I bought this car brand new, it is now 2 years old, and I've had to replace the fuel pump. I have never run out of gas, and this is the first car I have ever had to replace one on.
Overall the car is fine as far as how it rides and the appearance.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 7th May, 2013
Very nice car for the money
No issues; only had the car 3 days.
The LT2 has Bluetooth as standard; I really like that feature. The clarity of the factory built in Bluetooth in comparison to most visor mounted Bluetooth kits is well above and beyond expectation. The only drawback is that it cannot access your contacts; you have to manually store them into the car. The Chevrolet Cruze Onstar has that capability, and I am being told that this will be a software update that will eventually extend to all of the Chevrolet car lineup.
Additionally, you can download the Onstar App to your iPhone, which gives you the ability to do everything from remote start to checking the vehicle diagnostics. One drawback... it isn't set up for the Malibu yet, but it will sometime this year.
It was an adjustment going from an older full size luxury car, but the safety functions and a lot of the other features that you would expect to find in a high end luxury car can be found in this one. The LT2 is just one step below the top of the line model, but it is a very nice car for the money.
The 4CYL has plenty of get up and go, and the fuel economy I am getting out of this car even before the break in period is right at 33 MPG, which this model is rated for.
The seating in the interior is fairly roomy for a car this size, and is actually quite comfortable for the 2 hour trips it takes me to get to and from work. The functionality of this car almost allows me to operate 70% or more of my work right from the driver seat.
As much as I enjoyed my full size sedan, I think I am going to enjoy this car that much more.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd February, 2011
I love it, no complaints
Nothing.
Smooth ride, great acceleration.
Comfortable seating in the front and back.
Handles easily. Have not had one problem with driving in the snow and ice.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th January, 2011
I'm looking at a Malibu. Do you have any updates on your mileage and experience with the car? How is the fuel consumption?
It was a toss-up between a Malibu and a Fusion when we bought our used 2006 Fusion in January of 2009. If we could have found a 2008 Malibu, we likely would have bought one, but no local dealerships had any and we don't care for the pre-2008 styling. We are very pleased with the Fusion, but the Malibu is a really great car with very impressive ride, styling and quality.
I was really happy to read today that Chevy is coming out with a redesigned Malibu early in 2012, and will no longer feature the totally unnecessary V-6. Few buyers opt for the V-6 in a mid-size car, and most car makers are dropping them in favor of the more sensible and more than adequate 4. My family owns both a V-6 Lincoln MKZ (basically a Fusion with 10 grand tacked on) and an I-4 Fusion. The V-6 MKZ averages 19 mpg while the Fusion averages 27. In normal driving, there is no discernible difference in passing or merging. On the highway the I-4 Fusion easily averages 34 mpg, and I am sure the I-4 Malibus do as well.
I have read great reviews of the four-cylinder models of the new 2012 Malibu. Reviewers are stating that it has plenty of power and feels very peppy.
15th Dec 2011, 13:17
Update to this original review. Onstar has since added the remote start capability on their Smartphone Apps, and it works very nicely. This vehicle has served me very well over the course of the last few months, and it has surpassed all of my expectations. The fuel economy is outstanding; the 4 cylinder engine, combined with the 6 speed transmission, combined with my driving habits, has me getting closer to 34 MPG on the highway, where this car is mostly used.
The heated leather seats work very nicely. It took some time for me to find the "right position" for the settings on the seat, but now it makes for a really nice comfortable ride on my normal day to day use. I average close to 4 hours a day minimum spent in the car, and it has served me well.
Only problem with this vehicle seems to be low end acceleration. It tends to hesitate just momentarily; I have learned to compensate for that by putting the transmission in "M" and simply manually shifting.
Overall, very satisfied with this vehicle.