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Malibu Maxx: "Solid, refined, and high on versatility,"

3.7K views 27 replies 20 participants last post by  VivienM  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
THIS one was a surprise.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/autos/story/2929657p-3392057c.html

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Winnipeg, CANADA - The Maxx version of Chevy's bread-and-butter Malibu sedan undoubtedly earned its moniker in reference to the added utility that it affords its driver and passengers. Rather than the standard three-box shadow that its more pedestrian sedan sibling casts, the Maxx is a part-wagon, part-hatchback affair. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing shape to be sure, it answers in a unique way the question of how to maximize utility and versatility in a car-sized package.

It takes $26,495 to get buyers in the door of the Malibu Maxx LS. Standard equipment includes a 200-hp V-6, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, traction control, a unique rear skylight, six-speaker CD audio, 16-inch alloy wheels, tilt and telescoping wheel, and power locks and.

Step up to the Maxx LT and 31,805 loonies will leave your wallet. The list of standard goodies grows to include a rear spoiler, fog lights, a body kit, automatic climate control, remote starter, side and head curtain airbags, OnStar, and leather trim on the otherwise suede-like seats.

Despite being badged an LS, our tester was an LT and had a couple of extras: the $1,445 DVD entertainment system and $1,065 power glass sunroof for a total price of $35,315 including A/C tax and destination.

Now that may seem like a lot of dough for a Malibu, but since the General has a penchant for offering hefty incentives, one could be reasonably confident that the price on the sticker isn't representative of what buyers dish out before they drive off the lot. While the base Malibu sedan can be ordered with a 2.2-litre Ecotec four-banger, all Maxx models come with the General's 3.5-litre pushrod V-6 with two valves per cylinder. It's the same engine found under the hood of the G6 sedan and GM's new family of "sport crossover vehicles" -- the Chevy Uplander et al.

The six-pot produces 200 hp at 5,400 rpm and 220 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. Power hits the pavement at the front wheels and is managed by a four-speed automatic transmission -- a familiar recipe for anybody who's seen a GM sedan in the past two decades.

And that's where the surprise is -- despite the dated technology that comprises the Malibu's running gear, it does its job quite well. Where the same engine in a van is overwhelmed by the weight it's lugging around, the torquey unit moves the Malibu with considerable ease. And because it has a broad torque curve, four gears are enough for the transmission even though that's one less than most competitors offer with their overhead cam engines.
Another perk of this powertrain: The Maxx consumed only 7.6 litres per 100 km on the highway and 10.5 in the city during its time with me. That's pretty close to the published figures of 6.7 and 10.5, considering that the highway loop used in official testing carries an average speed of only 77 km/h, with a top speed of 97 km/h. The Maxx also had fine manners on the road. It covered the kilometres in a refined (although somewhat noisy) manner, thanks to its solid Epsilon platform which it shares with the Saab 9-3 and Pontiac G6.
 
#4 ·
$35K for a mid-sized Chevrolet? No wonder GM has to sell their cars at employee pricing. They are pricing their Chevys like they are Buicks. Price this car at $25K loaded and its value and price would intersect. At $10K more loaded, it is time to buy a better car at the same price.
 
#7 ·
See now, this is the kind of stuff that gets GM in trouble and makes people wonder about quality control, what else might be wrong if illiterate work at the assembly line are , etc. Seriously, how many people have to be oblivious, on drugs, or completely careless for cars with these errors to make it to the dealers lot? Sure it's a small thing, but GM has an image problem to deal with and if they hand out misbadged cars to the media (and to customers) they shouldn't wonder that people will only take their cars if they are giving them away.

wpbharry said:
ROTFL. GM STILL has problems with badging. My Mom had an '85 Celebrity wagon, that was a CL, but it was badged a CS.

Edmund's has other cases of the misbadging.

