Have the Americans stolen the crown back for the best looking mid-size sedan?

For the longest time, the American manufacturers have produced some pretty forgettable and irrelevant cars in the 'bread and butter' category.

Come to think of it, in ALL categories.

Cars like the recent Chevrolet Impala or the Ford 500.

From an exterior design standpoint, superstars in the crap hall of fame.

But all of a sudden, it looks like GM is finally starting to build products that have not only caught up to the Japanese, but in some instances bettered them.

Like in the case of the new Chevy Malibu.

We think if you're just grading its design, it bests the new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, as the best looking 'bread and butter' mid-size sedan.

Inside AND out.

It is one fine looking ride from all angles.

Perfect combination of classy with edge.

Quite a feat if you ask us.

Cause in our opinion, they were NOWHERE on the relevance factor before cars like this.

Now add the GMC Acadia, the New Tahoe and Escalade, Saturn Aura, Saturn Sky, Cadillac CTS and all of a sudden it looks like Rip Van Winkle has awaken from a LONG sleep.

We see momentum building at GM for the first time in forever and as Martha says- It's a good thing.

Now Ford on the other hand...The Spies say still 'Lost in Space'.

Do you agree?

Should the Japanese be worried?

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Czelinski - 10/20/2007 12:32:50 PM

+1 Boost

It does look good, but not the best looking mid size sedan.

EnnNorak - 10/21/2007 9:32:27 AM

-4 Boost

It looks good but Chevy needs to find a better-looking logo and not plaster it in your face on that ugly wide piece across the grille. As for the Aura, I can't believe the ugly tail tlights that make the car look as el-cheapo as the Ford Edge rear. Tail lights should be solid red and not have any silly chrome surrounds or ugly clear lenses with visible chrome behind them.

Jagexpert2 - 10/23/2007 7:49:18 PM

+1 Boost

I think the interior is original in execution. Its a dynamic departure from the modular, piecemeal looking dashes that GM has been recycling for years. It was one of the main reasons that I would never have driven a GM car or truck. I would have lost my mind staring at their dash for more than a day. Try renting one and you will see what I mean.

That being said ENN Norak makes a good observation. I think the Old bow tie Chevy badge needs an update.

As for the exterior I think its a very good start. The Saturn brand seems to have given its redesign flu to Chevy. Yay!!

moto - 10/25/2007 11:46:09 PM

+1 Boost

EnnNorak, don't forget that the badge on the bonnet is the only thing certain fanboys look for. If Chevy wants to improve its image, it really should be putting it out proudly on its best products.

Or maybe Chevy needs a badge switcher, like James Bond's rotating license plate, so that the Malibu will actual be considered for what it is rather than what past history the bowtie (real or imagined) has with brand-blinded buyers. Based on my initial reactions to it, it's head and shoulders above the Camry, Accord, and Ultima from a materials, detail design, and build quality standpoint. i haven't done an in-depth comparison, though, so i reserve judgement. All the comments nitpicking individual styling are ridiculous. This is a family sedan, not a supermodel. Compare these on how well it cooks, not how well the photoshopped skirt photo looks in the magazine.

bmwdrvr - 10/20/2007 12:36:52 PM

-1 Boost

i wouldnt call the new impala crap...comeone that was a bit much the SS models are good looking, they just dont scream stare at me, and neither does any other car in that class. the impalas seem very popular you seem them all over the place, and not just as rental or commercial. i think this new malibu is nice looking, not sure about best styling in its class, but than again styling is subjective.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:36:43 PM

-2 Boost

Yes, it is, and the Impala is quite possibly the most boring design on the road. Inside and out! It's so incredibly bland. It's hard to describe. And it's certainly not a good car.

pushrod27 - 10/22/2007 3:36:13 PM

0 Boost

I agree. I think the current Impala SS is a nice-looking, understated car. There's nothing exciting about it, but i think it's basic shape is appealing. Do you seriously think the Camry or the Avalon are better looking?

pushrod27 - 10/22/2007 3:39:33 PM

-1 Boost

Also, S4: how do you know the Impala is not a good car? i know a few people with them, and they seem to be reliable. I rented one a few weeks ago. It was a base model LT with the smallest engine, but it was still pretty nice. The interior is very spacious, the ride incredibly smooth. My only complaint is the hard cheap plastic used for the lower part of the dash and the doors.

bmwdrvr - 10/22/2007 5:18:41 PM

0 Boost

deboost me all you want, but the impala is a great car, i know owners, they have never problems with them, can you say that about a vw audi no you cant, those arent good cars not in the slightest. the impala is hey stare at me, but neither is anything else in that class the ss is good looking its not bland, just toned down, and classy. i personally like them, and i as a fact know they are good cars, and big sellers

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 5:40:53 PM

0 Boost

Okay, fine, they're reliable but they're not well-built and there's no reason to buy one. I'd go as far as to say I'd rather have the new Ford "Taurus..."

mini22 - 10/20/2007 12:50:29 PM

+5 Boost

I must say it looks nicer then a Camry and Accord. I don't know about the interior quality but it does look nice and remind me of the Saturn Aura.It just gets down to how nice it is to drive.

zorbeeze - 10/20/2007 1:01:25 PM

+1 Boost

I think the Aura is the best looking in that class interior and exterior but this Malibu and the new Accord are a close second.

