New Malibu a game changer

The redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is an American mid-sized sedan that can compete at the top.

Hybrid improvements
Hybrid improvements
The Malibu shares most of its engineering with the Saturn Aura. That includes gas/electric hybrid versions of both cars. Fortunately, GM has managed an amazing improvment in the "mild hybrid" it uses in these models.

When I reviewed the Saturn Aura Green Line back in July, I panned it. Acceleration was patchy and uneven with an on-off, slow-then-go feel. The four-cylinder engine sounded sickly and harsh. Braking was just as wobbly, requiring constant adjustments of pedal pressure to help compensate for the hybrid system's automatic downshifting.

That's why, when I entered the highway course in the Malibu Hybrid, I thought the General Motors PR man riding shotgun was lying. There was no way, I thought, the car I was driving was a Malibu Hybrid.

Acceleration was smooth and quiet. Braking also felt even and predictable. The improvements that make the new Malibu Hybrid so nice to drive have also been made to the Saturn Aura Hybrid.

It will take more than just a run up and down a test track to know for sure, but a good Malibu Hybrid, even though it won't match the fuel economy of the Camry Hybrid, could potentially represent a better overall value.

Last updated January 25 2008: 12:14 PM ET

Overview

Interior

Handling

Cruising

Hybrid

Value
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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.