Good review, though.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I've said it once and at the risk of being redundant I'll say it again:

The Maxx is an excellent, versatile, value-packed, do-it-all-for-less-gasoline vehicle, perhaps the best in GM's lineup right now. And people need to lay off the 3500 engine. It's a good step up from the 3400 and the other versions that came before it.

And lets not forget the LG8 3100 version before it was in the award-winning quality / reliability Buick Century, so how can an improved version with more horsepower and torque (and supposedly with even better reliability) be a bad thing?

I hope that when GM retires the Maxx model, it replaces it with a similar vehicle concept.
 
#9 ·
because people want to complain about something, so why not point at the silly 2 valve per cylinder engine. such old tech...

</sarcasm>

I love my pushrod engines, but right now they're the nerd on the block that everyone picks on because they can... of course, lest we forget, those nerds we picked on are now... our bosses
 
#10 ·
saturnsteve said:
They are killing the MAXX off aren't they? I don't know why GM made a MAXX SS.
I imagine they committed to the Malibu SS and Maxx SS before the decision was made to kill the Maxx after '07.

Seeing that the Lambda crossovers are getting ready to break cover, I'm glad that Chevy doesn't have a version. They're OK, if you like the Pacifica. I'm not that big of a fan.

Still convinced that Chevy will get a stablemate to the Cadillac BRX (probably with a pushrod engine) to replace the Maxx. That's fine with me.
 
#11 ·
Ming said:
I've said it once and at the risk of being redundant I'll say it again: The Maxx is an excellent, versatile, value-packed, do-it-all-for-less-gasoline vehicle, perhaps the best in GM's lineup right now. I hope that when GM retires the Maxx model, it replaces it with a similar vehicle concept.
The Maxx contains a lot of clever ideas - poorly executed. I like the Maxx best of all GM's cars (excluding the Corvette). But the drive train is disappointing. Its not just the old tech, its the NVH. The car deserved better.

GM needs to become the undisputed leader in engine design. Pushrods - whatever - innovation is dead at GM. Just look at the new Civic for an example of a company that is alive with ideas.
 
#16 ·
We bought a Maxx nearly a year (Aug 20, 04) and some 14,000 miles ago.

My wife absolutely loves this car. It isn't pretensious, it doesn't have flames or 20" spinning wheels on it, and it doesn't make a lot of racket when she drives it. Nobody comments on what a fine looking car it is (its silver, so it really is a wallflower), although when she uses the remote starter, she will occasionally have someone ask about it.

People are surprised when they actually take the time to see the features and options that can be had on this car for the price. If Chevrolet advertised this car properly, and compared it against the Accord and Camry, they would sell more. The JD Power rating on the Malibu is better than the Camry, but nobody knows it (look it up for 2004 model years - its there, I swear!).

If Toyota or Honda built this car, the popular motoring press would be all over it. In my opinion, this is a better Camry than the Camry.

There are many who decry the looks as too plain, but thats one of the things that my wife likes - she doesn't want the attention. In fact, when was the last time you looked at an Accord or Camry, and said to yourself, "Now THERE'S one FINE lookin car - I gotta have it!" My total has been about zero.

I'll admit that there are precious few four door family movers that excite me (OK - the number is less than a few - its zero). However, the Maxx has given me some reason for optimism about the General. It's head and shoulders above any prior GM vehicle we've ever owned - and my wife rates it as even better than the Toyota Corolla (badged as a Geo Prizm) we bought new back in 1989.

The Malibu and the G6 are indeed the General's Best Kept Secrets.

Steven
 
#17 ·
Thanks Steven for the post. I agree that the Malibu/Maxx look plain, or rather lame. But there's plain and there's plain. Granted that what characterizes that segment is, well, plainness, the Malibu not only looks plain it looks weak and wimpy of not girly. And that is just not attractive these days, when people want to drive giant scary trucks to match their self-impression of being tough and scary. Even someone who drives a four-door sedan doesn't want to be seen in something that weak.
BTW, what's YOUR opinion about the Maxx?

