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Good Grades: Solid acceleration from the 2.4 Liter, 169 hp four-cylinder engine, comfortable ride, acceptable brakes.
Bad Grades: Poor rear-end styling, smallish trunk with narrow opening—which is inexcusable in this class of vehicle, various interior materials don’t seem to mix well, odd-rear door opening and low roof leads to difficult entry/exit to the rear seats (and a feeling of claustrophobia) and the rear seats also feel uncomfortable.
Final Grade: I was disappointed with the Malibu—I thought I would like it more than I did—but I didn’t. It doesn’t stack up as well to some of its direct competitors I’ve driven. I’ve seen photos of a 2012 Malibu prototype, and Chevrolet seems to have at least addressed the issues with rear end of the car. If you just have to have a Malibu, I would wait at least until 2011—when the new 2012 models should arrive.
The Car Exam Grade: C
Base MSRP: $22,545
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