Chevy Malibu Road Trip: Blind Date

Houston, Texas, June 2007

This 2007 Chevrolet Malibu review is based on a 9-day 2500 mile road test, a round trip from Houston, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois. A second rental Malibu did a Texas-Wisconsin-Kentucky 3,000 mile round trip in October '07.

I arrived at Budget Car Rentals Houston Galleria location anticipating a cool ride to review. When I made my reservation, the lot had been loaded with imports and a couple Mustangs. Maybe a free upgrade...

The clerk said "Two Fords and a Malibu, take yer pick."

The test vehicle was a deep red LS trim four door Chevy Malibu.

The LS comes standard with A/C, CD player, cruise control, a power height-adjustable driver seat, tilt/telescope wheel, power windows and mirrors, and keyless entry.

For me, additional luxury features are ill advised on this car. But few GM cars will deliver without numerous overpriced options. Those few properly optioned units that make it to dealer lots will disappear quickly.

This is not a sport sedan. Most buyers in the entry mid-size segment want initial affordability, low operating costs, reasonable comfort, adequate performance, a family-sized cabin, reliability, and safety.

Chevrolet has made a good effort to provide all those in the 2007 Malibu.

Fortunately for GM, flashy good looks were not on the buyers wish list.

Malibu First Impression: Ugly Betty

Captive automotive media writers, loath to alienate advertisers, will use the term "anonymous" when referring to the mid-size bowtie's styling.

I think this car is borderline ugly when viewed from the front.

Puffy front plastics and headlights remind me of a fat fish. Chevy's Impala, while very similar, has a slim and stylish front view.

The muffler, which protrudes below the otherwise acceptable rear view, looks like it was installed by shade tree mechanics who cut it off a junked Cadillac.

Chevrolet has built some unattractive cars over the years, but with the arrival of car guy Bob Lutz, change is in the air. Mr. Lutz has put some real GM eye candy on the road, and the newly restyled 2008 Malibus are way prettier.

JD Power reports that 42% of Malibu buyers are over the age of 56: presumably these folks are among the least influenced by styling.

Beauty is more than skin deep, I tell myself as I resolve to let the test-car relationship develop.

The car, with 15K miles already on the clock, soon won me over.

Handling, space, build quality, and comfort exceeded my expectations for a US built entry level car.

The on-road driving performance of the four cylinder Malibu, while not quick, had me expecting a V6 when I finally popped the hood.

I am reminded of the scene in the film Titanic where Rose (Kate Winslet) comes back into the flooded lower deck, risking her life to free Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) with an axe.

"No, she wasn't that cute, but she had a way of growing on you."

Evil Twin

But even anonymity has its downside.

I returned to Houston on US 59 southbound, a four lane future interstate corridor with many speed zones for the small towns still on the frontage.

I'm cruising along the highway at 82 mph in a 70 zone, just like regular folks, when this set of headlights starts growing real fast in my mirror.

The speeding car is purple, just like my rented Malibu, so it is statistically improbable that it's a cop. With three thumb clicks on the cruise control, I speed up to 85.

Less than a minute later, the purple car whips by, at a speed way over 100 mph.

I am now doing 88, but do not have time to glimpse the driver's face.

To my amazement, my southbound pursuer is driving an exact duplicate of my ride: a purple 2004 or newer Chevy Malibu. Huh?

While considering giving chase, a terrible thought occurs. What if a northbound bear (Texas State Trooper) clocks this twin? By the time the cop makes his u-turn, he'll be behind me.

Yikes! Twin southbound Malibus.

I slow to 73 to put some daylight between that bad karma and my maybe too anonymous law abiding rented Malibu.

The Asphalt Jungle: Competition

Car manufacturers must have a strong mid-sized entry, but Chevy squeezed the mid-size segment for decades, offering some real weak cars.

Sandwiched too close in size and price to top-selling Impala, Malibu now must chase the competition. Honda and Toyota are a lap ahead.

Around 150K Malibus sold last year, about one third of Camry's sales and roughly half Impala/Monte Carlo"s numbers.

The Malibu name was moved to the front-wheel drive Epsilon platform back in 2004.

In its third year, with the new model coming this fall, this is a lame duck design. June, 2007 Malibu sales dropped 49 percent from last June, to 7,872.

GM plans to build numerous Epsilon-based vehicles, current cousins are Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, and Saab 9-3.

Malibu comes as a four door sedan and as the Maxx, an extended wheelbase station wagon version.

Maxx has not been popular enough to justify tooling, the car will be discontinued after the 2007 model year. The sporty Malibu SS has also been discontinued. Current trim levels include the base LS, LT, and LTZ.

There is very tough competition in the mid-size sedan class. Heavyweights Honda Accord and Toyota Camry dominate a field which includes contenders Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and Pontiac G6/Saturn Aura.

Buick LaCrosse, Kia Optima, and Chrysler Sebring round out the field.

Malibu Quality

GM has worked hard to improve quality, and it is visible in the statistics and awards.

JD Power's 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study, the most recent 3-year survey, ranked Malibu highest in the "Entry Mid-size" category.

