Also in the minus column:
The six-speed automatic transmission mated to the V-6 paused when the gas pedal was floored, then delivered the downshift.
Gear changes involving first and second gears at low speed, whether in manual or automatic mode, often delivered a violent jolt.
Chevy said it could duplicate the jolt only when shifting manually from first to second then back. Is a violent reaction acceptable under any circumstances, however unlikely?
The generally smooth four-speed automatic in the gasoline four-cylinder upshifted with such a shudder that the whole car shimmied when accelerated hard up to about 40 mph, then off the throttle as if you spied a car about to pull across your path down the block.
Windshield pillars are so fat they can block vision. The hefty rear roof pillars likewise cut rear vision.
The hybrid, which Chevy forecasts will account for 10% of Malibu sales, is what's called a mild hybrid because it mainly relies on the gasoline engine. It doesn't continuously blend the output of the engine and an electric motor as a full hybrid does.
The gasoline engine shuts off at long stops, such as traffic lights, to save fuel and reduce pollution, as full hybrids do. The gasoline engine restarts immediately and smoothly when you take your foot off the brake pedal. The electric motor will add a touch of punch at wide-open throttle. And because the electric's there to help, if needed, Chevy can shut off fuel to the gasoline engine sooner during deceleration. All supposed to add 2 mpg, but the hybrid got the same 18 mpg, give or take, as the other two engines. Meloeny says the hybrid would do better in stop-and-go driving.
The generally smooth four-speed automatic in the gasoline four-cylinder upshifted with such a shudder that the whole car shimmied when accelerated hard up to about 40 mph, then off the throttle as if you spied a car about to pull across your path down the block. Well what does GM expect when they take the motor and tranny out of the Cobalt and stick it into a much heavier vehicle.
This unit is just another under engineered GM .......
