What do the rating stars mean?
The first generation Malibu Hybrid was quite a hit for GM. And aside from minor cosmetic improvements, low-rolling resistance tires and enhanced battery charge/discharge rates, it's essentially the same car we reviewed in 2008. A mild hybrid, the Malibu offers EPA combined mileage of 29 mpg combined city/highway with a base price of $24,695. GM is offering five new colors from their 2009 palette, of which our tester sported the Gold Mist Metallic. Warranty coverage: 3 years/36,000-miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 year/100,000-mile powertrain, 8 year/100,000-mile hybrid components.
Look & feel
This is one car where we had a sharp difference of opinion. Scott had lots of room for his large 6-foot, 4-inch frame and was enthusiastic about the enveloped cocoon-like cockpit. Christine, on the other hand, found the seating to be less-than-ideal and the low roofline and side window real estate (almost 2 inches less height than her Altima) to be a significant detractor to an otherwise pleasurable driving experience. Overall, the interior is quite clean and distinctive and the ride is smooth and easy, with handling that holds tight to the corners, albeit with power steering that is a bit tighter-on-the-turns than her preferred driving feel.
Scott was pleased with the road-feel and found the predictable attitude on twisty secondary roads pleasurable, if not outright fun. Of course, getting used to the slow-ya-down-right-quick feel of this regenerative braking system is another factor—this car certainly won’t wear out brake pads. Lift off the throttle and the car slows noticeably and quickly as the BAS motor/alternator loads the engine while pumping electricity back to the battery. But again, it’s one of those personal take-it-or-leave-it prefs. With decent rear-leg-room (yes, even for tall passengers) and rear cargo space enhanced by a split-fold rear seat with a nifty pass-through, Malibu Hybrid makes a long family vacation drive with all the attendant luggage a mere afterthought.
Fuel-ability
So how does GM’s hybrid BAS (Belt Alternator Starter) system handle on the road? While this is a mild hybrid system that lacks the all-electric drive-ability of full hybrid systems, the electric motor assist (powered by the 36-volt battery) kicks out a combined fuel savings of 3 mpg over the standard Malibu—but with smart driving, this can easily be stretched even more. The hybrid system serves as an assist to the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine: it provides torque during acceleration, mild boost during cruising, and enables the Malibu to shut-off and save fuel during short stops in auto stop mode, and captures energy otherwise lost, through regenerative braking. And it’s all these little bits that add up to much larger fuel savings.
We both agreed that one helpful part of the package is the ECO dash light. The smart, light-footed eco-driver gets this green light—but go too heavy on the throttle and this load-RPM-speed-sensing device lets you know it, and out she goes. Think of it as your own personal eco-driving coach that’s always cheering you on—and best of all, it gets easier and more intuitive with practice. Going lighter and easier on the gas pedal is a habit that helps you save at the pump month after month.
When it's all said and done
It’s really just an all-around, keep-ya-happy daily ride. Like we wrote about last year’s model, it’s not the fuel mileage champion. And it’s not the sexiest, most gorgeous set of wheels either. But that’s where it shines too—the Malibu Hybrid fits its niche of a capable family sedan with very good fuel mileage at a decent price. The 2009’s base price jumped about $1,500 from the 2008 model (although it is a more nicely equipped car), with EPA fuel economy numbers just 3 mpg better. So is the hybrid worth it?
While we easily averaged 30.5 mpg combined on our test drive week, the hybrid does offer more opportunity to employ hypermiling techniques and eco-driving that is definitely more limited in the conventional model. Let’s take a look at the big picture: the energy impact score at fueleconomy.gov shows 11.8 barrels vs. 13.2 barrels of annual oil consumption with a carbon footprint of 6.3 vs. 7.1, driving an average of 15,000 miles per year. But, when compared to the similarly-equipped Malibu LS model with a base price of $22,275, the payback period rings in at over a decade for the hybrid package upgrade—so it’s a stretch to justify the extra cost of the hybrid. Yet for those who are the buy-and-keep-a-car-for-the-long-haul, you can’t beat the reduced weekly, monthly and yearly fuel expense and emissions savings. Ultimately this is one decision that’s really up to you.