EnnNorak - 10/21/2007 9:36:49 AM

-3 Boost

Except for the ugly tail lights on the Aura.

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 12:19:57 PM

+1 Boost

We get it, YOU don't like the Aura's tail-lights, even though I'm sure there are many that find them both elegant and very practical with there simple design (that follows the contours of the car) and use of much more visible L.E.D. bulbs.

EnnNorak - 10/26/2007 12:18:01 PM

0 Boost

DaHarder, it's not the shape of the Aura tail lights I am complaining about. It's the silly tasteless chrome surround on what would otherwise be a decent solid red tail light. Chrome surrounds and excessive use of clear lenses are becoming a hallmark of cheaper vehicles. Its a conspiracy in the auto industry to help differentiate cheap cars from more expensive cars as expensive cars are generally overvalued now that most of their luxury features have trickled down to lesser cars. Its a form of blackmail marketing: pay me more or put up with an ugly feature.

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/20/2007 1:02:56 PM

+4 Boost

Pretty car, much simpler and more elegant design than the competition. the interior is simply beautiful, I hope the quality can match the Asian counterparts. If it does, wow a real contender.

Auto_Fan - 10/20/2007 1:06:48 PM

+4 Boost

GM is getting better in their products lately. They are offering cars with better quality, upgraded interior, more features, good engines and transmissions and also better reiability and warranty.
Not to forget to mention that they are more affordable than some of the competetion. If they continue to improve they will earn the crown, not steal it!!

EnnNorak - 10/21/2007 9:35:43 AM

+2 Boost

I agree that, on balance, GM is making a big come-back but there are still forces within GM that threaten to reverse the trend by falling back on styling gimmicks in some instances.

CBR2200 - 10/20/2007 1:29:26 PM

0 Boost

Looks great inside and out except from the rear it's damn fugly.

M35MT - 10/22/2007 8:42:30 AM

+1 Boost

I agree, the rear looks derivative.

Saturn has the best brand identity of the GM brands. Their designs, following in the footsteps of the Sky, look really good. The new VUE acutally looks respectable next to a CR-V and Rav4 (which, arent beautiful by any means - but they look good for what they are).

Lyall - 10/20/2007 2:10:54 PM

-7 Boost

Agent 001: Autospies was a lot better without your recent deluge of low quality posts. For a brief period when you didn't post so much, the quality of articles was higher. Agent009's contributions are better. You come up with biased, opionated headlines and try to pass them off as industry gospel. I'm not saying you suck totally, but lately, you damn near have. This recent Malibu claim, is another example of your faux-journalism. Why the hell can't you try and write like Dan Neil does?

Agent001 - 10/20/2007 5:20:24 PM

+7 Boost

Biased, opinionated...Damn straight!

People want to know our true viewpoint...not some watered down Sunday newspaper, 'we're so paid off by the advertisers', it's not even funny style.

They want us to get to the bottom of things and you can't do that being middle of the road.

When we're right, we're right.

And when we're wrong, the readers point it out.

So glad Al Gore invented this internet thing, so we can have a forum that shows the REAL pulse of the automotive landscape.

'Why the hell can't you try and write like Dan Neil does?'

Because then I'd be Dan Neil and not Agent 001.

Dan is Dan and I'm 001.

Dan is good but so am I.

Two entirely different styles and focus.

And finally, you can't please everyone...but thank you for your feedback and support of AutoSpies.com.

001

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 2:12:33 PM

+1 Boost

Fantastic looking vehicle, inside and out, seems to use very nice materials, and have a nice build quality.

It's my opinion that both Toyota and Honda seriously stumbled with their current mid-to-full sized entries this generation.

Toyota with their unpleasantly shoddy interior, and Honda by making the Accord (sedan) extremely unattractive... Almost laughably so.

With the Aura already having paved the way for buyer acceptance of a high quality/desirable mid-to-full sized vehicle, I strongly believe that the Malibu will take that baton and Run With It.

Great Job GM!

