Topic: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu LT; Day 1

[kardood69]

I'd consider the Malibu if the nose looked better ... GM still has awkward and inconsistent front end styling.   I don't know why they can't find someone with a little taste and pay them alot to deliver a few drawings of a good looking front grill..

To me driving an Impala would be like driving a surplus police car...

[John Doe]

The tester here is overpriced for a GM 4 cyl car, everthing appeared fine until you read this entry  "Some other features on my $30,245 tester include".  There are so many other better choices than this boring rental mainstay car.  This car will need deep discounts to be taken seriously by consumers.

I think you're confused... this is a test of a Malibu, not a Camry, where your comments would be otherwise accurate.

The Malibu is a very appealing offering with one of the best interiors in its class, certainly better than either the Fusion or the Camry in that regard. It's tight cabin accommodations are its biggest drawback.

The MaliBOO is nothing but Rental Car material,  Even the tester came in the perfect "rental car" color.  If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a DUCK.  Quack, Quack!

[Tristan]

The tester here is overpriced for a GM 4 cyl car, everthing appeared fine until you read this entry  "Some other features on my $30,245 tester include".  There are so many other better choices than this boring rental mainstay car.  This car will need deep discounts to be taken seriously by consumers.

I think you're confused... this is a test of a Malibu, not a Camry, where your comments would be otherwise accurate.

The Malibu is a very appealing offering with one of the best interiors in its class, certainly better than either the Fusion or the Camry in that regard. It's tight cabin accommodations are its biggest drawback.

The MaliBOO is nothing but Rental Car material,  Even the tester came in the perfect "rental car" color.  If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a DUCK.  Quack, Quack!

A very compelling argument.  We can now be assured that the Malibu is a talking duck. 

Having seen it in a few parking lots and driving on the road, the car certainly has presence.  It's quite chunky and certainly doesn't go unnoticed, at least by me. I think the interior looks nicer with the climate control than with the awkward black knob in the middle, but it looks better in real life than photos I suppose.  I see what Spec5 says about the rear, it's strangely chopped off.

For me, the car would definitely be a contender if it wasn't for the paddle shifters. On a long highway drive (which I do almost daily) I like to put my hands on top of the wheel, and I can see these shifters getting in the way.  Otherwise, near-best fuel economy in the 4 cylinder non-hybrid midsize segment according to the US Department of Energy isn't bad! (I think the new sonata gets better highway MPG, otherwise the Malibu stands alone.)  Hey, even the white is a nice milky white and not a cheap pure white!

[Mozeby]

The tester here is overpriced for a GM 4 cyl car, everthing appeared fine until you read this entry  "Some other features on my $30,245 tester include".  There are so many other better choices than this boring rental mainstay car.  This car will need deep discounts to be taken seriously by consumers.

I think you're confused... this is a test of a Malibu, not a Camry, where your comments would be otherwise accurate.

The Malibu is a very appealing offering with one of the best interiors in its class, certainly better than either the Fusion or the Camry in that regard. It's tight cabin accommodations are its biggest drawback.

The MaliBOO is nothing but Rental Car material,  Even the tester came in the perfect "rental car" color.  If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a DUCK.  Quack, Quack!

Here we go again.  Another new alias Jimbo?   You wanna talk about boring rental cars.  Go to a Toyota dealership.

[toolatecrew]

I put quite a few KMs on an 09 as a rental.I think it may have the nicest interior in class. Quite, smooth ride and good fuel economy. Personally I didn't care for the 4cyl (I've never driven a GM 4 that I did care for). I can certainly see why the car would appeal to some over a Camary or Accord.

For me if I have these midsized cars all lined up on the rental car lot though I'm grabbing the Fusion. Interior is not at nice but driving dynamics are a cut above.

[Juke1]

The tester here is overpriced for a GM 4 cyl car, everthing appeared fine until you read this entry  "Some other features on my $30,245 tester include".  There are so many other better choices than this boring rental mainstay car.  This car will need deep discounts to be taken seriously by consumers.

I think you're confused... this is a test of a Malibu, not a Camry, where your comments would be otherwise accurate.

The Malibu is a very appealing offering with one of the best interiors in its class, certainly better than either the Fusion or the Camry in that regard. It's tight cabin accommodations are its biggest drawback.

The MaliBOO is nothing but Rental Car material,  Even the tester came in the perfect "rental car" color.  If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a DUCK.  Quack, Quack!

My last trip to Washington, my rental choices were, Malibu, Camry, Sonata, and others.  So quack quack you know flac, any car can be a rental.

[Juke1]

Why buy a Malibu when an Impala can be had for not much more? I know I'd get the Impala over the Malibu.

Had both as a rental, trust me you want the Malibu.

[stodge]

I'd consider the Malibu if the nose looked better ... GM still has awkward and inconsistent front end styling.   I don't know why they can't find someone with a little taste and pay them alot to deliver a few drawings of a good looking front grill..

To me driving an Impala would be like driving a surplus police car...

