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2010 Chevrolet Malibu Bottom Line

November 5, 2009

By Bengt Halvorson's avatar Bengt Halvorson, EditorBengt Halvorson

TheCarConnection.com has searched the Internet to find some of the most useful input from other reviews, then compiled a review that covers all the bases. And to assemble our own impressions and recommendations on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, TheCarConnection.com's editors spent a lot of time with several of the variants, from basic to luxurious.

Likes:

  • Attractive styling, inside and out
  • Smooth power delivery
  • Good fuel economy in four-cylinder models
  • Refined ride and handling

Dislikes:

  • No DVD-based navigation
  • Doesn't feel sporty, even with the V-6

Buying Tips:


Performance from the four-cylinder and V-6 engine options are significantly different, and the two cars get completely different steering systems as well, so ensure you test drive both for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.

After neglecting its passenger car lineup for most of the past two decades, GM showed that it could still design an affordable mid-size sedan capable of keeping up with the segment leaders, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, when it launched the completely redesigned Chevrolet Malibu in 2008. The car featured attractive styling, build quality comparable with that of much more expensive rivals, and powerful, yet fuel-efficient, engines.

The potent 252-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 remains an option, providing a lot of kick and refinement for more demanding drivers. It's better suited for full loads or mountain passes, but it doesn't feel overtly sporty. The four-cylinder mill, however, remains the most popular option, developing a healthy 169 horsepower while returning a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Performance from both engines is very smooth, while handling is well-controlled at most speeds, though push it a little and things can start to get awry. If equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the Malibu has a fuel-saving electric power steering system, but V-6 versions come with a hydraulic power steering that provides much better feedback.

Just as the exterior is attractive, so is the cabin, which is very well designed and features materials with a quality feel to them. The front seats are among the most comfortable in the mid-size sedan class, while the back offers more legroom than most rivals.

Safety is another of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu’s strong suits. The list of standard features include anti-lock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. OnStar emergency telematics is also included. With such an extensive list of safety features, the Malibu naturally earns top marks in independent crash safety testing, earning the top five-star rating in all of the federal government's crash tests, along with top "good" ratings from the insurance industry in frontal offset and side tests.

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu lineup consists of three models: the base LS, midrange LT, and luxury-packed LTZ. The LS comes with enough goodies to suit most drivers, including power accessories, keyless entry, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls all fitted as standard. Move up to the LT and buyers opting for the 1LT model now get a standard six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2LT four-cylinder model also gets 17-inch chrome-finished wheels. Splurge a little extra for the range-topping LTZ and you get a whole assortment of extra features such as remote start, automatic climate control, a universal remote, and power-adjustable pedals, plus a number of appearance extras like LED tail lamps and interior ambient lighting.

Other Choices:

If you like the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, also consider:

Reason Why:

While the Fusion and the Altima will give you a more thrilling drive than the Malibu, neither of them is as roomy or comfortable inside. This is especially true in the backseat, where the Malibu, along with the Camry and Accord, is very roomy. The Malibu is further differentiated from its rivals when it comes to interior styling, putting cars like the Camry to shame with its attractive dashboard and premium-feeling materials. The Fusion and Accord, however, feature interiors that arguably are just as good as the Malibu’s. The Hyundai Sonata, though comfortable, isn’t quite up to scratch.

The Bottom Line:

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu remains one of the strongest players in the mid-size sedan segments, though its rivals are certainly worth a look.

TheCarConnection.com has searched the Internet to find some of the most useful input from other reviews, then compiled a review that covers all the bases. And to assemble our own impressions and recommendations on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, TheCarConnection.com's editors spent a lot of time with several of the variants, from basic to luxurious. Likes:Attractive styling, inside and outSmooth power deliveryGood fuel economy in four-cylinder modelsRefined ride and handlingDislikes:No DVD-based navigationDoesn't feel sporty, even with the V-6Buying Tips: Performance from the four-cylinder and V-6 engine options are significantly different, and the two cars get completely different steering systems as well, so ensure you test drive both for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. After neglecting its passenger car lineup for most of the past two decades, GM showed that it could still design an affordable mid-size sedan capable of keeping up with the segment leaders, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, when it launched the completely redesigned Chevrolet Malibu in 2008. The car featured attractive styling, build quality comparable with that of much more expensive rivals, and powerful, yet fuel-efficient, engines. The potent 252-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 remains an option, providing a lot of kick and refinement for more demanding drivers. It's better suited for full loads or mountain passes, but it doesn't feel overtly sporty. The four-cylinder mill, however, remains the most popular option, developing a healthy 169 horsepower while returning a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Performance from both engines is very smooth, while handling is well-controlled at most speeds, though push it a little and things can start to get awry. If equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the Malibu has a fuel-saving electric power steering system, but V-6 versions come with a hydraulic power steering that provides much better feedback. Just as the exterior is attractive, so is the cabin, which is very well designed and features materials with a quality feel to them. The front seats are among the most comfortable in the mid-size sedan class, while the back offers more legroom than most rivals. Safety is another of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu’s strong suits. The list of standard features include anti-lock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. OnStar emergency telematics is also included. With such an extensive list of safety features, the Malibu naturally earns top marks in independent crash safety testing, earning the top five-star rating in all of the federal government's crash tests, along with top "good" ratings from the insurance industry in frontal offset and side tests. The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu lineup consists of three models: the base LS, midrange LT, and luxury-packed LTZ. The LS comes with enough goodies to suit most drivers, including power accessories, keyless entry, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls all fitted as standard. Move up to the LT and buyers opting for the 1LT model now get a standard six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2LT four-cylinder model also gets 17-inch chrome-finished wheels. Splurge a little extra for the range-topping LTZ and you get a whole assortment of extra features such as remote start, automatic climate control, a universal remote, and power-adjustable pedals, plus a number of appearance extras like LED tail lamps and interior ambient lighting. Other Choices:If you like the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, also consider:Ford FusionHonda AccordHyundai SonataNissan AltimaToyota CamryReason Why:While the Fusion and the Altima will give you a more thrilling drive than the Malibu, neither of them is as roomy or comfortable inside. This is especially true in the backseat, where the Malibu, along with the Camry and Accord, is very roomy. The Malibu is further differentiated from its rivals when it comes to interior styling, putting cars like the Camry to shame with its attractive dashboard and premium-feeling materials. The Fusion and Accord, however, feature interiors that arguably are just as good as the Malibu’s. The Hyundai Sonata, though comfortable, isn’t quite up to scratch. The Bottom Line:The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu remains one of the strongest players in the mid-size sedan segments, though its rivals are certainly worth a look. TheCarConnection.com has searched the Internet to find some of the most useful input from other reviews, then compiled a review that covers all the bases. And to assemble our own impressions and recommendations on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu , TheCarConnection.com's editors spent a lot of time ...

Other Choices:

While the Fusion and the Altima will give you a more thrilling drive than the Malibu, neither of them is as roomy or comfortable inside. This is especially true in the backseat, where the Malibu, along with the Camry and Accord, is very roomy. The Malibu is further differentiated from its rivals when it comes to interior styling, putting cars like the Camry to shame with its attractive dashboard and premium-feeling materials. The Fusion and Accord, however, feature interiors that arguably are just as good as the Malibu’s. The Hyundai Sonata, though comfortable, isn’t quite up to scratch.

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See the Chevrolet Malibu in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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