Power's 2007 Initial Quality Study granted Malibu 3 stars for overall quality, and a total of 27 of a possible 45. Mercury Milan, mid-size segment award recipient, earned 42 stars total.

In the 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, Power gave the Chevy sedan only 2 stars for Overall Performance and Design. Malibus scored just 10 of 25 total stars.

Nissan Altima, mid-size APEAL segment award recipient, pulled 23 of 25 stars.

Autoweb Reliability Ratings (autoweb.com) rank the Chevy Malibu slightly below average in Performance, Safety Features, Style, Interior Comfort, Ergonomics, and Fit and Finish.

Consumer Reports has a "recommended" rating on the '07Malabus.

Malibus are manufactured at GM's Fairfax #2 assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

Terms of Endearment: Fuel Economy

Here is the real strength of this car, which weighs 3174 lb and sports a .31 coefficient of drag: highway fuel economy.

The base four cylinder is EPA rated at 24/34 mpg.

The new 3.5-liter V6 achieves 22/32 mpg EPA.

The optional 3.9 L V6, sold primarily in the now defunct Malibu SS, is EPA rated at 18/26 mpg.

Many users report 30mpg combined, but those who drive exclusively stop and go are often disappointed with low-20's mileage.

My road test car obtained an overall average of 32.4 mpg in very hard, mostly highway travel, using regular-grade fuel exclusively

Fuel tank capacity of 16.3 gallons gave range figures in the mid 500 mile area.

I'd like to see the new version of this car loose 400 lbs of weight and implement other fuel saving measures such as reducing the car's drag coefficient.

Gimme Shelter: Safer Malibus

Chevrolet has also come a long way in the increasingly important safety department.

NHTSA Crash-Tests yielded five star front impact and side impact driver ratings, and four stars for rear side impacts.

This year's model has standard side curtain airbags.

With them, the Malibu improved its scores in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) side-crash tests.

There is a passenger sensing system for the front airbags, which now incorporate "dual-stage" technology, varying the force of deployment with the severity of the crash.

Anti-lock brakes with traction control are standard on V-6-equipped models.

In the non-traction controlled test car, I was able to induce some differential slip due to hydroplaning at high throttle settings over very wet roads.

This did produce a little instability, but there was no tendency for the rear end to come around.

One safety issue for me was the thick A-pillar and outside mirrors blocking front views of traffic approaching at a 45 degree angle.

Side mirrors taper to the outside, offering a reduced view. I would immediately add stick on convex spot mirrors.

Buyers of this car, new or used, should be sure to get the "Enhanced Safety Package" (optional on LS and LT - $465).

Included are four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, dual-stage front and side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger, and head curtain side-impact air bags for front and rear outside passengers.

Powertrain

Chevy offers three powerplants in the Malibu for 2007.

My test car had the 2.2 L dual overhead camshaft Ecotec L61 144 hp, twin balance shaft, transverse mounted, inline four (I4).

This low-maintenance engine has been widely used in GM products since 2000.

Do-it-yourself mechanics like me like the notoriously easy and clean oil changes.

This is a modern powerplant: GM designed their Ecotec to be a global competitor.

GM Racing has built high performance versions of the L61 for racing, obtaining as much as 750 dynamometer hp from the 122 cubic inch mill.

While many parts did not stand this level of pressure, the stock aluminum block and head survived.

Most writers are recommending the V6, especially if you have full seats and luggage, but I found the 2.2 liter four's stoplight acceleration (0-60 around 9 seconds) acceptable for this class.

The first engine option is the cam in cast iron block LZ4 3.5 liter V6.

Cam-in-block, pushrod actuated valves are a thing of the past, but GM has extended the life of this design by adding variable valve timing. In the Malibu an LZ4 produces 217 hp, offering improved performance and similar fuel efficiency compared to the four cylinder.

The high performance 3.9 liter LZ9 V6, making 240 hp, is also a variable valve timing cam-in-block motor. With the SS gone, and so many performance opportunities elsewhere, I see little use for this fuel thirsty option on a family sedan.

A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive the only gearbox.

One thing that did annoy me about the four cylinder was the habit of down-shifting out of overdrive when the cruise is set on hills. The long jump to 4th gear raised engine rpms by 2500, making the engine strain and howl.

An optional six speed tranny is said to be included in the 2008 package.

The LS and LT have front disc brakes with drums at the rear. To me, drum brakes are old fashioned, and disc pads so much easier to inspect or replace. LTZ trim comes equipped with all-wheel disc brakes offering both anti-locking and traction control technology.

Little Red Rented Rowboat: Performance

On the southbound leg, I took the scenic roads back to Texas, down through Branson, MO to Arkansas' scenic highway seven for some mountain twisties. My intent was to put some real stress on GM's structurally stiff Epsilon platform. At the Arkansas line, thunderstorms were followed by steady rain all the way south to I-30.

For this kind of test, dry streets would be preferred.

I persevered, mashed the pedal on the right, and the little four cylinder car responded well, passing 18-wheel lumber trucks and tankers on hills and curves with very short passing zones. Maybe once or twice I did not complete a pass within the painted passing zone.

