Review: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Sedan

Surf's Up in Malibu!

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You have no doubt seen the omnipresent advertising from Chevrolet for the all-new 2008 Malibu. Seems to be everywhere these days, and I have to admit it is a great campaign. "The car you can't ignore." "We are tired of being a foreign car in our country." The TV ad where a woman out for a jog runs full-force into a parked recent-generation Malibu because she "overlooked" it. This is strong stuff, as it calls out the fact that the previous Malibu was, for lack of a better word, weak. While this ploy can highlight how strong the new version is, it also illustrates the fact that, until today, you have been right to ignore a Chevrolet. Ouch.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Sedan

So now we have the new Malibu, which sits like the big ruby on top of the current GM product renaissance crown. Other recent vehicles have come close to that standard lately, as the Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook triplets have proven that when GM decides to get serious, the results can be bad for its competition. But the Malibu is a midsize sedan designed to take on the Camry/Accord/Altima triplets ... a segment practically ignored by GM for years. Evidence of this is found in the previously run-into Malibu, as well as the equally weak Impala.

But does the new Malibu deliver? Will we see 2008 as the year that GM wrestled back some of the ground it conceded to Toyota/Honda/Nissan over the last ten years? Well, after a test drive this week, my answer is conclusively "Yes." This vehicle has it all: style, value, performance, economy, and for the first time in many years, the promise of pride in your purchase. For the last decade or so, the primary reason to consider a domestic sedan was based on the "deal" or financial incentives. But today is a new day, and the Malibu is worth your consideration--especially if you have taken our advice and considered a well-equipped sedan as a replacement for your under-utilized or unnecessary SUV.

Look for a full review of the Malibu in the next few weeks, as I think this vehicle is very important and may be a turning point in the fortunes of General Motors. Four-cylinder value leader? Powerful V6 sedan? Efficient hybrid? The Malibu will offer something for all. Am I gushing a bit? Yes. But as you will read later, my enthusiasm is justified.

Posted on 2007-11-05 | Permalink | |

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