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this - the front end is awful. Actually, going from memory, I seem to remember thinking the same thing about the back end too.

[Shnak]

Why buy a Malibu when an Impala can be had for not much more? I know I'd get the Impala over the Malibu.

Had both as a rental, trust me you want the Malibu.

Well I've driven a Malibu Maxx in 2007 and then my parent's 2008 Impala. Between those two, no question I'd want the Impala. I haven't seen the new Malibu up-close, but based on looks alone, I'd also take the Impala. Maybe that'd change after sitting in the new Malibu or driving it, but I really do like the Impala quite a bit. Something just doesn't do it for me with the Malibu's appearance. Front looks like a Yaris, back looks like a sea of plastic with its huge bumper that looks way too big compared to the size of the lid. I don't know, not liking it. That center console is one of the worst I've seen, honestly. Reminds me of the Caliber, and that's not a good thing!

[airbalancer]

Holy Fack,
The Maxx is the old generation 
O, I forgot you like the older generation stuff

[Shnak]

Hey I liked the Maxx! I wish more carmakers would come out of the traditionnal mid-size sedan trend and do mid-size hatches and wagons!

[wing]

Are we judging plastic "feel" by photos again?  The Malibu interior is very nice and for those german lovers it's all squishy rubber stuff.

[Shnak]

Are we judging plastic "feel" by photos again?  The Malibu interior is very nice and for those german lovers it's all squishy rubber stuff.

Not even, I'm only talking about the design of it. The picture I've attached looks horrible, IMO, not to mention that everything has been moved down quite a bit to accomodate the huge air vents. The lower everything is, the worse it is to manipulate while driving.

[wing]

I used the dials extensively on my way to work today and they are easy to reach.

[toolatecrew]

I've driven one and the ergonomics of the AC etc is just great. Radio is very easy to access  and use. I'm 5 foot 8 and I did not find it too low at all But you won't know these things unless you sit in the vehicle.

[Shnak]

Hate to do it (compare everything to my new car, that is), but look how everything is high up in my Sonata compared to the Malibu, and that's with a navigation system that usually pushes down everything! That leaves a lot of room for storage (maybe 15 CDs behind the first door), and you can pretty much take a glance at everything without taking your eyes off of the road very much. I don't know, just makes much more sense to me.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Took one as a rental while my car was in the shop. I like the styling from all sides (especially the side and rear). Interior is nice. Seats are comfortable and the power is excellent from the V6. Decent fuel consumption. Nice silver colour as well.

"You wanna talk about boring rental cars.  Go to a Toyota dealership." I agree, Toyota makes good cars, but have never "grabbed my attention" to take a closer look. They are boring cars in my opinion. Driving down the road, I would never even give a second glance at a Toyota. The Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Genesis, Ford Mustang, Fusion, Pontiac G8, etc. have caught my attention. Toyota just doesn't do that for me.

[whaddaiknow]

Are we judging plastic "feel" by photos again?  The Malibu interior is very nice and for those german lovers it's all squishy rubber stuff.

Not even, I'm only talking about the design of it. The picture I've attached looks horrible, IMO, not to mention that everything has been moved down quite a bit to accomodate the huge air vents. The lower everything is, the worse it is to manipulate while driving.

Glad I'm not the only one thinking that the new Malibu has a tasteless interior. It's missing the natural flow and looks cheap and as an afterthought.

That hacked rear end, I still can't warm up to. Can't blame Camry, appliance as it is, for lack of cohesiveness in design. Sorry, if I don't like the way it looks, you won't get me to touch it. You won't get it backwards. First you see then you touch, not the other way around. And the sales numbers show it. If you don't get people into the showrooms, you won't generate sales.

I fully understand the notion of supporting "domestic" makes and their effort to improve but I'm not ready to commit my own cash to something I don't like for the sake of the idea. There are better choices there with genuine effort and design put into them. They get my money.

Having said that, the center console IS UGLY.

Now, not to sound like I hate domestics, the 2011 Mustang is AWESOME!!! I've test-driven the Flex and loved it. So I know, Americans can come up with a tasteful, bold and appealing design, and Malibu may get a passing score but not quite excellent or good enough in my books. There, I said it.

[SJP]

I was behind one of these, and a Camry a couple of days ago, they were side by side, both dark red. I know this opinion, but the Malibu had much more "presence" looked more modern, and the Camry didn't even catch my eye. This is not your typical GM sedan. In this class they cannot go to radical(the Camry and Accord are as plain as it gets, and dominate the segment) But I think they did a great job on making a classy simple design with well done interior. I only wish they had made the bow tie a little smaller on the grille, a pretty minor complaint really.

[toolatecrew]

Hate to do it (compare everything to my new car, that is), but look how everything is high up in my Sonata compared to the Malibu, and that's with a navigation system that usually pushes down everything! That leaves a lot of room for storage (maybe 15 CDs behind the first door), and you can pretty much take a glance at everything without taking your eyes off of the road very much. I don't know, just makes much more sense to me.

You won't know until you try. People who have tried it find it just great.