Automobile Blog

Chevrolet Malibu

The 2008 Malibu is a genuine revelation, giving Chevy something it has never really had before – a genuine, no-compromise competitor for the two top-selling sedans, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. The base Malibu comes with a 2.4-liter, 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Malibu will be offered in three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ) with a choice of three power trains.

The standard engine (on all trims) is GM’s 2.4L four-cylinder engine. The 169 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque are fine if you spend the bulk of you time prowling suburbia.

This engine, standard in the LS and LT models, is a step up from most GM four-cylinders, and delivers very good fuel mileage, at an EPA-rated 22 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway. The other advantage is that the livelier feel comes with better fuel economy: At 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers, the hybrid uses 1.1 L/100 km less fuel (than the base four) in the city.

The optional 3.6L V6 is going to be the engine of choice. It is smooth, refined and delivers a rewarding turns of speed. The 252 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque works well with the four-speed automatic; dropping in the LTZ’s six-speed automatic makes a world of difference. Malibu LS, starting at $19,995, the LT, starting at $20,955, and the LTZ, starting at $26,995. The hybrid’s base price is $22,790, and the car qualifies for a $1,300 federal tax credit.

Malibu’s on-road performance comes from two dual-overhead cam four- and six-cylinder engines, including a standard 169-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 30 mpg/highway, 22/city and an available 252-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with variable valve timing, rated at 26 mpg/highway and 17/city. Four-cylinder models come with a four-speed transmission. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with the 3.6-liter V-6 and will be available later on the four-cylinder LTZ.

Technical Specification

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	Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Type	Sedan	Sedan	Sedan	Sedan
Passengers	5	5	5	5
Doors	4	4	4	4
PRICE				style="color: #FFFFFF;” href="#top">Back to top
	Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Price	$ 22,995	$ 24,895	$ 25,995	$ 33,610
Transport and PDI	$ 1,250	$ 1,250	$ 1,250	$ 1,250
MECHANICAL				style="color: #FFFFFF;” href="#top">Back to top
	Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Engine	2.4L L4 DOHC 16-valve	2.4L L4 DOHC 16-valve	2.4L L4 DOHC 16-valve	3.6L V6 DOHC 24-valve
HP (hp@rpm)	169 @ 6400	169 @ 6400	169 @ 6400	252 @ 6300
Torque (lb.ft@rpm)	160 @ 4500	160 @ 4500	160 @ 4500	251 @ 3200
Opt. Engine #1	-	-	3.6L V6 DOHC 24-valve	-
Transmission	4-speed automatic	4-speed automatic	4-speed automatic	6-speed automatic with manual mode
Opt. Transmission #1	-	-	6-speed automatic with manual mode	-
Brakes	4-wheel disc	4-wheel disc	4-wheel disc	4-wheel disc
ABS	Std	Std	Std	Std
Power Steering	Std	Std	Std	Std
Front Suspension	Independent	Independent	Independent	Independent
Rear Suspension	Independent	Independent	Independent	Independent
WHEELS AND TIRES
Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Tires	P215/60R16	P225/50R17	P225/50R17	P225/50R18
Wheel Type	Painted steel	Chrome wheels	Alloy wheels	Alloy wheels
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE				style="color: #FFFFFF;” href="#top">Back to top
	Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Air Conditioning	Std	Std	Std	Auto climate control
Cruise Control	Std	Std	Std	Std
Power Locks	Std	Std	Std	Std
Remote Keyless Entry	Std	Std	Std	Std
Power Windows	Std	Std	Std	Std
Power Mirrors	Std	Std	Std	Std
Adjustable Steering	Manual tilt / telescopic	Manual tilt / telescopic	Manual tilt / telescopic	Manual tilt / telescopic
Sunroof	-	Opt	Opt	Opt
DIMENSIONS, CAPACITY AND WEIGHT				style="color: #FFFFFF;” href="#top">Back to top
	Malibu LS	Malibu 1LT	Malibu 2LT	Malibu LTZ
Length (mm)	4,872	4,872	4,872	4,851
Width (mm)	1,786	1,786	1,786	1,786
Height (mm)	1,478	1,478	1,478	1,464
Wheelbase (mm)	2,852	2,852	2,852	2,852
Curbweight (kg)	1,551	1,561	1,561	1,577
Trunk Size (L)	445	445	445	445
Fuel Tank Capacity (L)	61	61	61	61