Faults:

The climate controls didn't work until I cycled the ignition. This only happened once.

The flip-key broke, sending the key blade flying. A $21 aftermarket key solved that problem.

General Comments:

I bought this Malibu to use as a daily commuter car to save fuel and keep the mileage off my pickup truck. I drive nearly 120 miles round-trip everyday.

My expectations weren't high when I bought this car. I was mostly impressed by the incredible price of $11k for a 3-year old car with just over 20k miles (thank you, depreciation!) But after owning it for over a year and putting on almost 35,000 miles, I must say that this car has actually really grown on me.

My commute is mix of highway and bumpy backroads. The suspension easily soaks up harsh bumps without being too soft. The handling isn't mind-blowing, but the steering is responsive enough and the body feels reassuringly solid. There are no interior noises or rattles to speak of.

The 2.5L LKW 4-cylinder provides ample passing power on the highway and good torque for steep hills and city driving. The variable-valve lift kicks in around 4k RPM and actually produces a noticeable snarl. I've averaged approximately 34 MPG for the past ~35,000 miles, which is impressive considering the amount of traffic I sit in and the 70-75MPH highway speeds I tend to travel at when I'm not stuck in traffic. It is equipped with an auto stop-start feature that aids quite a bit in this respect. I've seen many complaints online about this feature being "jerky." I don't find this to be the case. I've even learned the amount of brake pedal pressure needed to activate it. If I know I'm going to be moving again soon, I just keep pedal pressure light. When the engine does shut down, the only way I've gotten it to "jerk" or shudder has been to quickly mash the gas during start-up. Giving it less than half-second to get going prevents this "jerkiness" entirely.

The 6-speed automatic is probably the smoothest shifting transaxle I've owned. Catching it off guard by suddenly accelerating during an upshift can occasionally confuse it, but it sorts itself out rather quickly. It is a little too excited about getting into the highest gear possible though, and will occasionally lug the engine in doing so. Luckily, gears can be selected manually, albeit rather awkwardly with a "+" and "-" button on top of the shifter. It does however respond to shift selections with surprisingly little lag.

I'm seriously impressed by how tough this thing is. Only a few months after purchase and with only 26,000 miles I was rear-ended while sitting at a stop sign. The other driver (in a Toyota Camry) was going about 20-25MPH at the time of impact and never applied his brakes (how could he? He had a text to answer after all.) The force of the impact pushed me several feet forward and when I finally stopped it was so sudden my head actually hit the steering wheel. The Camry suffered a crumpled front bumper, badly damaged grille and headlights and the hood even crumpled up several inches. My Malibu? The lower valence on the rear bumper was badly scratched and my license plate was bent. I figured it must have collapsed the internal bumper support and the trunk pan judging by the force of the impact. However, the body shop begged to differ. A $300 bumper cover and lower valence was all that was needed. Heck, the rear parking sensors weren't even damaged. The body structure and internal bumper support sustained NO damage whatsoever. I'm still shocked by this. I'm at a little over 55,000 now and have had no issues since.

Hopefully my commute will shorten with the next few years (trying to move closer), but until then I'll be driving this car until the wheels fall off! Chevy has made a repeat customer out of me.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This car is awesome. After much research and test driving, I settled on the Malibu with no regrets. The interior layout is great. I like the dash (gauges) and the "Mylink" system is fairly straightforward and easy to use. The front seats are comfortable even during prolonged driving. Handling is very good, as well in winter driving conditions. People often comment on the excellent ride and how quiet the car is.

The Ecotec 2.5 litre DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection has 197 HP and 191 ft/lbs of torque with a 6 speed auto with manual shift mode that has plenty of power for passing, It doesn't hit the speed governor until 210 km/h or 130 mph (I did this only once on a secluded straight stretch of road) and it didn't take it all day to get there. The engine also has the auto stop feature, which shuts the engine off at traffic lights to save on fuel and emissions. There is a lithium battery located in the trunk to power the accessories while the engine is stopped. When you lift your foot off the brake, the engine restarts away you go. It's not even noticeable unless you have the radio down and the window open... only then do you hear the car restart.

Lots of trunk space; much improved over the previous gen Malibu.

Averaged 36.5 MPG/US gal on one trip and have no problem reaching 35 MPG on trips in good weather, and have been getting 24-25 MPG/US gal in city traffic. I live in a small city so you're not held up in traffic for prolonged periods very often.

This is one of the more enjoyable cars I've owned... it's not a rocket sled, but just an all around good car that I like to get in and drive.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Very happy with this car. Nice quiet ride.

The 2.5 litre 6 speed auto has plenty of power for passing.

Loads of trunk space.

I live in Western Canada and just got back from a trip to the East coast, and the car was fantastic. Averaged 36.5 MPG/US gal on the way there and 35.7 MPG/US gal coming back, and that was running at speeds up to 120 km/hr.

If you're in the market for a mid sized sedan, the Malibu is well worth a look. The car does everything well.