2008 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews

Really Nice Car

Written by: JonW on 11/12/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

Review

I really wanted to own a car that was a practical family sedan but had the look and feel of something more. This car is fun to drive. It is quiet, comfortable and feels so solid. We have the LTZ V6 and it really doesn't lack any power.This car replaced a Chrysler 300M and I really don't notice a drop in quickness and power. I do notice this car handles very well and if you are not careful you will be speeding constantly. You really don't notice the road noise or engine rev. This car is really loaded with options for the price.

Favorite Features

The ride in this car is firm but not jarring, it just feels solid, quiet too. Handling is great, I would like to get this on a test track just to see how far I could push it.

Suggested Improvements

Entering and exiting the drivers door is difficult if you are 6+ feet tall. I wish the seat had a memory position where it would slide back on exit and the steering wheel would tilt out of the way.

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They got it right!

Written by: Gary B on 11/12/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

Review

My first "new" car ever! I'm 50 years old and I've always owned trucks, but I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the redesigned Malibu. I am without doubt completely impressed. Solid, functional and very beautifully designed. The V-6 is smooth with plently of torque and I like the throaty sound of the V-6. The 6-speed tranny is fantastic. The ride is quiet and the road manners are excellent. The interior is beautiful. I have the black interior with the faux wood trim and it's everything and more. I find the fit-n-finish to be better than I expected. I'm hoping I'll have an positive update in 6 months, but for now, this is the best car for the money, period!

Favorite Features

Interior design and function, body design. I like, quite frankly, everything about this car.

Suggested Improvements

Right now, none that I can think of.

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My new Malibu

Written by: J on 11/09/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

Review

I really like the and love all the gadgets that it came with. This interior lighting is rather nice as is the maintenance display information.

Favorite Features

Tire pressure in display, sunroof, satellite radio, interior lighting, and nice 6 cylinder engine.

Suggested Improvements

Increase gas tank size to 18 or 19 gallons with all 6 cylinder engines.

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Beautiful Car

Written by: erk on 11/01/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Have owned the Malibu for 10 months and 12,000 miles and have loved almost every minute. Very comfortable ride, very good mileage, excellent interior and awesome deluxe sound system. Truly the best car that I have ever purchased. Only concern is the electric power steering, which started jerking and acting eratic at about 10,000 miles while on an extended 2,500 mile trip. It took 2 trips to dealer to get steering problem corrected. Hopefully this is an isolated problem and not a reoccuring problem similar to earlier Malibu's with electric steering problems.

Favorite Features

Premium audio sound system is fantastic. Mileage is about as advertised at 30-31 highway and combined 24. Computer readout on cars condition & performance is great. Interior design & finish are first class for the price. Exterior fit & finish (Dark Red) are excellent. A great car for the money.

Suggested Improvements

The electronic steering is certainly a question mark for reliability. Cup holders, arm rests could be improved.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great but could be greater

Written by: rodger Chinery on 10/24/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

Review

We've had the Malibu 3 months and a couple of thousand miles for two medium trips and a lot of city driving. Comfortable and quiet and smooth but not as quiet or smooth as the LT we tested at the same time. I think it's the tires - LTZ sportier but if an absolutely smooth quiet cruiser is what you want, I'd recommend the LT. Mileage isn't great but is what it said we'd get. 17 city upper 20's on highway (at mostly 80)

Favorite Features

XM radio worth the extra money. I don't have a lot of CDs just floating around the front of the car. The back seat, our daughter says it's really comfortable

Suggested Improvements

There is a blind spot to the passenger side rear caused by smallish rear window and high headrest on passenger seat. Even with the most extreme playing with rear view mirrors it doesn't really get covered I do a lot of contortions just being sure no one is there

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Great vehicle overall...so far

Written by: 08malibu on 10/02/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Got the LT2 with 6 cylinder/6A about a week ago so far a great vehicle. 500 miles since having it. A lot of car for the money. Hopefully will be reliable in the future. Great looks, nice interior, amb lighting is nice touch at night, seats could use more side support, trunk is huge but opening is way to small...can't fit double stroller into trunk, radio could use more power. OnStar is OK, engine smooth. 6A transmission jumpy in stop and go Boston traffic. Heated seats are great but buttons hard to find, remote start nice feature, great looking car, love the adjustable pedals for wife, plenty of room in front for myself, 6'4, 220lbs, back seat plenty of room for 2 car seats. Time will tell.