Bolted to a stiff chassis, suspension is MacPherson strut front with independent, four-link rear.

Developers of the Epsilon platform sought to give the new sedan European character in ride and handling.

They succeeded: the little sedan won me over again in the Arkansas Ozark high country. Malibu corners with agility, and my confidence in the predictable handling grew.

This car employs innovative variable-assist electric power steering, rather than a hydraulic pump driven off a camshaft gear. Fuel economy and performance are improved as there is no parasitic power loss to operate the pump when the car is not turning.

This system has been blasted by enthusiast media for reducing road feel and requiring inconsistent inputs at different speeds.

It didn't bother me.

Steering effort is light at low speeds, and a tight turning radius makes the Malibu easy to maneuver in parking lots and other tight situations.

I have seen one forum post complaining about an $800 bill for steering replacement.

My test LS had the rear drum brakes and ABS is not standard on four-cylinder models.

In hard braking tests coming down steep grades, non-ABS braking was adequate, with no lockups even on wet blacktop. With the cool spray, I never was able to induce fade.

However, I would not buy an LT or LS without the optional Enhanced Safety Package.

Inside Job: Malibu Fit and Finish

Interior controls and materials is an area where GM has made enormous progress, and this base level interior impressed me. Gone are the excessive plastic and poor fitting panels of not so long ago.

Interior materials and quality are acceptable for this price range, but still lag the class leaders: seat fabric was notably inferior.

And a close inspection will spot some finish issues in the cab. But this is a $20k car.

Cruise control on the steering wheel was intuitive and easy to thumb. Even more pleasant was the armrest and shifter knob arm support for fingering the radio and A/C controls.

The sun visors were too short to be useful when the sun was pouring in from an oblique angle.

Outside you’ll have to look closely to find misaligned panels and inconsistent gaps. This is an improved GM product. At 16k miles, my rental had a couple pieces of trim a bit loose in the trunk area.

And speaking of the trunk, liner materials were lightweight. I accepted the car in Houston's pouring rain, missing a nice dent in the left rear quarter panel in my inspection.

The lot attendant missed it too, at least he didn't write it up.

So when I got to a buddy's house in Indiana, I borrowed a rubber mallet, rolled back the flimsy trunk liner and popped that dent right back out.

Today's sheet metal is just a little thicker than an aluminum soda can.

Interior Refinement

Mid-size "5-passenger" family sedan applies only if your backseat passengers are children.

Legroom is ample, both front and rear, and there is no drive-shaft hump in the rear, but three abreast in back is a stretch.

Families with larger rear seat passengers could consider the Maxx, now in its final season.

I drove a 2006 Maxx, which carried everything that had filled the 120-inch sleeper of a 2006 Peterbuilt semi-truck.

Rear seat legroom in the extended chassis Maxx is comparable to full-size sedans.

I cringe when I read forum posts from new buyers waxing eloquent about the loaded Malibu they just stole for close to $30K.

UltraLux and leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, a six-way power driver's seat and automatic climate control, are typical of LTZ trim.

Like the performance engine, these belong on another class of vehicle. Buyers of these packages will take a big hit on resale.

Engine noise at full throttle has irritated several reviewers. My testing found road noise excessive, with tire whistling on all but glass smooth pavement becoming intrusive.

For those in extreme climates, the remote vehicle starter is a handy option.

Audio options include XM Satellite Radio ($200), a must have for those wanting something beyond mass media babble.

I liked the driver information center integrated into the radio display; two trip odometers, fuel economy, oil life remaining, and remaining fuel range were displayed.

Malibus have a trunk that holds a modest 15.4 cubic feet, which held all my considerable stash. With four adults on a road trip, it might get tight.The trunk has a low opening for easy loading.

A fold-flat front passenger seat combines with the split/folding rear seat, allowing long objects to be carried inside the car.

Musical Chairs: Depreciation

The second big weakness (after frontal appearance), of this car is high depreciation, with a heavy 1st year depreciation hit and five year residual percentages in the high thirties. Typical residuals are 49-54% for 36 months depending on lease mileage

Automotive lease guide rates Malibu only 2 stars for residuals.

Low mileage ex-rental fleet cars, with questionable treatment and maintenance, flood the late model used market, creating high first year depreciation.

This makes a car difficult to lease.

Buyers fronting minimum down payments will often be underwater on loans.

Edmunds.com True-Cost-to-Own is $.50/mile, a cent or two higher than the class leaders.

Value

I'd purchase the car LS trim (basic) with the Enhanced Safety Package, possibly the 3.5 V6, and maybe satellite radio.

Otherwise the base vehicle is well equipped: loading this depreciator with pricey options is to be avoided.

Chevrolet moved closer to matching mid-size sedan class leaders with the 2004-2007 Malibu.

This is a pretty good car, but fleet model depreciation makes low-mileage used Malibus a better deal.

I expect the dollar to fall further in 2008, raising prices on foreign competition. This would help narrow GM's legacy cost price disadvantage.

I look forward to the Malibus of 2008: a major makeover Camry-killer is promised.

End 2007 Malibu Road Test Review, try sitemap for more choices