ICON - 10/20/2007 7:18:59 PM

+1 Boost

Couldn't agree more!! Great job GM..definitely better looking than the Camry/Honda group.

farabira1 - 10/20/2007 2:20:39 PM

0 Boost

I mean the malibu looks original in the sense that it looks american, and the design is quite progressive but still the 08 accord looks ten times better than this malibu and even the altima looks to be a few notches higher in design. And toyota camry, not my favorite of cars, but i'll rate it higher than malibu in terms of design. But certainly GM is in the ring, and will be a serious consideration for buyers of midsize sedans in this segment. GM is not in a faniancial crisis like Ford, and i guess it is Ford who needs to emulate GM in how to regain top spot after having heavy losses. American Motor industry is certainly coming back into contention.

JUGNU - 10/20/2007 4:01:26 PM

+1 Boost

To me Camry/Aurion/Avalon (All 3 we get here in Middle East) have no parallel from GM(or any other make for that matter).Be it design, engines, functionality, reliability, quality, value, resale....etc

JUGNU

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 4:10:49 PM

-1 Boost

Honestly now...

Do you really find the Camry's design attractive, or better yet...

Can you actually say that if the Camry and the Malibu were parked side-by-side, stripped of any identification as to their manufacturers, you would find the Camry more aesthetically pleasing than the 2008 Malibu?

For me the answer is a resounding NO!

And I have every reason to believe that the build quality/relaibility et al. will be more than up to task as well.

Note: To each their own.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:39:54 PM

-2 Boost

The Camry is not a well-built vehicle.

Will_ - 10/20/2007 8:38:59 PM

-2 Boost

^lol.

Congratulations on your quest to totally lose all your credibility.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/21/2007 12:47:36 AM

+2 Boost

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=117036/pageNumber=2

Ignorance is bliss, Will. You're a blissful person, I see.

Will_ - 10/21/2007 4:59:31 PM

0 Boost

And you quite clearly just cannot read. From your very article:

"Indeed, the car feels solid and likely to maintain its structural integrity through the next decade or two or three."

"At no point during our ownership was the Camry affected by recalls, nor did we experience any mechanical failures. The reliability of our Toyota was never questioned, though a traffic collision taught us the limits of its durability."

A few "misaligned panels" as one of the team of reviewers quoted the Camry as having, did not equate your blanket statement.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 12:23:36 AM

0 Boost

Not being well-built means it has misaligned panels and cheap interior pieces--that's exactly what their vehicle had. Most of the cars based off the Camry platform have interiors that IMO just don't stand up to Toyota's reputation... that includes the Lexus models. I am not happy with how the RX's interior has held up.

Will_ - 10/22/2007 4:31:22 AM

0 Boost

And yet you fight to the death over VW's shoddy quality and reliability like it's over-exaggerated...

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 5:44:51 PM

0 Boost

2007 Automobile Car of the Year: GTI

And Will, if you've read any of my comments, I absolutely know that American VWs are not reliable and I'm still waiting for them to do something about it. But there are two generalizations that are just incorrect: that Audis are also unreliable and that VWs outside the North American market are unreliable. In fact, Audi is quietly inching up the charts--they are the most reliable German brand at the moment. That may not sound like much, but they are also one of the most reliable luxury brands. As for VW? In Europe, they're obviously doing something right, because they consistently land at least two vehicles on the "most reliable" list.

Anyway, what's the point of bringing VW into this? You would be going crazy if we were talking about VW and then I mentioned Toyota's recent issues.

Obliv - 10/25/2007 8:24:45 PM

+1 Boost

Anyone that actually thinks the Camry is attractive is nobody id want to meet.

Agent004 - 10/20/2007 4:35:41 PM

-7 Boost

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Agent004 - 10/20/2007 4:36:27 PM

-6 Boost

Oops, sorry, I fell asleep on my keyboard looking at this car.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 5:12:07 PM

-3 Boost

Then I would think that the Camry would have already placed you in the aforementioned (sleep) state, and the 2008 Accord would have rendered you Comatose by now!

Note: Thanks for the constructive contribution to the discussion... NOT!

ICON - 10/20/2007 7:21:19 PM

+1 Boost

I think you have been in a coma for quite a while...no news there.

Htay7500 - 10/20/2007 4:39:17 PM

0 Boost

those taillites look very diamante-ish.

lexusis350 - 10/20/2007 4:54:59 PM

-1 Boost

I'm not a big fan of the interior. The outside is okay, but definitely not the best looking mid-sized sedan, that's for sure.

