- sedan 137,687
- 476 below average
- 6,575 fair
- Brandywine, MD
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- autoshopper.com
- 476 below average sedan 137,687 gasoline silver automatic
2008 chevrolet malibu review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new for 2008. introductionthe chevrolet malibu nameplate has been around for a long, long time, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This edition of the malibu shares its underpinnings with the other gm cars mounted on the epsilon front-drive platform, including the new saab 9-3, the new saturn aura, the pontiac g6, the european-market cadillac bls, and the german opel vectra. That's a fine group of cars to be associated with and the malibu is expected to be the biggest seller among them. chevrolet says it has modified the platform with some extra strength and extra steel in the central tunnel area and the bodysides to help quiet the car and improve its crash performance. More quiet was added with composite inner fenders, thicker glass, and sprayed-on sound insulation throughout the body cavities. Still more quiet was engineered into the induction system, to make the engine sound powerful but quiet at full-throttle and during downshifts. It strikes a nice balance between well-controlled handling and a smooth ride. Overall, the new malibu feels smooth and refined and pleasant to drive. the cabin is nicely designed, attractive, and everything is easy to operate, and the seats are comfortable. in short, we think the chevy malibu stands up well when held against the toyota camry and honda accord gold standards. Choosing among them largely comes down to nitpicking, splitting hairs and personal preference. Camry and accord may have an edge on resale value, but they're also likely to come with higher price tags. In any case, we don't see the gap between this chevrolet and the imports that we used to see. lineupthe 2008 chevrolet malibu range includes the ls 19,995), 1lt 20,995) 2lt 22,635), and ltz 26,995), plus the hybrid 22,790). The base model also comes with electric power steering, to saved drag on the engine, while the v6-powered models come with hydraulic power steering. lt models come with the 3. 6-liter v6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission along with stabilitrak yaw control, 17-inch wheels and tires, dual exhausts and manual shift control. ltz adds 18-inch alloy wheels and tires, fog lights and clean-lens led taillamps, and comes with a long list of standard equipment items, plus and a higher-capacity six-speed automatic. Stabilitrak electronic stability control comes standard on lt, ltz, and hybrid models and includes brake assist. walkaroundchevrolet has followed an industry-wide trend with the malibu, stretching the wheelbase a full six inches compared to the previous model, to get more interior room for the occupants and a smoother, quieter ride, with an overall length that's only three inches longer, which means the all-new body has the preferred wheels-at-the-corners look. the malibu looks masculine, brawny, yet clean and crisp. The bodysides are completely clean and uncluttered, and the twin round taillamps pay homage to the corvette. The dual-port grille is a contemporary chevrolet design cue. We think it works better on the silverado, but it gives the malibu a distinctive look, and distinction is the goal of the midsize sedan designer. The mid-level lt trim levels are expected to be the most popular, say gm executives, though the entry level ls-2 is also expected to be popular. This design is brought into the 21st century with wood and metallic trim and a very pleasing blue-on-white instrumentation graphic treatment that's flooded with blue light at night. less noticeable are thoughtful features such as the ambient lighting. A feature associated with expensive luxury cars recently popularized by mercedes and bmw, ambient lighting helps the driver and front passenger find secondary controls and items around the center console. A cubby on top of the dash is convenient for wallets and such, a useful feature subaru has used for years. cloth, suede and leather interior options are available. The standard interiors are single color, but several new two-tone interior combinations are available, including a dramatic black-and-saddle leather combination that's very attractive. we found the leather seats in the ltz quite comfortable. Piping in a contrasting tone dresses them up. The front bucket seats are somewhere between sumptuous and luscious in the way they look and the way they sit, very comfortable and supportive. the stretch in wheelbase affords each occupant plenty of room, and there is ample headroom and legroom in the rear compartment for six-foot-plus passengers. The backs of the front seats are dished out to add knee room. The rear seatbacks flip down to provide a pass-through to the trunk. the new cabin includes a dashtop storage bin, door cubbies, and seatback pockets, standard ambient lighting for the overhead console and door-pull pockets. We've never cared for the look of rolled-up sliding covers on center consoles due to their ability to attract crumbs. overall, the malibu interior is attractive and comfortable. The quality of the interior materials is good. We think it compares well to the cabin of the all-new 2008 honda accord. The quality of the hard plastic on the lower dash in the chevrolet isn't as nice as the material in the honda, and the material on the steering wheel hub is a little nicer on the honda, but it's still nothing to behold. The chevrolet has an attractive leather shift boot on cars with leather interiors is not found in the accord. every malibu comes with xm satellite radio and the latest version of onstar with turn-by-turn navigation. However, there's no gps navigation system nor is there a back-up camera. Chevrolet says people prefer to use their portable gps units and relatively few want to pay for an oem navigation system, but we're a little skeptical of this. big knobs and buttons and an elegant design make operating audio and climate functions easy. In fact, we found it easier and less confusing to make adjustments in the malibu than in a comparably equipped (non-navi) honda accord; the honda seems less intuitive and convenient. Unlike the honda, the chevrolet has the audio controls at the top, better because people tend to fiddle with their stereos more than their temperature controls. climate controls in the malibu are very easy to operate utilizing big knobs for fan and vent modes and simple, clearly labeled buttons. Honda splits the climate controls up, forcing the driver to examine them more closely before pressing a button. Window switches are conveniently mounted on the doors. Redundant controls on the steering wheel are available. remote starting is available. Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Bucket Seats✔ Leather Seats✔ Navigation System✔ Backup Camera✔ Alloy Wheels
6,575 Brandywine, MDBrandywine, MD at autoshopper.com