Driving the Cool New Chevy 2008 Malibu Hybrid
By Kellen Schefter
The all-new 2008 Malibu is Chevrolet’s latest foray into the midsize sedan segment long dominated by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Malibu aims to differentiate itself with a refreshingly clean and elegant exterior as well as a new emphasis on quality and refinement across all trim levels.
This new sedan’s structure is stiffer than the outgoing model and adds six inches in wheelbase, both of which improve driving dynamics. Inside is a contemporary dual-cockpit design, two-tone trim, and a plethora of sound-deadening elements that work well in isolating the cabin from both engine and road noise. Not only does the new Malibu offer a soft and sure-footed ride, it does so in near silence.
Chevy is offering a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Malibu for the first time. The Malibu Hybrid uses a variant of the GM mild hybrid system that also powers the Green Line versions of Saturn’s Vue and Aura. It pairs a 36-volt electric motor/generator with a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The system shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped and restarts it immediately when the brake pedal is released. Full accessory functionality is retained even when stopped with the engine off.
Early fuel cut-off occurs under deceleration while kinetic energy is captured with regenerative braking and stored in a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. That electrical power is tapped to provide additional power at launch and at wide-open throttle. Time behind the wheel has shown the hybrid system to be seamlessly integrated with the influence of the hybrid system on the drivetrain difficult to detect.
The hybrid model is quieter than its non-hybrid counterpart since idling is eliminated. While the hybrid is rated at five fewer total horsepower than the non-hybrid four-cylinder, the difference isn’t noticeable on the road. If anything, the hybrid model feels slightly stronger thanks to a redline that’s 500 rpm higher and the immediate boost from the electric motor, which helps get the engine to the sweet spot in its power curve faster.
The EPA fuel economy rating of 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway is a two mpg improvement on both counts compared to the non-hybrid four-cylinder model. The Malibu Hybrid also includes the requisite gauges that monitor the hybrid system’s performance, allowing a driver to note otherwise wasted energy being converted to electrical power.
Affordability is the name of the game for Chevy’s approach to the Malibu’s hybrid tech. The company opted for the simpler GM Hybrid System over its more efficient two-mode system to keep costs down. The Malibu Hybrid starts at $22,790, a not insignificant $1,800 premium over the comparably-equipped LT model but, importantly, less than the $25,200 base MSRP of the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Chevrolet is quick to point out that a federal tax credit of $1,300 reduces the premium for the hybrid to only $500, though how long that benefit remains available depends on how many hybrids GM sells as a whole. In any case, the Malibu Hybrid offers an affordable way to get into the hybrid game, in a package that should put the Accord and Camry on notice.
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