2013 Honda Accord V6 Touring: Driven
The Honda Accord is now in its ninth generation, and as we reported in our First Drive of the 2013... Read More
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manages to tame twisty, rough roads with a surprising degree of body-motion control
[Four-cylinder] offers ample power for urban maneuvers, effortlessly weaving through traffic on city streets and easily getting up to speed on the freeway
the LTZ V6's weightier hydraulic power steering and wider tires provide a sportier driving feel and better grip in fast turns
the Malibu goes down the road nicely, devoid of any harsh gear transitions or weird bursts of power at different points in the rev range
very good brake-pedal feel and response
PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
manages to tame twisty, rough roads with a surprising degree of body-motion control
Motor Trend
[Four-cylinder] offers ample power for urban maneuvers, effortlessly weaving through traffic on city streets and easily getting up to speed on the freeway
Edmunds
the LTZ V6's weightier hydraulic power steering and wider tires provide a sportier driving feel and better grip in fast turns
Consumer Guide
the Malibu goes down the road nicely, devoid of any harsh gear transitions or weird bursts of power at different points in the rev range
Autoblog
very good brake-pedal feel and response
Automobile Magazine
Models with the standard four-cylinder engine in the Malibu--a 2.4-liter, making 169 horsepower--have adequate power for most needs. It's by no means quick, but it's one of the more refined base engines, and the standard six-speed automatic transmission is a willing companion. The 3.6-liter V-6 that's included in new 3LT and 2LZ equipment groups for 2012 delivers a lot more torque, with plenty of power for confident passing with a full load.Â
But even with the V-6, the Malibu doesn't even try to play the part of a performance machine. V-6 models do however come with hydraulic power steering that we've found to have much better feedback than the fuel-saving electric system in four-cylinder models. Across pretty much the entire lineup, the suspension is tuned more for comfort than performance, to varying levels; handling is predictable and confident enough, but not as crisp and responsive as the Ford Fusion or Nissan Altima.Â
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Conclusion
Driving enjoyment really isn't part of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu's mission--although those with few performance expectations could be pleasantly surprised.
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