AgentOrange - 10/20/2007 5:09:02 PM

-1 Boost

For the money, I'd say it IS the best looking mid-sized....

seevemonka - 10/20/2007 5:19:55 PM

+1 Boost

Yes I do Agree. GM is definitely making a comeback with the cts, Aura & Malibu. The Malibu and cts are a statement from GM that they are serious about improving their interiors. The cts and Aura are statements that they are also serious about the driving dynamics. Lets hope that GM keeps it up.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 5:39:11 PM

-4 Boost

With the notable exception of the tail-light lenses (which can be easily redesigned), this vehicle is very handsome, as it has

1 - Beautiful Proportions

2- Artful Sculpturing Throughout

3 - A Pleasantly Distinctive Front Fascia/Face

4 - A Muscular Stance

5 - A Very Tasteful use of 'Bright-Work'

6 - Wonderfully Realized Interior.

Nothing on this vehicle looks the least bit pretentious, yet it still looks very elegant/classy.

What other vehicles in this segment can match those (stylistic) attributes?

1 - Accord - Honda tried way too hard this time to make this thing look sporty, and instead came up with a design that lacks any 'cohesion' what-so-ever, and of all the vehicles to copy from, why the Chrysler Sebring 'slash' on the sides? The ugliest vehicle in it's class!

2 - Camry - Horrible stance, very strange 'character-lines throughout, ungainly light-designs, and that 'Bird Beak' is just awful!

3 - Altima - Handsome but flawed by those ridiculous tail-lights that travel too far up the sides of the vehicle, and the fact that Nissan really played it way too safe this time around, as it looks far too similar to the outgoing model.

4 - Mazda6 - If ours looks anything like the Euro version... A Solid Hit!

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:43:06 PM

-1 Boost

DaHarder, the new Malibu is definitely attractive, but I think it has LS460 syndrome. They over-polished every aspect of the design, so it now borders on bland as opposed to interesting or cutting-edge. The Camry and Accord at least draw controversy.

After seeing the LS460 on the road for a few months (earlier this year), though, I came to the conclusion that it is a beautiful design. Perhaps the same can be said about the Malibu when I see it on the road.

dmvnt - 10/22/2007 9:23:41 AM

+3 Boost

"and of all the vehicles to copy from, why the Chrysler Sebring 'slash' on the sides?"

First, it's a Honda/Acura styling cue inspired by the Acura TL. Second, the Accord has been in development for several years, and would not have the time to suddenly steal a design cue from a 2007 model in time for a 2008. Dial your anti-Honda bias down a notch or two and perhaps your posts will have a little bit of credibility.

DaHarder - 10/22/2007 1:59:10 PM

-3 Boost

Hey! Calm down...

I'm not anti-anything, except Anti-Bad Design, and To Me & Many Others...

The 2008 Accord Is Ugly... Especially the sedan.

Note: It's ok to have people NOT share your opinion, it doesn't make you a bad person... Geez!

zorbeeze - 10/22/2007 10:05:09 PM

+1 Boost

" the Accord has been in development for several years, and would not have the time to suddenly steal a design cue from a 2007 model in time for a 2008"

Ah yes i forgot that the Accord is the only car that's in development years before it's actually sold to the public. Yes Chrysler hasn't spent years developing their cars. They go to the drawing board and the next day start marketing the car.

dmvnt - 10/23/2007 9:39:50 AM

+3 Boost

"Ah yes i forgot that the Accord is the only car that's in development years before it's actually sold to the public. Yes Chrysler hasn't spent years developing their cars. They go to the drawing board and the next day start marketing the car."

That's not what I was saying. Nowhere did I say that any other manufacturer doesn't spend years developing their cars. The only point was that the amount of lead time in designs for any new car makes it unlikely that a styling cue from another model from a previous year will be added to a newly released car.

Jesus, calm down and stop reading things between the lines that aren't there!

And besides, as I pointed out, the obvious inspiration came from within Honda's own ranks, from the Acura TL which has had such a character line for 5 model years. Not from the Sebring.

dmvnt - 10/23/2007 9:45:35 AM

+4 Boost

"I'm not anti-anything, except Anti-Bad Design, and To Me & Many Others..."

I'm not either, and to me and many others, the new Malibu is boring and derivative. And you would have thought that after the previous generation Malibu, Chevy would have learned their lesson about putting a front end inspired by their trucks on a family sedan. Talk about ugly!

AND to me and many others, the Accord's new styling is very attractive. Certainly sportier than the dreary Malibu.

MeanVulcan - 10/20/2007 5:40:24 PM

+1 Boost

hmmmm... NO!

