2013 CHEVY MALIBU LT: Solid contender in crowded mid-size field

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This article was published 04/01/2013 (4658 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Forget the Snake. I don’t care what your menu said at the Chinese restaurant: 2013 is the Year of the Midsize Sedan, thanks to four strong new players in the popular segment.

A 2013 Chevrolet Malibu LT with the 2.5-litre base engine is the latest to land in my driveway. It features a capable European-engineered chassis, good power, an appealing look and feel and advanced features.

The Malibu’s fuel economy trails its best competitors, however, and the car I tested had a slightly misaligned trunk lid. The optional electronic lane-departure alert also went off so often I turned it off early in a long test drive that included a round trip from Detroit to New Orleans.

Despite that, the Malibu is an appealing alternative to the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, all of which are new for 2013.

The mid-size sedan market, traditionally a stew of tepid family cars, is suddenly as hot as a Szechuan pepper. The Hyundai Sonata, shockingly new when it debuted as a 2011 model, is suddenly the oldest mid-size on the market. Other one- and two-year-olds that may suddenly seem dated are the Kia Optima, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat.

Prices for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu start at $26,495 for a car with the 197-horsepower 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine. The Malibu Eco, which uses electricity to boost fuel economy and equipped with a 2.4L four-cylinder, starts at $29,440. The performance LTZ model boasts a turbocharged 259-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with prices beginning at $34,040.

I tested a very well-equipped LT model that featured a good voice-recognition system, two-tone leather seats, Pioneer audio and collision alert. The car’s price fell roughly in the middle among well-equipped midsize family sedans.

The 2013 Malibu is 7.6 mm (0.3 inches) shorter than the ’12 model, but almost 70 mm (2.7 inches) wider. The result is more passenger and luggage space.

The car was comfortable for long drives — including a marathon stretch as I tried to get through Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio ahead of hurricane Sandy. There’s plenty of room in the front seat, and extravagant interior storage that includes a bin hidden behind the touch screen in the dashboard and a big drawer by the driver’s left knee. Rear leg, shoulder and headroom are fine.

The attractive interior materials are cushioned at all the touch points.

The controls combine excellent voice recognition with a touch screen and traditional dials and switches on the centre stack and steering wheel. The gauges are big and readable. There’s very little wind noise, but the sound of rough road surfaces can be intrusive.

The voice recognition is fast and accurate, requiring a minimum of commands and getting things right the first time.

I was pleasantly surprised when navigation commands from my iPhone’s new Apple Maps feature piped through the audio system and interrupted music streaming from the phone.

The directions were wrong, of course. I’d still be roaming around Ohio if I listened to the notoriously faulty Apple Maps, but that’s Apple’s fault, not the Malibu’s. Chevy says any phone with Bluetooth streaming and a navigation app with spoken directions works with MyLink.

The Malibu uses a platform developed with engineers at GM’s European Opel brand. Its ride and handling benefit from that collaboration. The car is smooth and composed in fast driving. The steering is responsive, with good on-centre feel and feedback.

The 2.5-litre engine’s 197 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque easily top the competitors’ similar-sized engines. The Malibu accelerated well, its transmission shifting fast and smoothly to get up to speed. The engine is a bit noisy during hard acceleration.

Fuel-consumption ratings for the The Malibu LS, LT1 and LT2 models with the 2.5L engine — 9.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 5.7 L/100 km on the highway — are unimpressive. Comparably powered models of the Altima, Accord, Camry, Optima and Sonata all beat it.

The Malibu’s styling is dynamic but understated. The car has a forward-leaning stance and wide track. Four square taillights and rear fender flares consciously echo the Camaro sport coupe. Subtle lines stamped into the hood and trunk lid add visual appeal.

Aside from the misaligned trunk lid, all the Malibus I’ve driven had good fit and finish.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu’s features, looks, comfort and performance make it a strong contender as we roll into the Year of the Midsize Sedan.

—  Detroit Free Press