2007 Chevrolet Malibu

After years of making blandly styled Malibu's, the designers at Chevrolet had a meeting. At that meeting, they came up with an absolutely brilliant idea; "Let's make the new Malibu even more boring than the last one!”

So they set to work. Starting with the chassis from a Saab 9-3, they added a nice selection of V6 engines (avoid the 4-banger, it's harsh and underpowered), an upgraded interior and a whole bunch of useful features. The interior materials are of a much higher quality than you'd expect to see in a Chevy. Fit and finish are a million times better than previous Malibu's and there are neat touches on the LT like power adjustable pedals and comfortable seats. Satellite radio and OnStar are available and LTZ models have a nice, up scale leather interior.

The ride is nice and controlled. It soaks up bumps quite well, but it doesn't feel as refined as the Saab that it's based on. The SS models get a slightly sportier suspension tune, along with a smooth 3.9L V6 that makes 240-hp. A special cloth/leather trimmed interior and 18" wheels add a sporty touch. While it's no barn stormer, it is an entertaining commuter.

To top it all off, they added a full complement of safety equipment like traction control and a full complement of airbags. The new Malibu now had everything it needed to compete in the fierce family sedan market...except for one key ingredient; style.

For whatever reason, the designers decided to make the new Malibu look as exciting as a stick of butter. Sad, since this was one of the best cars that Chevy's made in decades. . YEAR TO YEAR CHANGES FOR THE CHEVROLET MALIBU: 2005: Curtain side airbags now included front side torso airbags. 2006: LTZ and SS models were introduced and came standard with front torso airbags and curtain airbags. 2007: Curtain side airbags are now standard on all models. . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE CHEVROLET MALIBU: Ignition Lock Cylinder - This will prevent the vehicle from starting (2004-2005) - $150