Mate - 10/20/2007 5:47:09 PM

+3 Boost

The new Honda Accord is better lookin'

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 5:53:19 PM

-5 Boost

Please... Elaborate?

lexusis350 - 10/21/2007 5:00:40 PM

+3 Boost

I have to agree. I saw the 2008 Accord in person and it's by far the best looking in it's class. A lot of people say it's disproportioned, but I really think it's nice looking. For example, I like the over-enlarged headlights. It gives the Accord a distinct appearance and still has the Honda flavor to it's design. The back of the car is elegant and looks like something that would belong to a more upscale class of vehicles. The only complaints about the Accord I have are the fact that it doesn't have a SmartAccess system, ventilated seats, or a 6-speed automatic transmission. If the Accord came with those three things, it would excel beyond anything that could compete with it. It has the engine, looks, luxury, and safety; all it needs is a few more options and it would be the perfect family sedan.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 11:51:44 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, I've seen a few of the new Accords and especially from the side, it looks very upscale. The thing that bothers me about the Malibu's design is that it's a little too timid. The Camry and Accord push the envelope for the mid-sized class in terms of design, if you've ever heard anyone say something like that before. They both look more expensive than they are; dare I say, the Camry looks like a Lexus and the Accord looks better than an Acura.

mikeydred20 - 10/20/2007 5:57:27 PM

+4 Boost

I see alot of Acura TL influence in this vechicle. Overall it looks good. I just want to know have they improved on the engine, I could never forget a co-op at my job had one a few years back and was bragging about it being a V6 only problem is it only had 150 HP. They also don't age well and I do not see this overtaking Accord or Camry.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 6:33:30 PM

-2 Boost

Yes, the general shape/look of the c-pillar has appeared in vehicles from the Acrua TL to the VW Phaeton, and it still looks good...

Especially here.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 6:41:17 PM

-2 Boost

One doesn't have to look back too far to find a time when the Olds Cutlass Supreme (1970's) or Ford Taurus (mid-late 1980/early 1990's) and several other U.S. vehicles (in all its many guises) outsold everything on the planet.

But then again, to some of the audience here (obviously adolescents/teenagers/very early adulthood), even going back to the turn of the century seems like an eternity.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 6:44:23 PM

-4 Boost

In addition, if you had read the tagline, it specifically asked,

"Have the Americans stolen the crown back for the best LOOKING mid-size sedan?"

To which, my response would be a resounding YES!

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 12:26:44 PM

-2 Boost

Faulty math aside (40 years?), it was but the 1990's when the Chrysler LX-platform mates were regarded as some of the most dynamic/handsome sedans on the road with their 'cab-forward' styling.

Even today, many see the LX-triplets as leading-edge designs, which I'm certain is why they're so numerous in/on U.S. garages and roadways.

Agent001 - 10/20/2007 6:06:02 PM

0 Boost

I see some original Infiniti Q45 on the rear profile and roof line.

001

rg12345 - 10/20/2007 6:51:51 PM

+2 Boost

I like what I see.. inside and outside .. it's a good looking car.

porsche911 - 10/20/2007 7:56:44 PM

+2 Boost

The exterior is very good. The interior is excellent. I like it. This car should pull up the sales for the company...it has all the necessary attributes to succeed in this market. Are they coming up with a Maxx version of the Malibu this time, because that would be nice.

One problem though...I think This car shares the underpinnings with the current Saturn Aura, etc. and those are being replaced with a new platform, so in reality, this car is actually soon, going to be a generation old, underneath. It will still drive beautifully and will remain a very good car, but, for those who care, it will be, underneath, the same as the soon-to-be-replaced Saturn Aura, etc.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 10:50:02 PM

0 Boost

The 2010 Aura/Vectra will be using a 'slightly revised' version of this same platform, not an entirely new one...

Someone correct me if I've misinformed.

Will_ - 10/20/2007 8:45:34 PM

+1 Boost

The interior is where this car shines. The exterior is okay, but I wouldn't make any stretches about it being significantly "better" than any other car in the class. Back to the interior, if GM has been able to replicate the interior quality of the Japanese then I believe that will get it the most acclaim.

But if only buyers in this segment put looks above everything else...

gryphon - 10/20/2007 9:41:24 PM

+1 Boost

I think the Malibu handily beats the Camry and Accord in looks. However, that's not a hard task at all. The market will be judge of whether it beats either or both in performance, reliability, and - most importantly - sales.

the_gamper - 10/20/2007 10:39:45 PM

+2 Boost

It looks real good. Marginally better than Accord at least in terms of style. Makes the Camry look like a reject from a Grade School art class. GM is certainly on a roll, their new products have all been at least strong contenders putting them right in the thick of it with the Japanese for the first time in a long time.

Ford on the other hand, is still wrestling with the bad decisions made years ago for future products. I think they finally know it is going to take to change their fortunes and have summoned the will to do it. Unfortunately it may not be until the beginning of the next decade that we will see the full results. In the meantime they have a few decent vehciles taht can compete but still lag behind. Hope they can hold out until until the next gen of vehicles hit.

Chrysler, on the other hand, hasnt really showed that it has fully recognized the problem or that it knows how to fix it. The last few year seem to be a succession of miscalculations and almost comical product planning.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 11:08:46 PM

-2 Boost

The funny thing about Chrysler is that they seemed unstoppable when the 300/Magnum debuted, and then they introduced clunker after clunker...

