Originally published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM
2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid | Taking a ride on hybrids' mild side
A neighbor stopped me in the new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid to ask about its fuel economy. Having received the car the night before, I...
The Virginian-Pilot
Review |
A neighbor stopped me in the new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid to ask about its fuel economy. Having received the car the night before, I said I'd let her know.
What I found surprised me. Pleasantly.
Some background: Although this car wears a hybrid badge, it's a "mild" hybrid. Unlike systems from Toyota and Ford, this hybrid never runs solely on electricity.
The small electric motor and battery merely aid the acceleration of the same 169-horse, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine found in the base Malibu. The motor also stops the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the driver accelerates.
The net gain over the nonhybrid four-cylinder Malibu in EPA ratings is a mere 2 mpg in both city and highway driving.
The 2008 Malibu is the beautifully executed new midsize sedan from Chevrolet, one that has been getting raves and has garnered "North American Car of the Year" and "2008 Automobile Magazine All-Star" awards. It's a well-made, nicely finished car. The dual-cowl cockpit recalls classic Chevys, yet this car handles in a way older cars can't match.
Plus, it has a ride quiet enough to please a librarian and supportive, roomy seats.
The only quibbles: V-6 models get hydraulic-power steering, while other models get electric power steering, which feels much more artificial. And I would like a rear-seat center armrest, but I can't have everything.
Now for some math, and I promise it won't be painful. The hybrid has a base price of $22,140 and is comparably equipped to a Malibu LT with a four-cylinder engine and a base price of $21,280. But hybrid buyers get a $1,300 tax credit. And the hybrid will save its driver $145 in annual fuel costs, according to the EPA.
Now, based on those EPA estimates, I wasn't expecting the stupendous gas mileage you get from a Prius. GM's mild system costs less that Toyota's system, but the results are also less dramatic. Putting the pedal to the metal and really abusing the car yielded 24 mpg, about the same as any four-cylinder midsize car.
But imagine my surprise when I drove the car gently, with an eye toward better fuel economy: The Malibu Hybrid returned an impressive 35 mpg — that's 3 mpg better than its EPA ratings (24 city, 32 highway).
Keep in mind that the car is almost as large as a Chevrolet Impala, Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. It comfortably holds four corn-fed Americans and all of their stuff. And I do mean all of their stuff.
Many Toyota hybrid models have small trunks because of the space taken up by the hybrid-battery pack. The Malibu doesn't have this problem; there's little loss in trunk space because the battery pack is significantly smaller.
The Malibu is the first desirable midsize Chevrolet in decades. And a mild hybrid at a mild price is one more reason to put the Malibu on your shopping list.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Picnics in the Pacific Northwest happen rain or shine
Wine Adviser: Rosés enjoy a boom in quality as well as quantity
Plant Life: Chic raised beds help make growing veggies easy
Northwest Living: One small plot serves as home, shop and town stopping spot

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Man found dead in King County Jail was on trial for rape
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
780 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
246 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
152 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
114 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
107 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
103 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
89 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
75 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
49 - Seeking your questions
43
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Lake Washington's sockeye run may hit a record low








