Chevrolet's goal with the Malibu was to provide full-size ride quality and quietness in a mid-size car. On that front, they succeeded-in part by designing separate steel subframes for the front and rear ends. This approach protects the cabin-and its inhabitants-from engine vibration and from harsh bumps absorbed by the front MacPherson struts.The independent rear suspension is attached to a rear subframe, which yields a smoother, more uniform ride as each rear wheel responds individually to varying road surfaces. That definitely made a difference when we took the Malibu out onto some suburban-Detroit dirt roads, which were freshly rutted after a post-blizzard thaw. Ordinarily, this would be a molar-rattling experience, but the Malibu fended off the bumps like a bigger sedan. Chevrolet engineers also gave the Malibu a suspension that's significantly firmer than that of previous mid-size Chevy sedans. That means the Malibu handles more crisply-and minimizes body roll-in corners and during abrupt lane-changing maneuvers. We had an opportunity to drive a Malibu down a gnarly, narrow back road in a back-to-back comparison with a Taurus, Camry and Accord. In the handling department, we rank the Malibu higher than the Taurus, and at least as good as the Camry. The Taurus feels big and heavy on a winding road where the Malibu feels light and agile. The Accord had a slight edge, but not a big advantage. The Malibu's steering responded quickly in hard-cornering situations. Overall, the Malibu rewards the driver with good feedback and sporty, predictable handling response. The 3.1-liter V6 that comes standard in the Malibu LS puts out 150 horses. On paper, that's the same amount of horsepower as the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that comes standard in the base Malibu. But the V6-an option in the base model-delivers 35 more foot-pounds of torque than the 4-cylinder engine. That translates into more passing power and more thrust from a dead stop. So if you're buying the base Malibu and you're not on a tight budget, we recommend the V6. That V6 hustles the Malibu from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. That's quicker than the Dodge Stratus V6 (9.2 seconds) and Ford Contour V6 (8.8 seconds), but not as quick as the Camry CE V6 (7.0 seconds) or the Accord LX with its new 3.0-liter V6 (7.7 seconds). The Malibu provides plenty of power for merging briskly onto the freeway. We were impressed with how well Chevrolet has damped wind noise at high speeds with little touches like recessed door handles and a special windshield seal. The smooth-shifting, highly efficient transmission monitors factors like temperature, altitude and throttle position to determine optimum shift points. And in both normal and emergency-stopping situations, the brakes are solid and firm, with no discernable fade or grab. |