Caliber, Compass, Dakota, Sebring, Commander and on and on.

Strange from the American car company that (arguably) produced some of the best looking vehicles on the road only a decade ago.

I guess it's GM's time to shine...

bambamsd - 10/20/2007 10:56:15 PM

+2 Boost

I've taken a critical eye to the Malibu and I like what I see. This is the first domestic auto that has caught my eye in a long time. They will do very well with this car.

jt716 - 10/20/2007 11:04:36 PM

-3 Boost

Looks very awkward exactly what you would expect from GM. I still think the Fusion wins on exterior looks compared to the Camry, Accord, and Malibu. Then again everyone has their own opinions.

pchera01 - 10/21/2007 12:33:50 AM

-2 Boost

No, but better than Accord and Altima

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 12:50:53 AM

-3 Boost

Really... I request that you might want to look again:

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/?c=MalibuDisrupt_OLA

Cynical - 10/22/2007 8:56:08 PM

+1 Boost

I think you hit it on the head. Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice were very good looking vehicles, except sales numbers don't seem to be noticeably exaggerated. the reputation problems do not seem to be a quick-fix (i.e. one or two generations of vehicles). I do agree that this is significantly better than current offerings in the marketplace (much better than the Camry, slightly better than the Accord), and but-for the logo on the hood, I would think that sales figures should exceed the others.

DieselRules - 10/21/2007 1:58:15 AM

+4 Boost

I'm impressed with the new Chevy Malibu A6 sedan.
Does it come with Quattro?

What really surprises is that after ignoring good design from other continents for years, GM is finally copying the best (if its ok to do it in Japan, why not in Ameria?)
The side profile looks exactly liky my 2000 A6, except they have copied the Japanese makers cheapening of the roof-line by deleting the tiny window behind the rear door (as done on all the other cars copying Audi's 1998 designs, which include most mid-size cars on the road).

The front doesn't look bad, but the interior is light years ahead of the Impala rental that had in Toronto last spring.

And my buddies Acadia is surprising in it nice lines, interior, and lack of gaudy GM idiosyncracies (like the rectangular fog-lights on the bottom of every Cadillac for years, regardless of how terribly out of place they looked)

Way to go GM! Keep the good work coming.

XYZZ - 10/21/2007 3:53:30 AM

+1 Boost

when is chevy EVER going to dump that "bone-thru-the-nose" theme?

that old styling cliche of logo over a chrome bar, which it seems EVERYONE used for awhile, has come and GONE. chevy had to outdo everyone by using a BIGGER bar, too big for chrome, and just a plain painted bar. they went so far, i guess now they JUST CAN'T LET IT GO.

distinctive, yes. pretty, NO!

DieselRules - 10/21/2007 4:23:39 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, that is probably the uglies part of that car. I often wonder if GM lets the summer interns have final word on styling. The janitor could have done better!

XYZZ - 10/21/2007 5:19:23 PM

+3 Boost

i may be over fussy, but having studied art, design, & mechanical engineering, i know the big DIFFERENCE bet'n going along with a good thing (mostly in mechanicals and engr'g), and just FOLLOWING THE CROWD using worn-out CLICHES.

the masses of designers using variations of the so-called Hoffmeister kink (actually used by others LONG before bmw copied and adopted it), is another pet peeve of mine.

i've LOST all respect for honda designers, when they uglified the accord with it.

at least gm (which had that kink way back in the late '40s and thruout the 1950s) has NOT jumped on that bandwagon. i give them credit for that.

XYZZ - 10/21/2007 4:12:17 AM

0 Boost

and, whatever became of BUMPERS?

chevy isn't the only one guilty, but they seem to have become just vestigial on many cars today. what happens when the guy parked in front backs into you? how much is it gonna cost to fix a grill "protected" by nothing more than a thin piece of plastic?

there's more protection in the corners, but when CR does their bumper bashing test, i can already see a HUGE damage estimate.

Rupert - 10/21/2007 11:47:43 AM

0 Boost

No.

We get the Citroen C5 which is going to look amazing...

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 12:29:41 PM

-2 Boost

Cirtoen was never good enough (as a vehicle manufacturer) to survive the U.S. market, and even though I, personally, like their designs, they probably Still Aren't.

EnnNorak - 10/26/2007 12:25:53 PM

+1 Boost

Many former North American Citroen dealers want nothing to do ever again with French cars because of the administrative problems they experienced previously. Too bad as I have the hots for the old Citroen DS with it's super comfy seats. French cars always had comfortable interiors in the old days.

