2008 Chevrolet Malibu

"Unpretentious" may be another good adjective. The Washington Post applauds Chevrolet; 2008’s Malibu looks good "without trying to be something that it isn't." Automobile states that what makes this 2008 Chevrolet Malibu a "star" is "substance, not appearance." Cars.com thinks that “Chevrolet finally has done its job on styling.”

One interesting feature of the Malibu is a "trapped" hood fitting. Instead of closing over the grille the way hoods have for the past 60 years or so, the hood fits into an opening, giving the vehicle a look that The Auto Channel describes as a "sleek" and "sophisticated."

Inside, Cars.com notes that “Interior styling is much better than anything other than the Saturn Aura in General Motors' family sedan lineup.” They also feel that the “two-tone gray interior…looks modern while reflecting some dash designs from the late 1950s and early '60s.” Edmunds observes that “two-tone interior treatments help lift the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu's cabin into the premium class,” and believes that “only the [Honda] Accord's interior really stands clearly above the Malibu's effort.”

TheCarConnection.com’s team of car experts has spent several weeks with the new Malibu, and we think its very handsome, attractive styling inside and out give the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu a more upscale appearance. The interior trim isn’t quite up to Honda’s gold standard, but with the Chevrolet, 2008’s two-tone interior treatments are truly novel and give buyers a real reason to choose the latest GM family sedan over the more established Japanese titans.

Reviews for the Malibu’s performance are mixed. On one hand, the New York Times compares the "eagerness" of both the four-cylinder and the V-6 favorably with the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima--due to what ConsumerGuide calls "caffeine under the hood."

Road & Track says the four-cylinder Chevrolet Malibu's "loss of thrashiness" and better noise control is attributable to a redesigned intake manifold. Cars.com acknowledges that the V-6 is "sturdy" and produces "plenty of power," but there is some disappointment that the power is not in line with its "numbers." Lower fuel-economy numbers are a gripe over at Edmunds, too; they note, “Possibly this is due in part to the Malibu's heft. At 3,649 pounds, the Malibu V-6 is the fat kid of the group.”

There’s also a Hybrid edition of the newest Chevrolet; 2008 versions sport the same four-cylinder engine installed in the base model, though it’s augmented with a small electric motor to assist it, along with brakes that regenerate the batteries. The result is a mere 2-mpg increase in mileage. The majority of reviewers agree that these features aren't really worth the extra $1,800--the federal $1,300 tax credit notwithstanding. Automobile disagrees: “The system's simplicity, low cost, and passive nature are appealing. Factor in the hybrid tax incentives, and you're almost getting something for nothing.”

In terms of handling, most reviews felt the Malibu had benign handling. Cars.com says, “It has excellent ride qualities, certainly on a par with the Camry and Accord.” However, “while handling is good,” they note, “there's still more lean in corners than with its competitors.”

Editors at TheCarConnection.com think the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has a very smooth, well-controlled ride and handles securely, though without much performance flair. If equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the Malibu has a fuel-saving electric power steering system, but V-6 versions come with hydraulic power steering that gives a bit more road feel.

The Chevrolet Malibu for 2008 has substantially more legroom in both rows, thanks to a wheelbase that is a half-foot longer than last year. "Front and rear seat passengers will have little to complain about in terms of ride quality," Edmunds reports. Cars.com says, “the modestly contoured cloth seats were easy to slide in and out of when entering the car. The materials also seem to be better than previous models.”

GM has taken great pains to make the Malibu quiet and free of vibration, Edmunds adds; measures include specially laminated window glass, acoustic insulation and composite liners for the wheel wells, and a "tighter" firewall to prevent engine noise from being heard in the passenger cabin.

Special engine mounts in the Malibu go a long way toward preventing excess vibrations from affecting passenger comfort; while ConsumerGuide notices some bumps in the road, their reviewers acknowledge that the different tires used on the various models may have no small affect on the smoothness of ride.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors have observed a range of Malibus, some with the jazzy two-tone interior offered this year. There’s been a sea change at Chevrolet; 2008’s Malibu has a very well-designed cabin, with an attractive instrument panel and materials that are pleasing to the touch. Front seats were among the most comfortable in the mid-size sedan class, and the backseat is quite roomy.

Front side thorax airbags and side curtain bags that cover front and rear occupants are standard, plus anti-lock brakes. Electronic stability control is standard on all but the base Malibu LS.

The reviewer at MotherProof.com watched a crash test of a Chevrolet 2008 Malibu at 35 mph and confirms that all six airbags deploy as needed. TheCarConnection.com also notes that this reviewer is the only one to mention the "safety cage," which keeps the passenger compartment from collapsing in such an impact.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu has been given the top five-star rating in all of the federal government's crash tests, along with top Good ratings from the insurance industry in frontal offset and side tests. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the chance of a rollover accident is 10 percent; the overall range for all passenger cars is between 7 and 18 percent.

TheCarConnection.com notes that the Malibu should sell for an average of $2,000 less than similarly equipped vehicles in the same class. If you order the Premium Audio Package, you'll get a six-CD changer and auxiliary MP3 jack as well.

Not all the reviews that TheCarConnection.com read are equally enamored of the OnStar turn-by-turn navigation feature, which is standard on every Malibu. Edmunds believes that GM made a mistake by not offering an actual navigation system. Their drivers report that the OnStar feature would not even function at first; eventually, it did, but the drivers were not impressed with the turn-by-turn navigation, which is a poor substitute for the map-based systems on most of today's vehicles. The Malibu includes a one-year subscription, but after that the owner must pay a fee for the service.

Three models grace the Malibu lineup at Chevrolet: 2008 brings the base LS, midrange LT, and luxury-laden LTZ. The LS includes power accessories, keyless entry, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, while LTZ models get plenty of noteworthy features such as remote start, automatic climate control, a universal remote, and power-adjustable pedals, plus a number of appearance extras like LED taillamps and interior ambient lighting. Bluetooth is not offered.