- sedan 149,306
- 12,999 overpriced
- Hernando, MS
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 149,306 grey automatic
2010 chevrolet malibu review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Fitting in the lineup just below the larger impala, the malibu competes with the toyota camry, honda accord, nissan altima, and ford fusion. Malibu blends a smooth ride with responsive handling, a quiet interior, effective crash performance and noteworthy build quality. It strikes a nice balance between well-controlled handling and an even ride. Overall, the new malibu feels smooth and is pleasant to drive. the cabin is nicely designed, attractive, and everything is easy to operate, though there are some hard plastics that detract from an otherwise first-rate interior. Choosing among them largely comes down to nitpicking, splitting hairs and personal preferences. The camry and accord may have an edge on resale value, but they're also likely to come with higher price tags. In any case, we don't see the gap between this chevrolet and the imports that we used to see. Malibu, camry and accord are all superb midsize sedans. for 2010, the changes are relatively few. The six-speed automatic is standard with the 1lt trim level, 17-inch chrome tech alloy wheels are standard with the 2lt, and driver's-side power-adjustable lumbar support replaces manual adjustment on all models. Finally, there are some new colors. The base model also comes with electric power steering, to save drag on the engine, while the v6-powered models come with hydraulic power steering. The malibu makes good use of its space, and also has an attractive wheels-at-the-corners look that is substantial, yet clean and crisp. the body design is bold, long and sleek, with an especially appealing roofline that looks like it belongs on a luxury car. The bodysides are completely clean and uncluttered, and the twin round taillamps pay homage to the corvette. The dual-port grille is a contemporary chevrolet design cue, which gives the malibu a distinctive look, and distinction is an important goal of the midsize sedan designer. Everything is within arm's reach and easy to operate. This design is brought into the 21st century with wood and metallic trim and a very pleasing blue-on-white instrumentation graphic treatment that's flooded with blue light at night. less noticeable are thoughtful features such as ambient lighting. A feature associated with expensive luxury cars, and recently popularized by mercedes and bmw, ambient lighting helps the driver and front passenger find secondary controls and items around the center console. A cubby on top of the dash is convenient for smaller items and is a very useful feature. cloth, faux-suede and leather interior options are available. The standard interiors are monotone, but several two-tone interior combinations are available, including a dramatic black-and-saddle leather combination that's very attractive. we found the leather seats in the ltz quite comfortable. Piping in a contrasting tone dresses them up. The front bucket seats are somewhere between sumptuous and luscious in the way they look and the way they sit, and are very comfortable and supportive. the long wheelbase affords each occupant plenty of room, and there is ample headroom and legroom in the rear compartment for six-foot-plus passengers. The backs of the front seats are dished out to add knee room. The rear seatbacks flip down to provide a pass-through to the trunk. while the trunk has 15. 1 cubic feet of cargo volume, the stylish rear pillars are pushed to the far back of the car, creating a small trunk opening that won't accept large boxes. the cabin includes a dashtop storage bin, door cubbies, and seatback pockets, plus standard ambient lighting for the overhead console and door-pull pockets. We've never cared for roll-up sliding covers on center consoles due to their ability to attract crumbs, dust and debris. overall, the malibu interior is attractive and comfortable. The quality of the interior materials is good. We think the malibu's interior compares well to the cabin of the honda accord. In fact, it may be more attractive, though the material on the steering wheel hub and the hard plastic on the lower dash aren't as nice. However, the malibu has an attractive leather shift boot when the leather upholstery is chosen, and the accord can't make that claim. every malibu comes with xm satellite radio and the latest version of onstar with turn-by-turn navigation. However, there's no gps navigation system, nor is there a back-up camera. Chevrolet says many people prefer to use their portable gps units and relatively few want to pay for an oem navigation system. We've heard that view from respectable drivers, but we prefer in-dash units. big knobs and buttons and an elegant design make operating the audio and climate functions easy. In fact, we found it easier and less confusing to make adjustments in the malibu than in a comparably equipped (without navigation) honda accord; the honda seemed less intuitive and convenient. Unlike the accord, the malibu has the audio controls at the top, which is better because people tend to fiddle with the stereos more than the temperature controls. remote starting is available. This lets the driver start the car by pressing a button on the key fob from the comfort of the house on wintry mornings, allowing the car to warm up while the driver sits inside sipping coffee. The thoroughly modern v6 has 252 horsepower and delivers performance that is good, if not sparkling, and is certainly as much as most families will ever need. There is certainly no shortage of power or performance. with the v6, the six-speed automatic is quick to shift, up and down, smooth, lurch-free and quiet. The engine, which has nine different sound attenuators in the air intake system, sounds powerful and smooth. in fact, everything about the v6 is quiet and smooth. The suspension soaked up rough mississippi farm roads with grace and competence, and kept the car straight and flat without a lot of pitch.
12,999 Hernando, MSHernando, MS at autoshopper.com