[AMERICA 123]

I don't think the Malibu will steel any sales from either the Accord or Camry.

Oh don't worry , it already has and it will continue to do so .

Not often discussed yet is thats its going to also steal a few from the Civic and definitely more than than that from the Corolla .

Also not often discussed yet is that a 19995$ base Malibu is pretty much the strongest 20k MSRP automotive product available from anyone for 2008 .

The Malibu in terms of model/options packaging and price points is looking more and more like one of the most 'efficient' and versatile out there .

 

[ChevroletRevived]

The Malibu consistently places in the Top 2, and the Camry is as of late coming in #3. Like I've been saying, the Camry isn't the benchmark of excellence. To me, the current model never was. It has an uncohesive design, lackluster dynamics and right from the start I noticed the cheap build of the interior. Chevrolet really stepped up their game with the 2008, it's a dramatic change. The one Edmunds tested had the worst interior color combination you can pick for this car! Doesn't do the car's interior justice. Also, I wonder if the results would have been different with the 6 speed in the Malibu (it's coming this year). Anyway, these latest tests are significant. Most did not think the 2008 Malibu would be that car; looks like it is. Just wait and see what they're going to do with the EPII cars!

 

[86fleet]

"It's annoying to have a manual seatback recline lever alongside power height and fore/aft adjusters"

this is referring to the malibu. Am I the only person that hates waiting for a power recline feature? If i want to lay back i would rather reach down and pull a level than reach down and finger a button for 20 seconds while the back lowers

I agree 90% of the time; though if you need the seat back to be a couple degrees off the full up position to be comfortable, the power recline is useful.

 

[dindak]

Wow, a lot of praise from the Edmunds guys. Wonders never cease!

 

[steinravnik]

The Accord is fugly, the Camry is boring. The Malibu is definitely the best looking.

 

[furyagain]

there is nothing wrong with MT 's review..
as they use a camry SE V6 in the test
while all others use XLE/LE

SE V6 camry is just a much better version of camry in my own eye
(cough...... yes I do own a camry SE V6, and i do sell Camry ,
i do always recommand my customer getting the SE model instead of LE/XLE.)

 

[marinerbc]

there is nothing wrong with MT 's review..
as they use a camry SE V6 in the test
while all others use XLE/LE

SE V6 camry is just a much better version of camry in my own eye
(cough...... yes I do own a camry SE V6, and i do sell Camry ,
i do always recommand my customer getting the SE model instead of LE/XLE.)

You DO know that it is written that Good must always destroy evil, right?

You are brave to post that here, well done.

 

[AMERICA 123]

The Malibu consistently places in the Top 2, and the Camry is as of late coming in #3. Like I've been saying, the Camry isn't the benchmark of excellence. To me, the current model never was. It has an uncohesive design, lackluster dynamics and right from the start I noticed the cheap build of the interior. Chevrolet really stepped up their game with the 2008, it's a dramatic change. The one Edmunds tested had the worst interior color combination you can pick for this car! Doesn't do the car's interior justice. Also, I wonder if the results would have been different with the 6 speed in the Malibu (it's coming this year). Anyway, these latest tests are significant. Most did not think the 2008 Malibu would be that car; looks like it is. Just wait and see what they're going to do with the EPII cars!

Exactly to all and esp that last !

 

[bhoppes]

I really have grown to like the looks of the Malibu, except for the rearend, which still bothers me a little bit. Other than that, I think it looks really good. Too bad the 6-speed isn't coming until 09 for across the whole Maliby line.

This Malibu is by far, a heck of a lot better looking than the older Malibu.

:dro:

 

[FenwickHockey65]

I really have grown to like the looks of the Malibu, except for the rearend, which still bothers me a little bit. Other than that, I think it looks really good. Too bad the 6-speed isn't coming until 09 for across the whole Maliby line.

This Malibu is by far, a heck of a lot better looking than the older Malibu.

:dro:

Yeah yeah, laugh all you want at me buying the last generation Malibu ONE YEAR before the new one came out.
Curse my Saturn for dying one year early...

 

[SierraGS]

"It's annoying to have a manual seatback recline lever alongside power height and fore/aft adjusters"

this is referring to the malibu. Am I the only person that hates waiting for a power recline feature? If i want to lay back i would rather reach down and pull a level than reach down and finger a button for 20 seconds while the back lowers

I prefer the power recline on the drivers seat, I am always between the stops - eithr too far forward or back. And I hate to have to lean forward to have the seatback come forward when driving. On a cross country trip it is great help to just "bump" to seatback a little forward or back to give you just a little different position - does wonders when you spend hours in the seat.

On the passenger side where you would actually recline the seat all the way down, the manual recline is better (faster) and you can live with getting stuck "between" the stops.

Give me power recline on the drivers side (with 4-way power lumbar) and I'm happy.

I do agree with the assement of the Edmund's article on seat comfort, the Accord had the best seats (except for the lame one-piece rear fold down), with the Malibu fronts second. The Camry rear seats beat the Malibu's with a higher seat bottom and more comfortable cushions and the Malibu rear seats have cheap looking plastic on the backs of them when folded - probably very durable, but even the last gen Malibu's were better.

 

[tgagneguam]

I don't think the Malibu will steel any sales from either the Accord or Camry. It is certainly a much improved vehicle,however, it has only managed to catch up, not leap ahead of the competition. The arrival of the 6-speed in the 4 cylinder will certainly help if it will be available in the base and LT models. The Malibu has been available for two months now and I am yet to see one on the road. New Accords are all over the place. What gives?

