2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid has big shoes to fill

• By STEVE WHEELER
• Advocate Wheels editor
• Published: May 8, 2009

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The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid has some mighty big shoes to fill. Its older sibling, the 2008 Malibu, won top industry awards last year, including “North American Car of the Year” and J.D. Power’s “Highest Ranked Mid-size Car in Initial Quality.”

But there’s no rivalry between these siblings; they’re actually quiet similar. Both are simple, affordable but refined front-wheel drive sedans that offer 30 or more miles per gallon on the highway. Both have similar styling and driving characteristics.

The big difference is the way they are powered.

The hybrid Malibu, which is actually a partial hybrid, has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine assisted by an electric motor/generator that replaces the car’s conventional alternator. Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid powertrain produces 164 horsepower and 159 lb.-ft. of torque.

Unlike full hybrids that can run short distances at slow speeds using battery power alone, the Malibu Hybrid can’t run on the battery by itself. The engine shuts off when the vehicle comes to a stop, but re-starts immediately when the brake pedal is released. The motor/generator is used to add power to acceleration, and it captures kinetic energy during deceleration and braking.

The hybrid Malibu delivers an estimated 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway, which is an improvement over 2008. Chevrolet says this is due in part to better control over the battery charging and discharging system as well as new low rolling-resistance tires.

The regular Malibu is rated by the EPA at 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The base price of the Malibu is $21,395 and the base price of the Malibu Hybrid is $25,345. If you drive the wheels off a car, then the hybrid version could pay for the difference in gasoline savings. But if you’re the kind who likes a new car every few years, the cost difference won’t be made up. That’s not to say the hybrid isn’t a bargain, it’s more that the regular Malibu is a real fuel-sipper, which is one of the reasons it got the North American Car of the Year award.

While the base LS model is $21,395, the LT version is $22,295 and the loaded LTZ is $26,670, which is actually more than the hybrid. All the models are made either in Kansas or Michigan.

Inside, the Malibu Hybrid is very similar to the regular version. It has simple controls, utilitarian seating and room for five. The instrument cluster, of course, is different in the Hybrid, where gauges help the driver monitor fuel consumption. Of particular interest to us in the Deep South, the Malibu Hybrid’s air-conditioning system has two settings: one that limits the draw on the hybrid powertrain, and a normal setting that provides maximum cooling.

On the road, the vehicle’s power is what you’d expect from a 4-cylinder. You won’t win races but you’ll race past a lot of gas stations.

And you’ll get to your destination in a very safe vehicle. There is a full complement of airbags, including head curtains, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control systems and OnStar. The features are enough to earn the Malibu Hybrid five stars in government crash tests for all passengers, front and back.

It’s a fine, no-nonsense family sedan worth a good, long look.