[eaton53]

This car appears to stack-up very well and even exceed the Ford Fusion; too bad it wasn't on the market 3 years ago

If it can reach the Fusion's volumes with a low percentage of fleet sales it'll be a considered a success.

 

[bballr4567]

This car appears to stack-up very well and even exceed the Ford Fusion; too bad it wasn't on the market 3 years ago...........

In 2008 the Malibu had a huge leap forward, and was a competent car in the segment, in 2012 the same basic car had fallen way behind, then the 2013 Malibu came out, despite improvements, barely adequate, at least 2 or 3 years late; behind the competition.

Now fast-forward to 2016, and we have another "catch-up" car................

Except it's now the most technological advanced car in the class along with the most available passive safety features as well.

 

[MiatsoCi]

If it can reach the Fusion's volumes with a low percentage of fleet sales it'll be a considered a success.

The Fusion's volume is not with a LOW PERCENTAGE of Fleet Sales tho. Fusion and Malibu normally run about the same in Fleet

 

[Ridgeback12345]

About the Malibu though it is as competitive a vehicle out there....period and I like it....so now you can pick on me

I am right there with you! Malibu is a great car both in pictures and in person!

 

[Ed753]

I'm not clear where the new Malibu doesn't stack up well, other than a few stats that most in this segment don't care about (0-60) and a piece of plastic on the bottom of the door that the author of the article thinks will get scuffed. This is a segment of reputations, comfort, size, but not necessarily breakthroughs. I can't remember ever seeing a real breakthrough in this segment, except maybe the 1980's jellybean Taurus. GM finally got the size right, sounds like they got the comfort right, they got the style right. Now GM needs to make sure the quality is there to build up the reputation, so maybe in 10+ years they can think about Camry sales volumes.

Unrelated - does GM need to be more consistent with future generations of the Malibu? Other than sheet metal, the Camry and Accord have consistently sent out the same signals over the past 30 years, where the Lumina/Malibu keep going from basic transportation to luxury oriented (2008 model), to Camaro-ish, etc.? GM seems to want the Malibu to come out of the gate with Camry level sales volume, if they don't they change the direction for the next gen, I think they need to say consistent so "brand Malibu" says something.

Me either, which is why I said it did...................

This car appears to stack-up very well and even exceed the Ford Fusion; too bad it wasn't on the market 3 years ago..............

Except it's now the most technological advanced car in the class along with the most available passive safety features as well.

OK, so when I say "appears to stack-up very well" and "even exceed the Ford Fusion" we agree?

What am I saying that is getting you guys all sideways!?

Regarding all the "autonomous driving" stuff, that technology has been moving very fast, I remember it was a topic of discussion at a conference I was at about 3 years ago, I was like yeah OK, roll me over when it is here, 30 years ago we were going to be flying around like George Jetson, and that hasn't happened yet, but look at it today; it is here.

Not to sound like a broken record, but the Fusion was at the NAIAS 47 months ago, it has been in the market for some 39-40 months. Today the Fusion isn't something all that special in the midsize segment, but 3 years ago, it sure the hell was; go back and look at a 5 year sales trend, take it a step further and compare it the the Malibu over the same period, it moved the needle, so as much as this car is improved, a lot of it is just catching-up, which is going to disrupt the market.

The Fusion's volume is not with a LOW PERCENTAGE of Fleet Sales tho. Fusion and Malibu normally run about the same in Fleet

Yup, and the Malibu is at 182K and the Fusion is at 275K YTD...................... meaning Fusion sells more retail than Malibu does in total.

It'll be interesting to see how the "2 Malibu" strategy goes moving forward, looking at the Impala we are at 107K YTD, with +/- 47K W-Body and +/- 60K Epsilon, and retail only being less than 45K of that 60K.

Here is my prediction for 2016; total Malibu sales +/- 250,000 but the new Malibu will only be +/- 160,000.

 

[Citation84]

Who in the heck approved that interior color combination? At nearly 32 large there should be no excuse for any interior quality cheapness. The top Premier trim should have 18" tires std with 19" optional. There is no reason to have such massive tires on a non sport sedan with FWD.

Poncho: that interior looks like very nice seats dropped into the grey interior of a Cobalt. The seats make the grey plastic look even more low rent than it would with neutral trim or a beige contrasting color. The two colors are not in harmony with each other. The seats look very high quality. The grey plastic looks like it comes straight from a Spark.

