Day-by-Day Review: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ

By James Bergeron

Photo Gallery:
2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ

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The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ is my tester for this week. It’s been a few weeks since I had a test car, although I have been super-busy driving for the 50L challenge and other events, so I certainly haven’t been taking a break. This Malibu is a car that has been praised by nearly everyone in the industry. “Camry killer” and “Super-Accord” are phrases that have been used to describe it; those are some mighty praises.

The Malibu comes in five flavours with three names. There is the base model Malibu LS which starts at a very reasonable $22,995, followed by the LT model which comes in two different trims: 1LT and 2LT. the 1LT adds a few minor things to the base LS while the 2LT adds a considerable amount of equipment including power seats, alloy wheels, power windows and power adjustable pedals.

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Then there are the two LTZ models. One is a four cylinder model with a six-speed automatic transmission and, in the case of my tester, a six-cylinder 3.6Litre version mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

What does this mean? It means for once a car company is offering their fully loaded vehicle with a four-cylinder engine — wow! Typically in this vehicle segment if you want leather, alloy wheels, sunroof etc., you are stuck with the six-cylinder engine. Seems like GM realizes something nobody else has: some people like their luxury and fuel economy.

Of course, my tester is the V6 model; hopefully mated to the six-speed transmission it will not be too hard on my wallet at the pumps either.

When I first stepped behind the wheel I had a flashback to my time in the Saturn Aura XR I tested back in December of 2007. The interior colours and the layout seemed identical at first. A quick zip into memory lane — otherwise known as the Saturn Aura photo gallery — confirms my initial feeling. The Aura garnered praises from the industry when it was released and so too has the Malibu; not much of a coincidence when these vehicles share a platform and many parts.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
MSRP as tested (including destination): $33,610

For more information on Chevrolet and the Malibu visit GM Canada

Day 2:

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Despite the images taken by my camera, the Malibu’s interior is not pink. Rather, it’s a burnt amber-type colour that does have a red tint to it; it’s this tone that seems to have been picked up by the camera as pink. I do think the colour is a little odd; a slightly darker tanned colour would be classier in this situation, but the two tone interior is very nicely done.

The interior layout is not only very stylish but comfortable, and the gauges are extremely easy on your eyes. My passenegers noted, though, that the gauges look like they have a pink hue to them. Perhaps a little, but they certainly look white on blue to me. Regardless, they are very easy to read.

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The dual cockpit design works well and flows from door panel to the centre stack beautifully. The top of the dash has a small storage bin for items like pens and paper or perhaps the electronic device you may want to hide while parked.

Front seating is very comfortable, with power adjustable pedals and large seats. The seat belt latches squeak as they rub against the leather seating if you move around, which is quite annoying. Also, they feel somewhat loose and floppy as they are mounted on a wire rather than a solid metal bar.

Rear seating is very generous. I noticed a comment from a reader on Greg Wilson’s Malibu LT Review claiming they found the seating tight in the rear. This reader must be very tall, as I find rear seat space to be extremely generous, and from the outside, you can clearly make out the size of the rear doors, which are above average in length.

Trunk space is also fairly generous, although the rear folding seats do not fold flat and the opening is not the largest I have ever seen. There is also a cheap foam piece to cover the metal behind the seats that just seems out of place. Also notably missing are auto-up and down controls for any of the windows other than the driver’s, and grab handles. These are small items but things I expect in the $30,000 price range.

Day 3:

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Since the Malibu tester I have this week is very much the same vehicle as Saturn Aura XR.

When I drove the Aura, I wrote: “The brakes are uninspiring; scary actually. At first, I was afraid I would never stop. I have gotten used to them, although they still feel completely muted.” After reading what I wrote it all came back to me: I remember actually being scared of the not being able to stop in the Aura. Thankfully, the Malibu is not the same. The brakes are great — they are sporty-feeling, they grab quickly and feel reassuring.

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I complained about the odd paddle shifters in the Aura and that part sticks. I mentioned that the steering was vague, but the Malibu seems better. Both cars achieve exactly what I would expect though: very quiet, smooth and excellent out on the highway.

The six-speed transmission is extremely good and shifts nearly seamlessly. The 3.6Litre V6 engine, which produces 252hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, has power nearly everywhere and at anytime but so far fuel economy doesn’t seem to be its strong point.

In the handling department, the Malibu feels like it can hold its own in the mid to large size sedan category. The stability control, though, is very aggressive and cuts in on some corners that I drive at a normal pace — nothing exciting. I attempted the same corner with the stability control off with no issues. The traction control, on the other hand, is a little slow to engage and does allow for some wheel spin before activating.

Day 4:

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On the road, the Malibu certainly delivers a ride and driving feel expected of a typical family sedan in the mid-sized category. Interior space is plentiful and comfortable for four adults on long highway drives, and the Malibu seems well screwed together.

Fuel economy, though, is somewhat disappointing; as I drove the vehicle this week I could watch the gas gauge dropping, and with the price of fuel up in the $1.30 a litre range, that was disconcerting. It turns out I averaged 11.5L/100km for the week, the sad part being that I was very gentle on the throttle all week, so the result is disappointing.*Rating out of 5: