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Showing results for tags 'malibu'.
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Assuming that gasoline prices do not stay at their historic low prices (with inflation factored in) cars and especially fuel-efficient mid-size cars, will continue to be a hugely important part of the industry. Chevy says its new Malibu will be larger, more in line wit the Accord, and more fuel efficient. The vehicle also looks fantastic and is sort of along the lines of the new Chrysler 200. Coupled with the new mainstream Malibu, Chevy is updating the Malibu hybrid. GM says the Malibu hybrid could approach 48 MPG. That would make it a standout in the segment now dominated sales-wise by the Toyota Camry. Mid-size hybrids need to offer value and a conventional feel, instead of just the top fuel economy possible, as Honda is now learning the hard way. Chevy says the new Malibu hybrid will use a two-motor system adapted form the Volt along with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. This is great news. The new Volt strikes a great balance of real-world usefulness and green credibility. The more GM can spread the drivetrain components around the family, the lower its costs should be per unit. Anyone who has been watching this industry for a while knows that Chevy always says of the Malibu when updated, "this time we will be competitive." This time it needs to be true. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Hybrid -
First up, the Malibu and Impala basically crushed the list by winning the two most important categories, mid-size car and large car. Those two categories really are the two actual family car categories and GM should be proud to have earned the wins. Of the new Malibu, U.S. News said, "Testers say the redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is a strong contender with class leaders thanks to its spacious seats, user-friendly infotainment system and good trunk space. The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has the best combination of interior space, safety and reliability ratings, and available family-friendly features in its class, making it our 2016 Best Midsize Car for Families." Note that U.S. News wisely includes reliability and safety in this type of vehicle. U.S. News gets it. Meanwhile, over at the "car magazines" they are doing top speed runs in 4-cylinder economy cars and talking about "lift throttle oversteer at high Gs." There are families that want big, and the Yukon delivers. We just tested the 2016 Yukon Denali, and it is hard to argue there is a better beast that does what it does. The Escalade wins its category too. Some families do want luxury along with size and the Escalade coddles you and the rest of your basketball team. Check out the rankings here for yourself. Look for our new road test format coming soon. The Denali will be the first up. -
The Malibu Hybrid is more like the Accord Hybrid than the Camry Hybrid. The newest generation of hybrids use multiple electric motors. Instead of just recapturing energy from braking like early hybrids, the Malibu, Accord, and some others use the gas engine much less. The vehicle is usually propelled by an electric motor and the gasoline engine acts like a generator much of the time it is in use. In other reporting I have calculated the cost of energy to run an EV in the California and Massachusetts markets vs. the cost of a 50 MPG gasoline powered car. Because electricity is costly in these markets, and gas is cheap everywhere, the gas-powered vehicle can match the per-mile cost of an EV now. Smart buyers looking for a green car that comes with no range-anxiety may realize that the Chevy Malibu is the perfect mix of real-car usability and a cost per mile for fuel around five or six cents. -
GM claims no fatalities have occurred as a result of any of these safety defects.
