While the politicians and pundits point fingers and play the blame game, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is busy being one of the best midsize sedans on the market—the global market. Automobile magazine believes in the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and recommends it with their highest endorsement.
Here’s what Automobile magazine did: They included the 2009 Chevy Malibu in their All-Star list of automotive standouts. “The Chevy Malibu is a family sedan that is more enjoyable to drive than the Toyota Camry, better looking than the Honda Accord and available with two different powertrains that deliver more than 30 mpg on the highway. Did we mention that the most important safety advance of the past 20 years, stability control, is newly standard on the Malibu, but still optional on the Camry?”
The editors of Automobile go on to say, “The result is a sedan with crisp handling, communicative steering, a properly tuned ride and an overall feeling of quality – especially the interior – that so often has escaped American sedans in the past. But there’s no need to assemble a laundry list of the Malibu’s strengths versus its many competitors. Just drive one, and you’ll see why we’ve named it an Automobile Magazine All-Star for two years in a row.”
The editors of Automobile may not feel like compiling a laundry list of Malibu’s strengths, but we do! Let’s start with this: “U.S. News ranks the Malibu [first] out of 23 affordable midsize cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 66 published reviews and test drives of the Chevrolet Malibu and our analysis of reliability and safety data.” Clearly, the car critics, a picky lot, think highly of the Malibu. If there is a consensus to be had, 66 reviews will reveal it. As New Car Test Drive pointed out, "The Chevy Malibu stands up well when held against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
As for performance, we refer you to the editors of Motor Trend. "On a curvy road, the Chevy heightens the fun factor, providing superior ride composure, the ability to perform fingertip shifts and communicative…steering that carves tighter, crisper lines. Hop on the highway, and the Malibu continues to separate itself, delivering a softer, quieter ride and power that…seems to pull more strongly and naturally."
The Malibu interior earns critical kudos, as well. Take the opinion of a reviewer at the Washington Post, for example. "The interior is one of the best-looking, most comfortable, most ergonomically sensible in the business." New Car Test Drive liked the accommodations they found in their test Malibu. "The front bucket seats are somewhere between sumptuous and luscious in the way they look and the way they sit, very comfortable and supportive." Consumer Guide offers this assessment of Malibu’s trunk, an important factor in the selection of a practical family sedan. "Malibu shines here vs. top competitors. The trunklid opens to a large portal and is supported by strut-type hinges that don't dip into the cargo area. Also, the pass-through revealed by the standard split folding rear seat is much larger than in many rivals."
When it comes to safety, another family concern, Malibu has your back. The website MotherProof.com saw it this way. "After watching a beautiful, brand-spanking-new Malibu get crash tested in front of my eyes, driving 35 mph head-on into a stationary barrier, I can also attest to the fact that the six standard airbags all work. Also, the 'safety cage' passenger compartment was not intruded upon whatsoever in this particular crash." So, it’s no surprise the 2009 Malibu earned the top score – five stars – in both frontal- and side-impact crash tests conducted by the federal government. Its rollover rating of four stars is also impressive. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its highest score of "Good" to the Malibu in both crash tests as well. A big plus is that stability and traction control are now standard on all 2009 models. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags are also standard.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette took note of another family-friendly safety feature in the Malibu. "The hooks for attaching baby seats are clearly in view, and there are three sets across the seat, too. That means there's no more groping under cushions trying to find these hooks. If you're a parent, you'll definitely want to take a look at Malibu."
When you check out the Malibu for yourself, you’ll have plenty of choices. The Malibu LS and 1LT have a standard 169-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that teams with a four-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed automatic for the four-cylinder is available on the 1LT and standard on the 2LT and LTZ. The 2LT and LTZ are available with a 252-hp 3.6-liter V6 that teams with the six-speed automatic. The LS carries an MSRP of $22,275.
The Malibu Hybrid combines the four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor/generator. It’s known as a “mild hybrid” since the system can turn off the gas engine while at a stop, but does not accelerate solely on electric power. No plug-in charging is required. Compared to the Malibu LS model (with up to 30 mpg using the standard 2.4-liter engine), the Hybrid model improves fuel economy up to 18 percent, resulting in up to 34 mpg. The Malibu Hybrid lists for $26,225 (MSRP).
As U.S. News concluded in their summary, “The Chevrolet Malibu has been the surprise of the automotive world. The car has won praise for its stylish good looks, spacious, well-designed and sharp passenger cabin, solid safety scores and driving dynamics that impress many who thought they knew GM products.”
We urge you to see what all the fuss is about. The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is amazing.
