It’s in the details: Chevy Malibu beats competition at every turn

[NNN0LHI]

http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/autos/news/1698114,080309-chevy-malibu2.article

Chevy’s 2009 Malibu has winning ways

August 3, 2009

BY TOM KEANE, SearchChicago – Autos Correspondent

When I opened the door of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu it was obvious why this car is a winner. Attention to detail is found everywhere.

For example, when I parked the Malibu in my driveway – which has a slight upward slope – and I opened the door, it stayed opened. In other cars the door opening has to be pushed wider for it to stay in place.

The small lights that illuminate the door handles and the box on top of dash to hold cell phones and other small items are other thoughtful features. These subtleties are why this car has received the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Midsize Car Initial Quality Award. It was also named the 2008 North American Car of the Year.

The Malibu has a refined and contemporary exterior that represents the global face of Chevrolet. It sits on 17-inch wheels with chrome trim and has attracted numerous buyers at a time when car sales are experiencing a tough market.

Chevrolet reports the Malibu is a solid performer because of its high fuel ratings with sales up 43 percent over December 2007.

[hamsterjill]

1. Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet!

(An old commercial just in case you are too young to remember).

I drive only GM products, and have never had any unreasonable trouble with any that I've owned.

[DainBramaged]

6. AYE, me three, a '66 Ford Mustang in the early Seventies

everyone else has been a GM product since my FIRST car, a '59 Chevy Impala.

[Romulox]

2. It's a really nice car. I'd like to see a sport version with a 6 speed

to compete among the coffee can muffler/racerboy sport sedan market.

[NNN0LHI]

3. I know I have driven one

Everything was where it was supposed to be. The knobs, controls, etc. were all were where you expected them to be. And it rode like a dream. Great visibility too. No blind spots which I consider important. Very safe car to drive.

Don

[virginia mountainman]

4. That is what the Impala SS is for...

http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-impala-ss.html

Look at what the 2010 Impala SS WAS GOING TO BE...Before the auto market collapsed..

http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6316435/the-general-forum/edmunds-confirms-the-2010-rwd-412hp-v8-chevy-impal/index.html

[DainBramaged]

8. The SS is history for 2010, and the G8 which was considered as it's replacement

will be built for police use only to compete against the Dodge Chargers currently dominating that market niche.

I wish I was a police department............

[flvegan]

9. They make the VXR in the UK. 280 hp.

Add a 6 speed, and that would be sweet. No reason they couldn't do it here. And I very much agree with you.

[Burma Jones]

5. I care much much less about initial quality than I do about 90,000 mile quality

I had an old Chevy Truck that had great 90,000 mile quality.

I had a horrid, horrid, horrid Ford Taurus, wonderful initially but with terrible 30,000 mile quality - it was gone before I put 35,000 miles on that piece of crap.

I had an Infiniti, great initially, not so great at 95,000 miles.

I had a Volvo with some significant electrical problems in the first six months, all covered by warranty, but then the Volvo performed superbly until I sold it with 150,000 miles

So, I'm dubious about initial quality......

[MyUserNameIsBroken]

7. Nothing against the Malibu, but

As the above poster notes, initial quality as measured by JD Powers is essentially meaningless. It amounts to "can I find the radio controls and do I like the cup holder placement." It rewards predictability and bland design, and the categories are so narrow that the competition within them is not large.

Read the discussion here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-truth-about-jd-powers-iqs/ for more info about the problems with the survey design.

[blue_onyx]

10. The Malibu seems like a great car

I will look at it whenever I can afford a new car.

[skipos]

11. The Ford Fusion hybrid's mpg is much more appealling to me

Though I do like the way the Malibu looks.

[BlooInBloo]

12. Car and Driver seems to like it too, initially at least...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/08q3/2009_chevrolet_malibu-review

There's almost no chance I would drive a 4-cylinder car of that size - I assume they have a 6-cyl version.

I also have trouble picturing myself driving a non-stick. That's just not driving. :P