body, don't follow the sloping C-pillar and the trunk is shorter and more compact than before. I'm not entirely sure on the the styling of the rear lights; their L-shape looks flat and almost decal-like. On LTZ models there's a little more chrome to dress up the exterior, and the brake lights are illuminated with LEDs. V6 models get twin exhaust pipes, while a range of 16-, 17- and 18-inch wheels are available.

Right now, Chevrolet doesn’t have any plans to introduce a wagon variant of the

The shape of the Malibu's nose is proportionate to the Saturn Aura. Makes sense given the two are related. (Photo: GM)

new Malibu... bye, bye Maxx. It might have been big and spacious; a solid alternative to a small sport utility vehicle, but the gamble didn’t pay off for Chevrolet. Instead, the brand is looking at putting out a Hybrid version similar to the Saturn Aura Green Line that should arrive on the market as a 2009 model year product.
As common of a sight as the Malibu is on roads and highways, it stood out by one defining characteristic: its size. Since its 1997 rebirth and the reintroduction of the Impala, something of a larger automobile, the Malibu has been relegated to being a half size smaller than the midsize norm. Marketing business aside, this most American of automobiles did have a link to Europe, as its Epsilon architecture was developed in Europe by GM of Europe's Opel and Saab divisions for use in their cars. The new Malibu, however, has grown up from being slightly less than midsized to having one of the longest wheelbases in its class. With a gain of 6 inches, the new Malibu sedan matches the old Malibu Maxx hatchback and beats out the new Toyota Camry by a whole three inches, which should give it a comparative advantage against its counterparts in the midsize segment.

There are yet more differences in the underpinnings between the old Malibu

It's a much bigger car than before. It's actually longer than a Lexus GS! (Photo: GM)

and the new one. Firstly, it shares the updates made to the Saturn Aura, which rides on a more advanced version of the Epsilon architecture. Its multi-link suspension is now held up by either monotube or twin-tube shock absorbers, while certain models get hydraulic power steering as opposed to the electric power steering from the old car. Though Chevrolet doesn't have any intentions on making the Malibu a sports sedan, at the very minimum it will have an advantage over the old car. In terms of active safety equipment, all Malibus come with standard four-wheel disc ABS brakes, plus brake assist, a big step forward over the current disc/drum setup that did not feature ABS as standard equipment. Meanwhile, LT and LTZ models come standard with StabiliTrak stability control. All models come with a full count of standard airbags, including side and curtain-mounted units. Better sound insulation plus laminated glass also make the Malibu quieter and more refined than before.

Under the hood, buyers have a choice of two

Not quite sure about those tail lights. From this angle, the Malibu looks sporty. (Photo: GM)

efficient engines available on all trim levels, a similar tactic as Chrysler's new Sebring. The smaller engine is a 2.4-litre Ecotec inline-four engine with variable valve timing that's good for 164 horsepower. Right away, Chevrolet is eager to capitalize on the engine's miserly characteristics as the car has been rated at 31 mpg on the highway. Interestingly, the new Malibu is the first vehicle in the midsize sedan class to offer a four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic. Aside from improving performance, it contributes to reducing the engine's thirst. Unfortunately, GM's cog-swapping generosity is limited to the top of the line LTZ model, with the lesser LS and LT making do with regular below-class-average four-speeders.

This latest Malibu will also be the first Malibu in which a pushrod

New interior is much more interesting and better laid out than the old car. (Photo: GM)

V6 engine is not offered. The modern derivatives of the 3100 and 3800 engine are nowhere to be found on the spec sheet. In their absence is GM's brand new 3.6-litre V6 with variable valve timing, that can also be found under the hood of Cadillacs, the new GMC/Saturn/Buick crossover and the Saturn Aura. It makes a palatable 252 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard equipment. And in a never before seen move, the Malibu gains Driver Shift Control which puts a pair of thumb-operated controls onto the steering wheel spokes, allowing the driver to explore the car's sporting side. That's more power, more gears and probably better acceleration and in-gear performance than the current "hot" Malibu SS.

If there's one particular area that Chevrolet is most

This is Chevrolet's idea of a luxury interior: the Malibu LTZ. (Photo: GM)

confident about with its new Malibu, it has to be the car's interior. Well in advance of the car's release date, Chevy gave the media a good glimpse of what the cabin would look like. Indeed, they have something to be proud of as the new Malibu's cabin makes the same kind of leap forward in design as Saturn's midsize Aura did from the old L-Series. The most striking thing about the interior has to be the shape of its dashboard. The area in front of the driver and the front seat passenger were scalloped deeply to make the interior feel more spacious and roomy. The second major change is the adaptation of two-toned interior colour schemes which really work to brighten things up inside. Warm colour combinations, such as Cocoa and Cashmere or Ebony and Brick are a welcome change to the usual monotone beige or gray.

Like the top of the line Aura XR model, the Malibu LTZ puts forward GM's best efforts at giving midsize buyers affordable luxury. The LTZ model has two-toned leather-trimmed seats, black chrome accents and a tasteful narrow wood-effect trim that wraps its way around the dashboard and centre console. Meanwhile, all models

This car needs to be good for GM to earn back a bigger slice of the midsize pie. (Photo: GM)

receive GM's new centre stack with corporate radio and climate control. The details don't end there, as Chevrolet took a lesson from premium luxury marques. There’s LED lighting in the interior, which allows the console to be softly illuminated at night, much like the interior door handles. Also making an appearance on the Malibu is the four-panel glass sliding panoramic roof that was launched on the Pontiac G6 and can also be found atop the Aura. And for those constantly on the run, Chevrolet added an optional 110-volt AC socket that allows household items to be plugged in.

General Motors and Chevrolet know that they can no longer produce average looking and average performing vehicles on the sole premise of an affordable price and above average reliability. The recent shift away from full-size sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks means that for the first time in years, consumers are shifting back to cars. America's favourite segment of cars is midsize, and therefore if Chevrolet wants to fight its way back to greater market share and finally success (i.e. profitability), they're going to need to deliver the goods. Judging by these photos and the technical information, Chevrolet might just have a winner on its hands.

Specifications (Malibu):

• Price Range (est. MSRP): $21,000 - $31,000
• Body Type: 4-door sedan
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 292 hp, 263 lb-ft of torque, 3.5L, 24-valve DOHC V6 Direct Injection
• Opt. Engine: 197 hp, 203 lb-ft of torque, 250 kW DC Brushless
• Transmission: 4-spd auto (opt. 6-spd auto w/manual mode)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS, BA
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,872 / 1,785 / 1,451 / 2,852 mm (191.8 / 70.3 / 57.1 / 112.3 in)
• Wheels: 16, 17, 18-in
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 km comprehensive - 60/160,000 km powertrain
• Competitors: Chrysler Sebring, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Magentis (Optima), Mazda6, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta / Passat
• Website: www.gmcanada.com