vLane Blog

Review: Seven days with the 'Bu

From Derek Kreindler, Featured Contributor
Posted on April 28, 2009

Filed under GM, Sedan, Review, This week, Chevrolet

One of the great tragedies of the General Motors saga is that just as they have reached a financial and market share lowpoint, their products are at an all-time high. Enthusiasts may drool over the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac G8 and Cadillac CTS-V, but the real jewel of the company is their segment-beating mid-size sedan, the Chevrolet Malibu.

While the chassis is certainly competent enough, the steering was most suprising, exhibiting a weight and fluidity that I was not expecting. The 2.4L inline is no Top Fuel dragster, but it never seems to run out of power during passing maneuvers. A is V6 optional, but I doubt buyers of this car will place performance as a priority. I've only had the Malibu for 24 hours, but I have already put it through a crucial test. Monday night saw me having to chauffeur a few friends around to buy beer, snacks and soft drinks for a friends's going-away party. The Malibu's huge trunk easily hauled our bounty, and the spacious back seats kept my 6'2" friends happy. So far, only the ergonomics bother me, such as the placement of the trunk release and the mirror controls, but those are minor nitpicks.

GM appears to have hit a home run with the Malibu, and even a sports-car guy like myself can recognize the competence of the Malibu. Saying the words "Buy American" with a straight face has never been easier, and I hope for the General's sake that their future products are as good as this one.

Derek Kreindler is a featured contributor for vLane.