C. Speck Motors

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Driving Impressions

We drove all four versions of the Malibu, the four-cylinder four-speed automatic, the four-cylinder six-speed automatic, the hybrid, and the V6 with the six-speed automatic. Most of our time was spent in the V6 and the four-cylinder with the six-speed.

The 2LT V6 we drove was very pleasant, indeed. Acceleration was good, if not sparkling. The V6 boats a little over 250 horsepower from the V6 engine. While that's 19 horses less than the Accord and Camry, the 3.6-liter V6 is a modern engine that offers more power than most families will ever need. We never felt there was a lack of power here.

With the V6, the six-speed automatic is quick to shift, up and down, smooth, lurch-free and quiet. The engine, which has nine different sound attenuators in the air intake system, never sounds anything but powerful and smooth.

In fact, everything about the 2LT V6 is quiet and smooth. The suspension soaked up rough Mississippi cotton-farm roads with aplomb, and kept the car straight and flat without a lot of pitching and body roll. On pockmarked Chicago streets, though, we did experience some jolts in the rear suspension. This has been a problem with the Epsilon platform, but it is better controlled in the Malibu than in the notably harsh Saturn Aura.

The steering is reasonably quick and precise, but without much real road feel. We also find that the steering wheel itself is a bit too large in diameter. A smaller steering wheel would give a sportier feel.

With the V6 engine, the driveline exhibits some torque-steer at full throttle. Stand on the gas when turning at low speed and you'll feel a tug on the steering wheel.

Braking action and performance is on par with anything else in the class of vehicles and trustworthy in panic situations.

The hybrid is considered a mild hybrid and uses a belt-alternator-starter, or BAS system, to stop and start the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine when needed. It shuts down completely at stoplights, and can add 3-4 kilowatts or about seven horsepower to the gasoline engine's output when needed. We found it works as advertised. The engine restarts immediately when you hit the throttle, and it does so smoothly. While the motor adds only seven horsepower, electric motors offer a lot of low-rpm torque, so the hybrid has a little more power from a stop than the base four-cylinder.

That base engine is the Ecotec 2.4-liter. In base trim, it comes with an old four-speed overdrive automatic transmission, an economical alternative that promises cheap insurance and low operating costs. The base model also comes with electric power steering, to save drag on the engine, while the V6-powered models come with hydraulic power steering.

The newly offered six-speed automatic is a much better choice with the four-cylinder. It increased fuel economy by three mpg on the highway, and the shorter gear ratios allow the engine to operate in its power band more often. Plus, it comes with steering wheel shift paddles that allow drivers to kick down to a lower gear manually when planning to pass. That's a nice option, because the four-cylinder is no world beater. It's not as torquey or spritely as the fours offered by Honda or Nissan.

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