[goblue]

Interior is a dissapointment, might be passable compared to the Camry, looks below average compared to the new Accord (which borrowed points from BMW) and does not compare to the Jetta.

 

[Masospaghetti]

WHY, WHY WHY WHY, would GM take such a decent interior and make it a sea of gray ugliness??

The LTZ interior looks great, but putting all of that gray in there makes it look as bad as the current interior. If they don't offer the others as options, along with the omission of the 6-speed automatic from 4-cylinder models, it will be the model's downfall.

 

[eaton53]

VW Phaeton profile - look familiar?

I thought that right away also.
IMO, that is most certainly not a bad thing...

 

[regfootball]

hate to say it, the interior looks cheap.

the exterior pics look great, but the car still looks too narrow, same flaw as the aura and g6. thanks epsilon. real midsizers have more cabin girth.

to all the whiney young pups here. start paying property taxes, house payments, etc. yada, before whining too much about whether you can get a nav system. sometimes things like that are not offered because it simply won't sell enough to justify the effort.

 

[AndrewGS]

:dro:

 

[GM-10]

The Malibu looks great from the side profile.

 

[1qwikss]

i actually like the grey interior of the car and can't stand that
2 toned with brown .
i'll have to see it all in person though but from the pics it looks good.

 

[kodos78]

Hmm. Like the exterior (rear-end as many have mentioned is a bit weird for a Chevy). The interior not so much. Looks a bit cheap at first glance. But we all know how atrocious GM stock photos are. Can't they get some talented folks in their PR department, or all of them unionized as well? I kid, I kid... (kinda).

It will probably be competitive for a little while, at least its not embarassing.

I wish they would take the sort of talented folks that they obviously have on the CTS, Trucks, and Corvette and just put them into a room for 2 years to release the "ultimate" 4 door sedan.

GM really needs to up the ante in this space, and they obviously have talented engineers and designers.

 

[Askani]

That front end is hideous. However, given as I find Toyota and Handa cars about as ugly as you can get, maybe this thing will sell just as well...

 

[fastball]

As much of an improvement over the current model I think it is, I don't think it will steel sales away from the Accord and Camry crowds. The interior is, I don't know, not really that intriging. Square fit corporate radio and HVAC, no innovative design or anything that pushes the boundaries. It's a very plain Jane looking vehicle.

Just once I'd like to see something come from GM that is undeniably different and better than Honda and Toyota. Trying to emulate them (and not even doing a very good job at that) isn't going to get GM anywhere.

They need to start taking risks in the styling and features. Just as many people think Camrys are ugly as do think they look good. If not more. GM needs to be a little more polarizing if you ask me. They still are way too conservative in the styling department.

As for features, the LTZ should come standard with features an EX V6 Accord will have: full auto one touch up and down for all 4 windows, remote control power window operation.

 

[breaker104]

That center stack reminds me of the Tahoe/Avalanche, no, wait IS that the same stereo and A/C controls... better yet will the stereo fit in my Colorado?

 

[KUZCO]

The new Malibu does look great. I like the scaled-down Lucerne profile.

exactly what i saw too

 

[TaHoE]

Wow! Even the 4-cyl model looks great! Awesome pictures! It's about time!

 

[SDRacing]

The Malibu looks great from the side profile.

The malibu does look great.

oh, and I recognize that bridge in a heartbeat!!

 

[neshapop]

Just another reason not to consider Chevy for my next purchase. It looks dated already.

Jeez, and people were bashing Buicks for the design from 2004...

 

[2b2]

The new Malibu does look great. I like the scaled-down Lucerne profile. However the interior looks horrible in rental car gray. The Malibu really needs the contrasting two-tone interiors to look nice. Two-tone gray doesn't cut it...

Agree with Watchdevil.... Malibu's design theme looks borrowed from the current Buick Lucerne. Maybe it should've been an entry Buick with a classier interior and portholes.
This may be a revolutionary design from the current Malibu, but only evolutionary against GM's other product.
Is this vehicle ready to take on the re-designed Honda Accord...?

new 'Bu = very impressive imho
& wouldn't be the first time a design started out for one brand but given to another...

re: gray interior
- materials will be the deciding factor, but
- imagine you're in rush hour traffic, soothing somewhat-bland gray might just be a good choice; although
- I'd like more contrast - charcoal&silvery, something like that Charger(?) pic - But the box-shapes (not just box-like, but as tho they actually built them from the boxes the parts came in) Kill their interiors for me.

re: rear & front
- iirc the VectrAura will arrive in about 2 years, right on time for a 'Bu-MCE
- also thinking that every other midsizer I see is painted silver, a little exageration of grille & TL features might help keep them from blending in too much.
- I kinda picture the product planners with a series of tables, one for each model year going into the future, and a pile of renderings for various styling proposals...then they sorta 'play cards' with the pix, "If we do this now and that then on this model, how does it 'fit' next to the other same-year models/brands..."
I can easily see several reasons for starting out with this Malibu's look + a little tweak the very next year, more change the following year...
Don't know if GM is planning that much kaizen - hope they are.

imho not enough consideration is given to the "sequence" of intros. Aura > Malibu > VectrAura (+ stuff I don't know about) sounds a lot like a continuous stream of stronger&stronger products to me.

 

[TaHoE]

Based on PHOTOS, at least, I think the Chrysler got an unfair shake from you guys, while the Malibu was put on a way too tall pedestal.

Based on Photos, you can believe whatever you want. I have sat in all three of the cars you have listed. The Sebring interior is nicer in person, I will give you that, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Malibu interior. The plastics are much better in the 'bu as is the overall execution. The Malibu feels like a much larger car (Which it is I believe), but its very airy, where the Chrysler is drab.

 

[Old Dood]

This is my favorite one right here! Love that charcoal look.
With just a touch of the wood trim....

 

[rsbaker]

It's amazing to me how much better the street shots are than the Studio and and car show photos we've all been seeing for months now.

Malibu looks great! Does anyone know what the pricing will be yet? I'm getting out my check book right now.

 

[stevecmh]

:barf:
I can't stand this color. It makes the interior look just as cheap and old as the current model.

agreed the more color the better.


but that black Malibu is sweet. It is a nice looking car.. i hope it sells good