Steven8310 said:
We bought a Maxx nearly a year (Aug 20, 04) and some 14,000 miles ago.

My wife absolutely loves this car. It isn't pretensious, it doesn't have flames or 20" spinning wheels on it, and it doesn't make a lot of racket when she drives it. Nobody comments on what a fine looking car it is (its silver, so it really is a wallflower), although when she uses the remote starter, she will occasionally have someone ask about it.

If Toyota or Honda built this car, the popular motoring press would be all over it. In my opinion, this is a better Camry than the Camry.

There are many who decry the looks as too plain, but thats one of the things that my wife likes - she doesn't want the attention. In fact, when was the last time you looked at an Accord or Camry, and said to yourself, "Now THERE'S one FINE lookin car - I gotta have it!" My total has been about zero.

Steven
 
#18 ·
I gotta see if I can get that spoiler put on my car...IMO, it gives the back a much different attitude.
And why did they build the Maxx SS? Cause people like myself want more power, better handling, and the utility of teh Maxx. If the SS was out last year, it would most deffinatly be sitting outside right now.
I love my Maxx, and my only gripe is that it doesnt handle like I want it too, but I dont expect Camaro handling out of a family sedan...which is why I want a SS!!!
Anyway, Maxx is a great car, and I deffinatly belive if Honda created tis car, it would be a sensation around the world. 2 things make this a hit from the minds of most car critics, and thats OHC engine and 6 spd auto trans.
 
#19 ·
cfch3399 said:
Thanks Steven for the post. I agree that the Malibu/Maxx look plain, or rather lame. But there's plain and there's plain. Granted that what characterizes that segment is, well, plainness, the Malibu not only looks plain it looks weak and wimpy of not girly. And that is just not attractive these days, when people want to drive giant scary trucks to match their self-impression of being tough and scary. Even someone who drives a four-door sedan doesn't want to be seen in something that weak.
BTW, what's YOUR opinion about the Maxx?

MY Opinion? Never forget Rule #1 - Don't argue with the wife. However, while I would never mistake the Maxx for a Corvette, I believe it is an excellent choice for anyone in the family sedan/grocery getter market. It isn't a sports sedan, and I don't think there is any effort on Chevy's part to market it that way. That said, they don't seem to be marketing to the strength of the car, either. I personally think that they could take advantage of the quirky looks of the car (see, we don't want to call it plain - we want to indicate that it represents a strong individual statement to go against the grain) and run some off beat commercials (like VW used to do) pointing up the high points compared to the Toyondas.

With respect to the comment that it is a good idea poorly executed, I would have to disagree. The fit, finish, and NVH are completely acceptable to me. I'm not sure that there is any objectitve data that shows that NVH and other execution details are poor - in fact, the JD Power results would seem to indicate that the execution is good. Throw in the fact that this is an American product, not Asian, and here's a good argument that GM can build with the rest of the world (when they want to).

With respect to the new tech/old tech argument, that should just go away. Why in the world would GM want to ADD complexity to the powertrain when what the customer is looking for is dependable transportation. Ask 100 Camcord owners about the technical details of their powertrain, and see how many can tell the difference between OHV and OHC. I suspect all they really know is that Toyonda made it, so it must be superior.

I've read all the test reports, and wonder why these so-called journalists constantly harp about the looks. I still maintain that the defining characteristic of the sedan market is plainness, because the owners view the car as simply a means to get from point A to point B.

I've rambled quite a bit, but I hope I got the essence of my thoughts across.

Thanks for asking!

Steven

PS - Maybe Chevy could offer flame decals to make the Maxx look more like "Madd Maxx"! Or better yet, maybe they could pull out the screaming chicken that the late 70's Trans Ams had on their hoods! Now that would show the naysayers that Chevy means business.
 
