-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
New Models
DRIVEN: New Malibu Takes MPG High Road
The stylish 2013 remake of Chevy’s midsize sedan debuts with a mild-hybrid drivetrain as GM reaches for green credibility; two regular four-cylinder versions are on their way.
Chevolet Malibu gets an attractive redesign for 2013, as well as dropping its V6 for a pair of turbo fours and a mild hybrid. (Photo: Chevrolet)
Chevy Malibu shed its plain-Jane stigma for 2013, coming back with a sleek and aerodynamically efficient body design, a nicely upgraded interior, and a trio of four-cylinder engines that promise a decent range of performance with improved fuel economy, and with no V6 in sight.
First out of the box is the Malibu Eco powered by a “mild hybrid” that provides some of the benefits of an electric-motor assist with a more-moderate price tag than a full hybrid.
The idea is that fuel mileage may not be as impressive as a whole-hog hybrid, but neither are the monthly payments.
Using the same General Motors eAssist mild-hybrid system as Buick models, the Malibu Eco has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower combined with an electric motor that generates the equivalent of 15 horsepower.
With the standard six-speed automatic, acceleration and passing power are not exactly sparkling, but reasonably powerful. GM says it will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds.
According to the wizards at the EPA, you can expect 25 mpg in the city and 37 highway, or a combined 29 mpg. With a gallon of gas hovering around the $4 range, the Eco starts to look like a fairly attractive proposition.
But with a fairly steep base price of $25,235, Malibu Eco is not much cheaper than the Toyota Camry Hybrid or Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which are full hybrids, with the Camry getting 43 city and 40 highway and the Sonata reaching 35 city and 40 highway, according to the EPA.
Here’s a simplified explanation of the difference: A mild hybrid use a small electric motor to assist in acceleration and employs a start-stop engine function so the car does not waste fuel or spew emissions idling at traffic lights and such. In a full hybrid, the electric motor is more of a major propulsion component, with some using electric power exclusively for start up and low speeds before the gas engine cuts in, which explains the Toyota models’ extra-high mileage for city driving.
In the case of the Malibu Eco, the mileage is not considerably higher than similar cars powered by four-cylinder engines only and with comparable performance. So you’d have to weigh the cost/benefit among the various brands to determine your choice.
There are two other four-cylinder options coming soon for Malibu, a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four with 195 horsepower and a turbocharged 2-liter four for top performance, with horsepower TBA. Chevrolet has not announced pricing or estimated fuel mileage for the models without the mild-hybrid system, which kind of makes me wonder how the comparisons will pan out. It does seem odd that Chevy would introduce its all-new Malibu only in the mild-hybrid version.
First out of the box is the Malibu Eco powered by a “mild hybrid” that provides some of the benefits of an electric-motor assist with a more-moderate price tag than a full hybrid.
The idea is that fuel mileage may not be as impressive as a whole-hog hybrid, but neither are the monthly payments.
Using the same General Motors eAssist mild-hybrid system as Buick models, the Malibu Eco has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower combined with an electric motor that generates the equivalent of 15 horsepower.
With the standard six-speed automatic, acceleration and passing power are not exactly sparkling, but reasonably powerful. GM says it will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds.
According to the wizards at the EPA, you can expect 25 mpg in the city and 37 highway, or a combined 29 mpg. With a gallon of gas hovering around the $4 range, the Eco starts to look like a fairly attractive proposition.
But with a fairly steep base price of $25,235, Malibu Eco is not much cheaper than the Toyota Camry Hybrid or Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which are full hybrids, with the Camry getting 43 city and 40 highway and the Sonata reaching 35 city and 40 highway, according to the EPA.
Here’s a simplified explanation of the difference: A mild hybrid use a small electric motor to assist in acceleration and employs a start-stop engine function so the car does not waste fuel or spew emissions idling at traffic lights and such. In a full hybrid, the electric motor is more of a major propulsion component, with some using electric power exclusively for start up and low speeds before the gas engine cuts in, which explains the Toyota models’ extra-high mileage for city driving.
In the case of the Malibu Eco, the mileage is not considerably higher than similar cars powered by four-cylinder engines only and with comparable performance. So you’d have to weigh the cost/benefit among the various brands to determine your choice.
There are two other four-cylinder options coming soon for Malibu, a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four with 195 horsepower and a turbocharged 2-liter four for top performance, with horsepower TBA. Chevrolet has not announced pricing or estimated fuel mileage for the models without the mild-hybrid system, which kind of makes me wonder how the comparisons will pan out. It does seem odd that Chevy would introduce its all-new Malibu only in the mild-hybrid version.
2014 Cadillac CTS
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTOMOTIVE
-
GREEN: Porsche Adding All-Model Hybrids
Gas/electric plug-versions of its entire lineup – including… -
AUTOS: Porsche Boosts 918 Spyder Power
The upcoming supercar will produce 887 horsepower from its gas/electric… -
AUTOS: Acura NSX Details Revealed
The rebirth of the mid-engine sports car – now an all-wheel-drive… -
DRIVEN: Jaguar’s Many-Splendored XJ
The British luxury sedan comes in 10 different flavors, with plenty… -
AUTOS: Lamborghini Egoista Launched
The wild single-seat concept car is unveiled at the end of the epic… -
AUTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hot Pontiac G8
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick helped his driver modify the 2009… -
VINTAGE: A Fast Historic Tour Of France
Vintage race and touring cars compete in the 22nd annual Tour de… - More News
