2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid | Taking a ride on hybrids' mild side

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.