Tripleonefive - 10/21/2007 12:25:04 PM

+1 Boost

This Malibu sucks Its doesn't looks better than the new Accord or current Camry. On top of that its a GM and they still have a ways to go with proving that their vehicles belong in the same class with the Japanese
As far as the Aura (Error I like to call it ) I was excited to drive it so when i was on vacation in April I rented one and it drove terribly. I'm sure this Malibu is drives the same

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 12:31:10 PM

-1 Boost

Thank you for your input Nostradamus.

rok_altima - 10/22/2007 11:30:01 AM

+2 Boost

Not to mention that this company created the depenedence on cars by the American People by buying rail/trolly lines and shutting them down.

mini22 - 10/21/2007 3:38:21 PM

+1 Boost

GM has made many mistakes in the past 25 yrs. I finally get a sense that they are trying to right the ship. If the interior quality is as good as the pictures it is very heartening to see. The thing is that this kind of interior needs to be in their cheapest car(Aveo) to their most expensive (Cadillac).Thats what VW,Audi,BMW do.You're not being short changed if you buy their least expensive car.You find quality in a Scion as well. To me the car is way nicer than the current Camry(who ever designed front grill of the Camry should be shot).In addition I find I don't like the design of the new Accord as much as the previous one.The other 2 US carriers now really need to up their game if they are to compete(especially Chrysler).

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/21/2007 4:05:18 PM

+2 Boost

Dear God Chevrolet designer sure looked at the Germans when designing that car..

But that's not a bad thing...

DieselRules - 10/21/2007 4:21:10 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, I think they actually (accidentally) let a GM engineer drive a German car, and then word got around inside the company

Sunshine1810 - 10/22/2007 10:46:10 AM

+1 Boost

The new Malibu is better but the problem is that its competition also gets better thereby making the Malibu an unwanted car.

PolePosition - 10/22/2007 2:48:27 PM

0 Boost

Now that American cars are starting to look the part, I think we all owe it to ourselves to start taking a look and not discounting them right off. They're trying, which is more than could be said before. Style is very subjective in a way, but good design does have a very discernable set of criteria. From a designer's perspective most of Toyota's products are propotionally awkward and wrong in detail. If we're just talking style, the Malibu wins.

Whelan - 10/22/2007 3:17:01 PM

0 Boost

After seeing the new Accord on the road here and there and being familiar with the new Camry, which I think the SE is a very nice sporty look with the lip spoiler and effects kit. I must say when I saw the commercial for it, I laughed so hard as the cops ran by the thiefs in the old Malibu.

This new one IMO is much better looking than the new Accord and Camry though. The backside is clean and elegant with a nice dual exhaust setup. The sides are low and creased, and the front is very defined and flows nicely. I have not seen the interior until recently but it does look 1000x better than what I've seen from Chevy recently. Other GM models like Saturn are starting to come around full swing and the new Astra should only add to that in the compact market.

I would think the only thing Chevy needs to do with their logo is get rid of the gold and make it a polished satin finish bowtie. That would complete the clean look.

Kudos to GM for moving forward, and as for Ford. If they don't start sending some of their Euro cars over here, i.e. the new Focus in all it's forms, even the new convertible, the Mondeo to replace and be the redesigned fugly Fusion, and others. Ford just keeps missing the ball left and right with their American market, and yet they keep making the Explorer bigger and bigger and worrying more about their trucks than their cars. Ford 500/Taurus is a flop with still not enough horsepower and the Focus is so outdated it has lost it's market potential.

1970toyotamarc - 10/22/2007 4:02:15 PM

+2 Boost

Does anyone else love the ads that Chevy is running where the mid 90s Malibu is so invisible? This was the car that heralded the return of the Malibu nameplate, banishing Corsica to automotive heaven or hell). It was "The car you knew America could build" if memory serves correctly. Now it is ridiculed in Chevy's own new commercials. Its hilarious.

At any rate, new sstyling is not bad, if a bit derivative. The engine choices seem good too. At least they are offering a proper 4 cylinder, unlike the Saturn Aura. What was Saturn thinking???? Mild hybrid seems a waste in both of them.

DaHarder - 10/24/2007 12:12:55 AM

+1 Boost

The strange thing is that the vehicle in the commercials is actually the Oldsmobile Cutlass, which was (of course) a badge-engineered Malibu.

Cool Commercials No-The-Less...

macbjg - 10/22/2007 5:36:59 PM

+2 Boost

In a word, no. It looks like the derivative piece of shallow eye candy GM designed it to be. More important, you cannot look solely at the skin. A bold design, when attached to a piece of crap results in a bold looking piece of crap. When there was a dramatic price difference between domestics and high-end imports, perhaps you could justify the good looking American car. But with a Malibu stickering at over $26k and, for example, a FWD Audi A4 at less than $30k, how do you get the good looking domestic? With residuals being what they are, in 5 years the Malibu is worth near nothing, to boot.

