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January 16, 2013
 2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT. Click image to enlarge |
Review and photos by Justin Pritchard
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2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT
Chevrolet’s most recent dip in the family sedan ocean has come with the trendy goal of offering highly fuel-efficient travels to its drivers and their families. The resulting new-for-2013 Malibu is a machine that offers tremendous capability for great gas mileage included as standard.
Partly, that’s because unlike the original Chevrolet Malibu from the sixties, the latest one is high tech, agile, fuel efficient, and doesn’t weigh as much as a Kelsey’s.
Moreso, it’s because of what’s under the hood.
A new 2.5L four-cylinder engine spins up 200 horsepower here. It’s got Variable Valve Timing (VVT) to enhance on-demand power delivery when you’re in a rush, and fuel efficiency when you’re not. By working the engines camshafts to regulate breathing requirements in real time, overall efficiency is optimized.
Direct Injection is also on board. By injecting fuel directly into the new Ecotec mill’s combustion chambers at extreme pressures, engineers are afforded a few gas-saving benefits. These include more precise control over fuel metering, the ability to ensure a more thorough air-fuel mix in the cylinders, and a cylinder cooling effect that enables the safe use of a higher, more efficient compression ratio. In plain English, direct injection is a technology that works to extract the most energy possible from every molecule of fuel.
Additionally, the engine itself is constructed almost entirely of aluminum, reducing overall vehicle weight and consumption.
A six-speed automatic connects output to the front wheels, helping the engine spend more time in its high-RPM power-band when acceleration is required, and more time at lower, more efficient revs when cruising gently. Ultimately, the engineers have fitted Chevrolet’s latest Malibu with a complete fuel-saving toolbox, though overall mileage will depend largely on the driver’s locale and right foot.
  2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT. Click image to enlarge |
Put to hard work, Malibu isn’t a lightning fast car, but it performs as well as it needs to when driven with intent. The engine is perhaps slightly noisy when pushed, though it transmits little noise or vibration into the cabin otherwise.
A sign of the times, those after more sauce can get a turbo four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower instead of a thirstier, comparably-powered V6. There’s also a Malibu Eco model available, which features extra fuel-saving implements and an electrically-assisted gas engine for even deeper cuts to fuel bills, hypothetically.
Consumption on my watch, which saw Malibu’s standard engine cruising the highway at a good clip and starting remotely on a daily basis, landed at 9.5 L/100 km. I found that figure decent in real-world driving given the conditions. Owners can expect to achieve better figures once the engine breaks in, as the tester had only done a few kilometres before winding up in my custody.
With the fuel economy stuff covered, Malibu confidently offers numerous ways for families to keep happy on the go during a road trip.
First, inside. The cabin looks and feels luxurious and high quality – especially if you opt for the LT trim level like the tester. It’s not an Audi A4. But the dollar-store trim and crispy, melted-down margarine container plastics that lined affordable family cars for decades are virtually nowhere to be found.
Add in the solid action of the controls, the nice assembly quality and the dense, robust overall build feel, and you’re nicely set up to enjoy a little taste of the upscale motoring high-life.
Both rows of seats are, additionally, easy to access and comfortable.
There’s plenty of room for everyone’s wallets, phones, gum and other pocket-contents, especially in the big centre console, and in the special hidden cubby behind the central display screen. This flips up and out of the way to reveal a secure compartment behind it. A cool touch.
   2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT. Click image to enlarge |
That screen, by the way, displays one of the most slick and easy-to-use infotainment systems on the road, too. It’s bright, vibrant, colorful and allows for easy switching between various menus and commands. If you can operate an iPad, you’ll have this interface down in no time.
OnStar is also fitted. Among other things, this connects you or anyone using your Malibu with assistance from a real-life human being at the touch of a button. It’s a big confidence booster, especially for parents of younger drivers, end even moreso for parents of young drivers who live out of town and travel. If you’re lost, stuck, out of gas, or in need of the nearest wing joint, a friendly OnStar advisor is a click away to help. And, since the whole system utilizes its own cellular connection, it’ll still function if your Blackberry’s back at home on the kitchen counter next to the scones.
 2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT. Click image to enlarge |
An array of goodies fitted to the tester worked towards a sense of laid-back confidence and comfort when hitting the highway. Your writer appreciated the ‘set it and forget it’ operation enabled by the automatic lights and automatic climate control, while heated leather and remote start reduced the freezing of my tootsies on cold mornings during my late-fall test. Extra points for the slick-looking LED light-pipe which sets the cabin off after dark, too. This is a delightful touch more typically seen in far more expensive sedans from across the pond.
There’s a Pioneer audio system with Bluetooth streaming and USB connectivity—but if you haven’t got that cranked, Malibu’s interior is remarkably quiet. In fact, I’ve driven numerous cars priced twice as much that were louder at speed. It’s an attribute from the last-generation model that I’m glad has remained for this one.
All said, Chevrolet’s done a nice job of making this Malibu a modern, connected, high-tech and comfortable and relaxing place to be.
Steering and suspension team up for a responsive and slightly sporty feel. Steering, particularly, is a touch heavy and quick – meaning Malibu feels locked-down and unopposed to sporty driving. On rougher roads, offensive sounds and jarring sensations are kept largely out of the cabin, meaning the Malibu’s ride feels tough, well damped and robust, not flimsy and fragile. I preferred this setup to the 2013 Nissan Altima SL I drove a week earlier. The suspension calibrations should satisfy the wide range of shoppers in Malibu’s target demographic: it’s comfortable, but not at the all-out expense of precision.
Brakes lack the precise feel you’ll find in a comparable German or Japanese car, but they bite hard and ditch velocity fast when called upon. Antilock brake action was felt strongly through the pedal, though it’s not overly eager to engage. Note that the factory all-season tires should be considered unsuitable for use in the snow, even with traction and stability assist systems on full alert.
    2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT. Click image to enlarge |
I left the Malibu wishing only for a smaller turning circle, and perhaps a more pleasing sound from under the hood when the engine gets spinning fast. It’s a tinny and dull noise, when opened up.
These are small complaints, in terms of a car that hits so many of the right marks.
End of the day, Malibu ticks all the boxes to take care of families on a road trip, while not emptying its tank in any sort of hurry. Give it a test drive alongside the Nissan Altima, which boasts a roomier feeling, even more upscale cabin, and the Honda Accord, whose new four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission feel stronger and more engaging when driven hard.
For 2013, Chevrolet Malibu pricing starts at $24,995.
What’s Hot: Quiet, comfortable ride, sporty steering, lots of features, refined powertrain
What’s Not: Big turning circle, dull engine sound
Pricing: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT
Base price (LT): $27,915
Options: Electronics/Entertainment Package ($1,155), Heated Leather Package ($1,315), 7-Inch Colour Touch Nav Radio ($795)
Freight: $1,500
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $32,780
Specifications
Engine: 2.5 litre four-cylinder, VVT, Direct Injection, 200 horsepower
Drivetrain: front-wheel drive
Observed Average Mileage: 9.5 L/100 km
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Features: remote start, sunroof, heated leather, Pioneer audio, automatic climate control, driver computer
Competitors
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Mazda6
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry
Crash test results
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
NHTSA: 5-Stars
IIHS: Top Safety Pick
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