CD Article: Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006

[CD_Editor]

Used Vehicle Review:

Chevy's "bread-and-butter family car," the current generation Malibu was last redesigned in 2004 and was available in two bodystyles: a four-door sedan and an extended wheelbase four-door hatchback (Maxx).  Its four and six-cylinder powertrains have proven reliable but there were some other reliability issues, says Chris Chase.  He recommends "getting the best price you can to offset the possibility of future repairs."   More...

[Mr. Meow]

Wow these Chevrolet Malibu's are not like at all.....

Plus they don't sound that great.
.

[Mitlov]

if the Malibu fits your needs, get the best price you can to offset the possibility of future repairs

This is not the first time that a CD reviewer makes a car sound like an unreliable lemon when CR gives the car an "averge" rating.  What's up with that?

This isn't an enthusiast's car, but it earned an IIHS silver medal for crash test safety, and it significantly undercuts its Japanese competition in price, especially used.  It seems like a great choice for a working class family to me.

A used Hyundai Sonata should cost about the same as a Malibu, and might be more reliable in the long term.

And it "might" not.  The Sonata gets an "average" for overall reliability from CR--the same score the Malibu does.

[jww]

I have always liked the Maxx since it's introduction. It was GMs first forray into a Vectra-like vehicle for North America. Great use of space for both passengers and cargo - especially the adjustable rear-seat. And the solarium rear roof window is a nice affect too - even if it does heat up the rear of the car a tad on sunnier days.

The sedan is simply boring to me.

[Bullet Blue]

My boss' Malibu Maxx took heavy damage when we had that rear end collision, but we both came out ok. The car was totalled.  In my brief experience before the accident, the interior was not up to what it should've been, but the ride was decenent and the Maxx model seemed to be pretty versitile as I have seen my boss cram a bunch of crap behind there with no problems before. I'd say that they would make a decent used car buy due to the depreciation. Might make a good beater for winter.

[Snowman]

if the Malibu fits your needs, get the best price you can to offset the possibility of future repairs

This is not the first time that a CD reviewer makes a car sound like an unreliable lemon when CR gives the car an "averge" rating.  What's up with that?

This isn't an enthusiast's car, but it earned an IIHS silver medal for crash test safety, and it significantly undercuts its Japanese competition in price, especially used.  It seems like a great choice for a working class family to me.

A used Hyundai Sonata should cost about the same as a Malibu, and might be more reliable in the long term.

And it "might" not.  The Sonata gets an "average" for overall reliability from CR--the same score the Malibu does.

Yes, I would like to see the back up for CD’s reliability claims . There are far too many people jumping on the GM bashing bandwagon despite the improvements in recent models. Consumers reports the Malibu has average reliability and has the recommended red check mark and a circle.

[jww]

... There are far too many people jumpingjavascript:void(0);
Undecided on the GM bashing bandwagon despite the improvements in recent models. Consumers reports the Malibu has average reliability and has the recommended red check mark and a circle.

For some reason people think that average reliability is a bad thing. Not me - average or below got most of us through<<edit>> much of our <<edit>> secondary schooling.

BTW - am I the only person who is aggravated by the stupid animated bobble-head advertising the Jeep Compass on the right hand side of the frame when posting replies?

Cheese Loo-eeze you gotta be kidding me!   

[chrischasescars]

Yes, I would like to see the back up for CD’s reliability claims .

I generally use anecdotal info from forums to find specific issues with a given car (in this case, the Malibu forums at Edmunds.com, cos I couldn't find a decent Malibu-specific forum with enough useful information to draw on) and I usually check the CR rating to see if the stuff mentioned in the forums matches the trouble areas CR points out.

I try to rely on real-world stuff as much as I can. When I scan forums, I look for threads that talk about specific problems, particularly threads where there's been a lot of discussion. That's a pretty good sign that what's being discussed is a common issue with that car.

A used Hyundai Sonata should cost about the same as a Malibu, and might be more reliable in the long term.

And it "might" not.  The Sonata gets an "average" for overall reliability from CR--the same score the Malibu does.

Mitlov, compare CR's data for used 2004-2006 Sonatas to that for used Malibus for the same years; the Sonata gets many more red circles than the Malibu does. Both get an average overall rating, but in terms of individual trouble spots, the Sonata looks a little better.

And back to Snowmans' comments: CR gives the Malibu a recommended rating as a new car, but the used rating is a different story in many cases, and that's what I use for these reviews.