I'm not convinced this generation Malibu will, either. And as much as the Enclave and new CTS (and the GMT-900 FS SUV's and the Corvette) seem to sit at the head of their respective classes, the new Malibu doesn't seem to be superlative for its class. It's certainly good, and it certainly crushes the last generation 'Bu, but I'm not so certain it's class leading. It is refreshing that it can score so strongly against the traditional leaders of the family sedan market, though. Had this comparison been conducted just 12 months ago, the results would have been painfully different, with the then Malibu placing far at the back of the pack. What a difference on year makes. And hopefully the next generation Malibu will improve over this generation to the same degree that this generation improved over the last generation. Then, Chevrolet/GM will own the family sedan market again.

Oh don't worry , it already has and it will continue to do so...

How so? Honda moved 25.7% more Accords in 11/07 at 28,161 than 11/06, (the last month sales results are available), and sales at that point were up 10.4% at 360,976 for the YTD. For the same month using Camry figures, sales were best-ever November at 35,409 units, and for the year sales totalled 434,277 (+5.8%). By comparison, Malibu sales in November '07 were 7,210, which were off -12.5%, while YTD saw sales at that point off 23.8% to 116,140 units. Now, the Malibu may have been "gaining momentum" and "waiting for full production to take effect," but the sales results don't suggest that Malibu was stealing anyone's thunder: Accord and Camry were up, Malibu was down. Of course, that may change in the coming months-and hopefully it will-but as of 10:20 pm EST 01/02/08, there's insufficient evidence of that.

Let's pray that the sales fortunes of each car changes.

 

[stevecmh]

i like how different places but the cars in different orders.. the Malibu is always second.. but the Camry and the Honda switch

 

[AMERICA 123]

there is nothing wrong with MT 's review..
as they use a camry SE V6 in the test
while all others use XLE/LE

SE V6 camry is just a much better version of camry in my own eye
(cough...... yes I do own a camry SE V6, and i do sell Camry ,
i do always recommand my customer getting the SE model instead of LE/XLE.)

Oh goody .

Appreciate the candor - its so ..... 'refreshing' .

Speaking of candor ...... Tell me , how are those 'might last less than 24,000 miles' hi performance tires holding up ?

You cover that e brochure foot note #2 with your SE customers right ?

Kinda' hard to find on the website - doncha' think ?

I think that kind of rubber has alot to do with the SE's test results ..... wonder if its more tire than realized ........

 

[goblue]

What's become clear is these three cars are now very close. It all comes down to personal priorities, and reviewers have individual priorities as well (biases in their simplest form) Bias isn't always a bad thing. Its why MT likes the Camry and Edmunds prefers the Accord, but Automobile likes the Malibu.

This is what we all hoped for. GM will not unseat the Accord and Camry - but they will sell an insane number if they are perceived in the same class. And the Malibu finally is.

 

[jbernie]

The important thing for the Malibu is that is consistantly being rated as good as or better than the main competitors, you see it once maybe it was lucky, see it twice you pay a bit more attention, three times, four times, then it is no longer luck and the car really is good.

GM is really getting its act together and the the thing to watch is to see what happens with the 2nd gen cars, ie the 08 CTS, if the 1st gen cars are a step up and then the 2nd gen are even better again then GM really has changed.

If GM offers everything now then they don't have much else to go. The GF is going to be needing a new vehicle in the next 6 months or so, plenty of GM vehicles are appealing to her which is great news for me.

 

[sepi]

Malibore. GM has yet to build a competitive, quality product to compete against the Camcord. GM has successfully matched both for design that could cause people to snooze looking at it. What a shame that GM thinks dull is the answer in the marketplace. Either women have taken over GM or there aren't any bullocks left on the men in positions of power.

GM. Building wimpy vehicles for today's feminized men who wear hip hugging pants. Real men look elsewhere for vehicles.

 

[56 Starchief]

Every mall I went into this holiday season had either a CTS, Malibu, or both. The dealers have been doing a great job getting these into malls with representatives to answer questions and provide literature as well. I talked to each representative I saw at over 13 malls across NJ over this holiday season and all reported the same result:

People are really interested in these cars.

 

[BBDOS CV8]

Sounds to me like if the Malibu had the six-speed it would have level-pegged the Honda for straightline and the Toyo for economy, which would have made it first. It would be worth GM doing it for everything but the base IMO just so it does.

Not a fan of front-drivers, but I have to say this is the most promising Chevvy sedan in years. The Impala is good in it's class, so is this. The fact it rates higher than a Camry for fit, finish and content is a first, too. Plus the economy beating the Honda!

This is all good news - the previously unkind to GM publications are not making any excuses for recommending the Malibu, and make the point that for ride, handling, grip and many other ways it is more than a match for the others. With more speeds in the trans it probbly would have been for go, too.

It will take a while to reboot people's perceptions with the message that GM can = good value and good car, but it will permeate slowly.

 

[asim]

Yeah and I think that the new Chevy Malibu should have came in at 1st place. Its obvious that the Malibu was going to come in 2nd place. After all, Edmunds is very biased towards Honda.

I don't believe this review was biased, and if it was biased, it was probably not biased by much. Both the Malibu and the Accord are legitimate competitors for the midsize class. Much of the midsize segment buyers can care less about looks, but more about how the car functions as a daily driver, almost like an appliance. Even Edmunds pointed out that it was close between the Malibu and Accord, and on the second page a Edmunds editor choose the Malibu over the Accord.