The stereo and information system are a little less so, but still more readily understood than many others. I live in Minnesota where our transportation departments destroy our cars, bridges, and ecosystems with the amount of salt they put on the roads in the winter. Models with the four-cylinder engine come with front disc and rear drum brakes. Also, the rear seatbacks recline for improved comfort. The Malibu emphasizes civilized road manners, quality construction, and buttoned-down practicality wrapped in innocuous if not anonymous styling. Fold down Maxx's back seats and the available space expands to 41 cubic feet. But more than that, Maxx offers increased versatility.
The electronically controlled steering is reasonably responsive, having overcome the spongy on-center feel and directional uncertainty in the technology's early years. Equally thankfully, the front end of the Malibu has been relieved of the chrome bar spanning the full-width of the car. And the triangularly shaped outside mirrors are small, limiting rearward vision more than we liked. The interior, the visual and tactile elements of which are shared with the Maxx, is conservatively styled. Heating and air conditioning controls are quite logical.
In short, the back seats of the Maxx are a comfortable place for adults. The biggest problem with the Malibu's interior, whether sedan or Maxx, is its inconsistency. Lots of nooks and crannies are available for storage, including a center console with a roomy bin, four cupholders though beware the two in the rear seat's fold-down center armrest, as it bounces enough over bumps to flip a cup of coffee into an unwary lap , a storage tray and a clip pad. Controls on the center dash are conveniently backlit for night driving. No question, this is a highly competent sedan that's practical and easy to live with.
It's decently up to date, with variable valve timing and the like. Maxx is also a half-inch taller than the sedan. I would highly recommend buying a vehicle from them and will probably contact them again for my next vehicle. We were surprised by the acceleration performance from the V6 and delighted by the crispness of handling on winding roads. Although fit and finish was otherwise good, with decent tolerances between pieces, panels and fabrics, we didn't feel the interior generally measured up to the craftsmanship of a Honda, a Toyota or today, a Hyundai. The driving performance of the Malibu exceeded our expectations.
No plate services or mechanics on-site. While Malibu seems destined to disappear into a crowd, Maxx looks just as determined to stand out and be noticed. Meanwhile, the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata have been replaced with new models. I would purchase from this dealer again. While the sedan is built on a 106-inch wheelbase, the Maxx rides on a wheelbase that's six inches longer, stretching to 112 inches. Malibu is quiet underway, and it offers a wide range of engine choices.
Standard in the Maxx are a pair of fixed skylights over the rear seating area, so rear-seat passengers can see clouds by day and stars by night. We were pleased with its overall balance and smoothness, but wished for a bit more oomph for demanding maneuvers at highway speeds. On the upside, the system did hold the chosen gear all the way up to the engine speed limiter and against every effort to force a downshift. Useful for starting the car from inside the house when it's very cold or very hot outside, it also contradicts what every carmaker's owner's manual and clean air agency urge people to do when starting Driving ImpressionsA bumpy, winding road quickly showed us the Chevrolet Malibu handles well. We thought the wipers were a little loud. Back in the cargo bay, Maxx provides 22. From the center post of its roof forward, the Maxx is identical to the sedan, including the updated front end.
Saddled with a car weighing more than 3000 pounds, its 144 horsepower delivers what's best described as casual acceleration. Otherwise, it's a convenient interior. There's an off switch for the daytime running lights, useful when parked with the engine running. The Malibu emphasizes civilized road manners, quality construction, and buttoned-down practicality wrapped in innocuous if not anonymous styling. There's a 12-volt power outlet way in the back in addition to the two up front that it shares with the sedan.
And indeed, the Malibu shares its structure with the highly successful German Opel Vectra and the Swedish Saab 9-3, which provides a solid platform with the vital added benefit of good economies of scale. The seats are comfortable and the controls are logical and easy to use. InteriorThe Malibu looks as substantial inside as out. Yet other parts, such as the plastic surrounding the audio and climate controls, appear hard and cheap. It also looked more substantial, giving the impression it's a more expensive car than it is. We were surprised by the acceleration performance from the V6 and delighted by the crispness of handling on winding roads. Fog lamps, when present, occupy small, polished cutouts in the lower corners.