#20 · (Edited)
If more people knew about and actually went to see the Malibu sedan and Maxx, sales would jump. I bought one on July 23. I knew it existed, as I saw it at the car show in January of 2004 and have seen them on the freeway. The aluminum rear control arms stand out, both because they are aluminum and because it seemed unusual to me that GM spent that much on the rear suspension.

I had never given any thought to buying one before last week, and I hadn't set foot in a Chevrolet showroom (except when walking to the parts department) since I bought a 1996 Impala SS which I sold in September of 2001. That car was lacking in quality (carpet wore through every 15,000 miles, transmission blew up twice, seat tracks broke, seat spring broke through and poked me and my pants, :mad: so I was not planning on buying a GM product anytime soon, although I had owned four or five others besides the Impala.

What happened? Three things:

1) I had a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer V8 with almost 98,000 miles on it which I wanted to sell. I had a 2006 Explorer Limited on order. I decided it best to sell the Mountaineer before it went over 100,000 miles, a point where it might significantly decrease in value. So, I took my work tools and supplies, which include a 15' ladder which collapses to 55," and much of it into my hatchback, a C230K. We had used her car a few times before for work, but I realized that I did not need a 4,500 pound SUV to carry my cargo (tools, supplies, paperwork).

2) Gasoline prices are high and probably going higher. Besides my desire to save money on fuel (I drive 30,000 plus business miles per year, and the Mountaineer was rated at just 14/19 MPG), I sure hate giving so much money to the Middle East.

3) The GM Employee pricing.

I looked at the Mazda 6 hatchback and wagon, but they have the high window sills which make the inside feel like being a short person in a deep bathtub.

I then searched the internet to see what else was out there, and re-discovered the Maxx. While most internet photos do a poor job of showing how nice the car really is (including those on the Chevrolet site), I liked what I saw, the features, and the platform.

When I looked at the prices and searched the dealer inventories, I became even more interested. I found a white / tan Maxx LT with every option except the engine block heater, and it was at the dealer closest to our house. We have no use for the DVD player, but the price with the family plan and rebate was just $24,003!

I drove it, liked it, wrote a $26,309.85 check (tax & license in CA is high), and handed it to the finance guy and the young salesman who had just made his first sale, and drove it home.:)

If the Employee discount results in sales to people who have never owned a GM car, it seems that it will put a long-lasting dent in the sales of other brands. The Maxx is an excellent example of a car which is far nicer than I would have imagined before last week. Even the fake wood is nice, far better than any other I have seen, and the smooth and quiet V6 is further proof that overhead camshafts are often an unnecessary expense. It is also a body style which many others choose not to offer, and the longer wheelbase and sliding & reclining rear seats are wonderful innovations.

If they discontinue the Maxx, I hope that they replace it with a wagon. Not a crossover which tries to look like an SUV, but a normal wagon.
 
#21 ·
Steven8310 said:
We bought a Maxx nearly a year (Aug 20, 04) and some 14,000 miles ago.

My wife absolutely loves this car. It isn't pretensious, it doesn't have flames or 20" spinning wheels on it, and it doesn't make a lot of racket when she drives it. Nobody comments on what a fine looking car it is (its silver, so it really is a wallflower), although when she uses the remote starter, she will occasionally have someone ask about it.

People are surprised when they actually take the time to see the features and options that can be had on this car for the price. If Chevrolet advertised this car properly, and compared it against the Accord and Camry, they would sell more. The JD Power rating on the Malibu is better than the Camry, but nobody knows it (look it up for 2004 model years - its there, I swear!).

If Toyota or Honda built this car, the popular motoring press would be all over it. In my opinion, this is a better Camry than the Camry.

There are many who decry the looks as too plain, but thats one of the things that my wife likes - she doesn't want the attention. In fact, when was the last time you looked at an Accord or Camry, and said to yourself, "Now THERE'S one FINE lookin car - I gotta have it!" My total has been about zero.