Favorite Features

Exterior new design, power, ride, standard safety features, heated seats, adj pedals, remote start, ambient blue lighting, gas mileage 23 MPG combined so far, great compared to Nissan Xterra that we traded in so we're very pleased with 23MPG

Suggested Improvements

Trunk opening design, fog lights option on LT2, full size spare tire, additional side support on front seats, lumbar adjustment on driver side front seat is poor design, very cheap feel, auto climate control, extended warranty is non GM, stero could use more power...doesn't seem very loud

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Bang for your buck

Written by: Colleen on 10/02/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

Review

We'd been thinking of getting a family-friendly sedan, and when our tiny convertible was totalled in an accident, we settled on the base 4-cyl 2008 Malibu. The pick-up in the Malibu is not that great (but keep in mind, we got the 4-cyl!), but the fuel economy more than makes up for it. We've been averaging over 30 mpg, combined highway and city (about 50/50), and we easily get 35 mpg on the highway. The car is fairly comfortable. It's not the sexiest car in the world, but for the money, it's a bargain. I would definitely buy another.

Favorite Features

Fuel economy! Nice trunk space. Decent legroom in the backseat. 10 year / 10k mile warranty

Suggested Improvements

The worst thing about the car are the ugly plastic hubcaps. Replace them with some real rims!! Also, the headrests for the rear seats impose on the rear view. We took those headrests out (since we rarely have anyone sitting in the back).

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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An amazing family sport sedan

Written by: KD on 09/29/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I have a silver 2LT 3.6L and I absolutely love the car. The 18" wheels give it a very strong presence and the V6 / 6-speed combo is like butter. Stepping into the interior is almost like stepping into an Audi, the interior is beautiful and thoughtful storage and nice-to-touch materials make complete the package. So nice to stand out from the 100s of Camrys / Accords everywhere. People who sit in it can't believe it's a Malibu.

Favorite Features

Love the remote start for hot / cold days. The heated seats keep my always cold wife happy also!

Suggested Improvements

None really. GM has done an outstanding job, the car deserved "car of the year"!

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Great but

Written by: Fox on 09/23/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I have about 2500 miles on the car now. Just returned from a 1400 mile road trip. Trip computer said 32.8 mpg Actual 33.2 mpg. Mostly hwy driving between 65 and 70 mph. I like everything about the car except for the following. Keep in mind I traded in a 2003 Accord. The 6 spd. tranny shifts smoothly 90 percent of the time. It jerks unpredictably the other 10 pct. Once the motor even raced between gears! I will be taking it in to the dealer for this. There is a definite color mismatch between the bumpers and body. I will probably live with it because I don't want to risk paint problems

Favorite Features

Styling, quietness, gas mileage

Suggested Improvements

Can't see the switches for the heated seats very well. If all transmissions are like mine, they don't hold a candle to the Honda's paint match. I saw some others in the lot with mismatch.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Neighbors thought I had a BMW

Written by: gunga2 on 09/10/2008

Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)

Review

My husband and I love this car. We just can't quit smiling when we drive it. It is quiet. It also rides extremely smooth. It is perfect. It is an LTZ 6 cylinder. Driving home from the dealership we got 27 on the highway. It is roomy. Love the radio. The neighbors thought I had purchased a BMW. Best of all my sister is jealous.

Favorite Features

The radio, just everything

Suggested Improvements

Dual climate control

5 out 6 people found this review helpful

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