Chevrolet Malibu sedan: A different allure

By Charles Buban July 02,2015

Malibu_a1YOU CAN’T get in or out of this car without catching the attention and interest of those around you. The 2015 Malibu, an eighth-generation midsize sedan of Chevrolet, oozes class, something one rarely enjoys in P1.5-million-plus cars. With its wide stance, broad shoulders, aggressive dual-port grille, enlarged projector HID headlamps that sweeps into the front fenders, well-defined shoulder lines, clean 18-inch wheels, and Camaro-inspired LED dual-element taillights, the 2015 Malibu is one sedan that commands attention.
Here in the Philippines, the 2015 Malibu is powered by a 2.4-liter (Euro 3) gasoline engine that generates 165 horsepower and 225 Newton-meters of torque. This lightweight aluminum-block engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that features a manual override function (via a rocker switch located on top of the shift knob).

With a sizable fuel tank capacity of 73 liters (that could help you cover the distance of 420 kilometers before filling up) and a fuel consumption that hovers around 14 km per liter on the highway (it’s about 9 kpl when driven along traffic-congested city streets), this car is ideal for those long leisure trips down lost routes and expansive highways.

Moreover, the 2015 Malibu is equipped with a cruise control feature that allows the driver to set the maximum speed limit (that’s 100 km per hour, by the way) and let the car maintain it without stepping on the gas pedal (which comes in handy during long and lonely nighttime drives along SCTEx and TPLEx).

Luxurious cabin
Malibu_b1Inside, you know you are pampered in a more luxurious cabin: premium leather covered seats (power-adjustable in front), ice-blue ambient lighting on the instrument panel and doors that looks nifty at night, dual-cockpit layout that somewhat resembling those in classic Corvettes, instrument cluster that is dominated by a pair of square gauge housings separated by an LCD for driver information, and a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia head unit (linked to a rearview camera).
But what impressed this writer more was the 2015 Malibu’s remarkably serene interior—a welcome luxury at this price. Thanks to “Soft Ride” suspension setup (paired to MacPherson struts up front and multilink setup at the rear), the car’s ride was also splendid, able to filter out rough pavement without ever feeling floaty.

During my test drives, this surprisingly nimble suspension provided balanced handling, and sharp steering that doesn’t feel “darty” at highway speeds.

Chevrolet has always made sure that safety is its top priority. Apart from the four-wheel antilock braking system, brake assist, electronic brake distribution, traction control and electronic stability control, the 2015 Malibu also has six airbags (additional two curtain airbags for the LTZ variant), automatic on/off headlamps, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear window defogger, tire pressure monitoring system, and my favorite, a rear park assist that provides visual as well as audio alerts on how close you are on anything at the back.
‘Top Safety Pick’
Malibu_c1Should this car will be involved in a collision, rest assured that it does excellently in the United States’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test (5-star overall crash-test rating) as well as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that gave the car its “Top Safety Pick” rating.

On the days I had this car, I spent the majority of my time driving to Tagaytay City (twice), highways, and a couple of unpaved provincial roads. In each of these environments, the 2015 Malibu proved remarkably satisfying to drive.

The driver’s seat, featuring an eight-way power adjustment, four-way power lumbar support, active headrest, and plenty of seat track travel, is a winner. But while interior space and comfort is excellent for the front occupants, rear passengers, despite cozy leather seats, might complain of the tight legroom.
And this is one issue that Chevy engineers should address in the Malibu’s next iteration.

 

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