I'll admit that there are precious few four door family movers that excite me (OK - the number is less than a few - its zero). However, the Maxx has given me some reason for optimism about the General. It's head and shoulders above any prior GM vehicle we've ever owned - and my wife rates it as even better than the Toyota Corolla (badged as a Geo Prizm) we bought new back in 1989.

The Malibu and the G6 are indeed the General's Best Kept Secrets.

Steven
I said a long time ago that GM needed to talk about more than the rear adjustable seats. I haven't seen much since.
 
#23 ·
FStephenMasek said:
If more people knew about and actually went to see the Malibu sedan and Maxx, sales would jump. I bought one on July 23. I knew it existed, as I saw it at the car show in January of 2004 and have seen them on the freeway. The aluminum rear control arms stand out, both because they are aluminum and because it seemed unusual to me that GM spent that much on the rear suspension.
Stephen, I'd seen this post in "another" forum (which I don't belong to, just observe) and it was inspirational. Welcome aboard!!

BigAl: I too am excited about seeing the Maxx ss, but as far as buying one, never. Those 18" wheels will make it ride like a truck, I just bet. Hope your kidneys are in good shape. Nice idea, but...

Steve8310, another inspirational story. I think the Maxx looks best in your wife's silver or my Light Driftwood. I do miss having the rear spoiler/wiper, which wasn't offered in '04, as you know. I have days though (just like I did with my '98 Malibu) where the 3500 can be smooth as glass at all rev ranges (like today, we're having Saharan dust, maybe that's it) and others where it's course at higher revs, and that does annoy me. But on the whole, I agree that pushrods aren't bad. I'm not gonna call the quality of my '04 exceptional, but I bet it's on par with the Camcords. A HUGE improvement over the '98, so far anyway. And I agree that Chevy mishandled the advertising on it, from the start. Seeing that the Employee pricing has nearly cleared GMs lots of '05s, though, there are probably a lot more on the road now that could cause more interest. That and gas prices.
 
#24 ·
I noticed some reviews stating that the Maxx is smooth, but rough over joints in concrete roads. Others have rated is smooth in general. Ours seems rougher than it should be over bumps, and of course on the concrete roads, and rougher than on the test drive, where I hit bumps, but on asphalt roads. I will check the rear shocks, as one could be bad. What does everyone here think? It is one week old and has 750 miles on it now.
 
#25 ·
FStephenMasek said:
I noticed some reviews stating that the Maxx is smooth, but rough over joints in concrete roads. Others have rated is smooth in general. Ours seems rougher than it should be over bumps, and of course on the concrete roads, and rougher than on the test drive, where I hit bumps, but on asphalt roads. I will check the rear shocks, as one could be bad. What does everyone here think? It is one week old and has 750 miles on it now.
I rented a new Maxx for a week while visiting Arizona in May and put 1400 miles on it. Most of those miles we had the cargo area packed higher than the rear seats with our suitcases/backpacks, and 4 people in the car. We were very impressed with the car, including it's smooth, quiet ride. Granted, the roads in AZ are WAY better than the thinly disguised tank testing trails that pass for highways in Michigan, but the Maxx's ride seemed really good.

Combine that with the huge cargo area and huge rear seat, plus the ability to go from Tucson to Vegas on one tank (about 30 mpg loaded with the AC blazing the whole way), it's definitely on our list of cars to consider for the future.
 
#26 ·
I bought a Maxx two weeks ago, 2 days after returning to the U.S. It's been nothing short of stellar. It easily swallowed everything that I had to move, and nobody minds riding in the rear seat, as it has nearly as much legroom and comfort as the front. I've already put about 1800 miles on it, and my only gripes so far are that I've been getting less than EPA mileage (Although I drive.... aggressively.... so that could be expected) and the A/C could be a little more powerful when using air from the outside. Other than that, I've been enjoying the power, room, ride, and amazing utility of this great car.

Oh yeah, I've made possible buyers out of at least two people, just by taking them for a ride :D