 

[pont3]

Poncho: that interior looks like very nice seats dropped into the grey interior of a Cobalt. The seats make the grey plastic look even more low rent than it would with neutral trim or a beige contrasting color. The two colors are not in harmony with each other. The seats look very high quality. The grey plastic looks like it comes straight from a Spark.

Additionally, that is not the ONLY color combo offered. Nevertheless, I guarantee there are some out there who actually likes this.

 

[MiatsoCi]

Yup, and the Malibu is at 182K and the Fusion is at 275K YTD...................... meaning Fusion sells more retail than Malibu does in total.

Sounds like a GM Vs Ford comparison in terms of Retail vs Total. Loves me some GM

 

[MiatsoCi]

Poncho: that interior looks like very nice seats dropped into the grey interior of a Cobalt. The seats make the grey plastic look even more low rent than it would with neutral trim or a beige contrasting color. The two colors are not in harmony with each other. The seats look very high quality. The grey plastic looks like it comes straight from a Spark.

Try this: look at REAL interior out in REAL world instead of just seeing pictures and thinking that represents realty.

 

[eaton53]

The Fusion's volume is not with a LOW PERCENTAGE of Fleet Sales tho. Fusion and Malibu normally run about the same in Fleet

I know that.
I'd love to see the Bu reach those numbers with a high percentage of retail sales.
That would hush up the Stiffly Stiffersons.

 

[GMJoe]

While not a show stopper I wished the lower door plastic wasn't so scratch

Remember the 60's and 70's when all doors has carpet scuff protection on the lower panels? May be retro, but works better than plastic.

 

[BlueMontreal]

All of this.

And I'd rather have LED DRLs than fogs any day. Pretty sure the only time I've touched the fog lamp button in the Envoy is when taking pictures with the lights on.

Real fog light are a must if you have to drive during a snowstorm.

 

[MiatsoCi]

While not a show stopper I wished the lower door plastic wasn't so scratch

Remember the 60's and 70's when all doors has carpet scuff protection on the lower panels? May be retro, but works better than plastic.

Makes sense.

 

[rockyspaw]

The interior looks good, but this color combination is hideous!

One of my favorite interiors was in my 1995 Bonneville...much nicer tan than the Malibu.

 

[Ed753]

Try this: look at REAL interior out in REAL world instead of just seeing pictures and thinking that represents realty.

It is saddle and light grey, the colors aren't even integrated to compliment each other, it is just chunks of saddle placed in and on a sea of grey interior, the flippin' seat-belts aren't even the same color as the seats!? Is this a Work Truck?

It is my opinion that this is a terrible execution, with regard to color combinations and aesthetically pleasing to the eye; I'm fine with grey, I'm fine with saddle, I'm fine with contrast, but to me this is "Green House, Purple Shutters" territory.

 

[MiatsoCi]

It is saddle and light grey, the colors aren't even integrated to compliment each other, it is just chunks of saddle placed in and on a sea of grey interior, the flippin' seat-belts aren't even the same color as the seats!? Is this a Work Truck?

It is my opinion that this is a terrible execution, with regard to color combinations and aesthetically pleasing to the eye; I'm fine with grey, I'm fine with saddle, I'm fine with contrast, but to me this is "Green House, Purple Shutters" territory.

Your opinion. Looks great to me

I would rather wait to hate on a GM product after I have actually first hand experienced it the way I almost ALWAYS do in a Ford.


Never the less... here's some non-" I'm looking for any and everything to hate about this car" info

 

[Ridgeback12345]

I like the interior I would probably choose a different color!

 

[Dequindre]

One of my favorite interiors was in my 1995 Bonneville...much nicer tan than the Malibu.

I'm a fan of beige interiors too, but up North, those beige carpets get stained and junky looking, especially in the winter.

 

[eaton53]

Here's the brown and tan interior of our Cruze. It looks nice.
If the colors were inverted (tan interior with brown seats) it would also look nice.

This ELR interior would look great with the premium saddle seats but that color scheme is not offered.

 

[Dequindre]

Here's the brown and tan interior of our Cruze. It looks nice.
If the colors were inverted (tan interior with brown seats) it would also look nice.

Cocoa/beige Chevy interiors are usually very well executed.