Porschinator - 10/22/2007 5:39:30 PM

-1 Boost

Looks department:
1) Malibu
2) Camry
3) Accord

Malibu def has Japanese flavor with its lower front valance. Camry is handsome, but I favor the Malibu's sportier look. Both Malibu and Camry are original in appearance. Honda Accord? I thought it was a Hyundai Sonata...lol. Honda should have been more original.

I have not driven the new Malibu or Accord so no personal drive input. The Camry is not bad and fit n finish is fine. Subtle rattles and cheap interior is to be expected in this class of ride and pulls it off well. Driving it is boring and was expected for a basic commuter, acceleration was good and powertrain was acceptable. It is the curent class leader, mainly due to Toyota's quality perception more than a desireable ride. Still hard to beat but we'll see.

Don't forget at one time Ford Taurus was #1...hehe.

DaHarder - 10/24/2007 12:19:11 AM

+1 Boost

No one seems to remember when American were indeed the best selling vehicles in several categories only a bit over a decade ago.

Expect to be rapidly de-boosted by those for whom American car companies can do no right, yet Honda can produce a mis-shapen monstrosity like the 2008 Accord Sedan, and be lauded copiously.

DIPS!

MunichRob - 10/22/2007 6:01:02 PM

+3 Boost

I like the new Malibu but I prefer the look of the Accord & Aura more. I personally would never by a Camry because its name & reputation screams family economy sedan; perfect for families, but not a bachelor like myself.

What matters to me most however is my hope that this new Malibu finally outsells the Impala, giving GM a good & strong case to go with a rear-wheel platform for the next-gen Impala.

Porschinator - 10/22/2007 6:19:54 PM

+1 Boost

macbjg...huh? Try to be subjective. The Malibu STARTS at $17,200 and full equipped at $26K. What was the price of a fully equipped A4? Malibu's main draw back is the rear...Infiniti G.

I guess some people will always consider US made cars inferior. They have a good point since US autos have been slacking. Mostly because of domestic Union issues sucking up money that could have been used into their cars. If any other foreign automakers have GM, Ford, Chrysler's UAW issues they would be out of business. Look at what happened to MB after merging with Chrysler! MB quality went down due to loss funding with Chrysler/UAW. MB will improve after dropping Chrysler.

Hopefully after the restructure US cars will continue to improve; if not, then they deserve to disappear.

macbjg - 10/22/2007 7:21:35 PM

+2 Boost

Porschinator, you make a good point about why the domestics shot themselves in the foot. I am old enough to remember when you laughed at the term "made in Japan." But, that being said, now, 30 years later, you sit behind the wheel of the domestics, the German's and the Japanese (and, dare I say, the up and cominh Korean's)and the flaws in the domestics is huge. Yes, the loaded A4 is in a different stratosphere than the base Malibu. But, a "stripped" A4 is still more car than a loaded Malibu. Indeed, as an auto enthusiast I suspect you would not be caught dead in the $17k entry level Malibu -- other than for basic transit -- so the comparison is not viable. At the end of the day, the real issue is drivability and fit and finish. Based on my recent rental experiences with GM products I don't think either the $17k or the $26k Mailbu, no matter the looks, measures up.

Tripleonefive - 10/23/2007 2:09:28 AM

+3 Boost

This Malibu just too the front of a truck and put it on a car and it looks out of place on this car. They took the side profile of a TL and the back lights of a Diamante. Its ugly !
The Camry is nice although I think the interior is boring. My choice would be the Accord. I have seen it in person and love it, it looks upscale and I cant wait to see the coupe.
The Malibu isnt in the same class with the Accord or Camry. Its more of a Fusion and Sebring competitor. This car should be the one of the last choices for a family sedan right next to the Galant.

XYZZ - 10/31/2007 6:05:33 AM

+1 Boost

i agree.

what i call chevy's "bone thru the nose" logo on a bar treatment has a much longer history than i first thot on their TRUCKS.
have no idea why they thot this was a good theme on their cars as well, which have completely DIFFERENT front end and nose profile characteristics!

even more ridiculous, they had it on the ass end of one of their compacts too!

Obliv - 10/25/2007 8:26:58 PM

+2 Boost

Doesnt look bad. The US automakers are definitley making a comeback. Everyone underestimates them, but mark my words they will turn around.

BMWfan_Alfredo - 10/26/2007 3:52:53 PM

0 Boost

it looks good...for a mid size FAMILY car...

racedogs - 10/28/2007 2:54:10 AM

+2 Boost

More GM junk! Change some sheet metal and copy engineering from other manufacturers, then call the Malibu a superior sedan? Typical GM rhetoric.