If the new Malibu Hybrid is SO good, why does it get NINE MPG less than the Toyota Camry?

There's a lot to be excited about on the new Chevrolet Malibu.

It's really good looking, the interior quality is world's better than any cars they have made in the past and it's priced right in compared to the competition.

AND there is a hybrid version coming that is the size of the Toyota Camry but as GM told us during the LA Auto Show trip they invited us on, it will be base priced like a loaded Honda Civic Hybrid ($22G's and change).

So what's not to like?

Well, until last night I was really stoked on the Hybrid.

I was thinking of recommending it to one of my friends but when I read the 2008 Fuel Economy Guide from the US Government, the Malibu Hybrid is only rated at 24/32 MPG.

Whereas the similar sized Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated at 33/34 MPG.

That's a whopping NINE MPG better for a car that is virtually the same size with the same specs!

And what adds insult to injury, is that everyone I know who owns the Camry Hybrid, actually GETS mid 30's for their REAL mileage.

The Malibu Hybrid is still not out for us to test, so we won't know what real-world mileage it REALLY gets for a few months.

So what's the deal here?

Why is the Camry, SO much better?

Tell us your opinion...

EL34 - 11/24/2007 12:28:31 PM

-11 Boost

I don't believe it.

The Malibu hybrid will get better gas mileage than that.

BTW, Malibu is burning on the account of some nitwits having a BBQ in the Malibu canyon during Santa Ana Winds.

:(

Agent001 - 11/24/2007 1:01:04 PM

+20 Boost

How many cars EVER, have gotten BETTER mileage their EPA rating?

Can you say zero?

If the Malibu is rated at 24 by the EPA, there is NO WAY on earth it's going to get better than that.

And yes, the fires suck. Hope everyone there is in a safe place.

001

Agent001 - 11/24/2007 1:02:12 PM

+13 Boost

P.S. I hope a GM product manager responds here so we can understand why it is so much lower.

001

AE86 - 11/24/2007 8:41:11 PM

0 Boost

Doubt many/any GM product managers visit this Toyota fan-boy site. As for cars that get better than their EPA quoted #'s, I saw a test of the E320 CDI that bested EPA's #'s . The EPA testing regimen was recently changed so I don't know how real world #'s compare to the new numbers.

I can't remember the test where the CDI beat the EPA #'s, but here is one where it met them:
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/12686/2007-mercedes-benz-e320-bluetec-verdict-page2.html

EL34 - 11/25/2007 1:48:19 AM

-9 Boost

So far at least 45 multi-million dollar homes have burned in Malibu and one woman's home burned and all of her 25 uninsured classic cars, the one car they showed on the news was a Porsche Carrera with 26,000 miles on it.

Axl Rose owns a home in Malibu and he stayed and fought the fire and in his driveway was a black Lamborghini Gallardo. His home is OK.

Autoegr525 - 11/24/2007 1:02:19 PM

+9 Boost

Because the Malibu is only a "mild" hybrid, it doesn't use GM's new dual mode drive. Everyone knows that. It was never expected to rival the Camry hybrid for mileage.

Agent001 - 11/24/2007 1:04:56 PM

+1 Boost

Then why even waste the effort?

Why not wait until you have a true competitor?

001

Autoegr525 - 11/24/2007 1:12:26 PM

0 Boost

It is curious to release the two mode in full size SUV's and pickups but not in the Malibu. But its not a wasted effort. With the tax credit, the Malibu Hybrid only costs about $500 more than a base model, so the slightly better mileage comes at a very modest price bump.

ZZZZ - 11/25/2007 6:23:19 PM

0 Boost

true what the sailor sez.

so GM is mainly trying to ride on the coattails of Toyota and Honda!

delan - 11/24/2007 1:17:30 PM

+3 Boost

Doesn't it have the same hybrid system as the aura? I do recall that in a comparo, (Camry, Aura and Accord I believe) the Aura scored low on mileage. Anyhoo, can't win em' all. Look how long it took them to produce a decent looking vehicle. Give them time.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/24/2007 2:34:01 PM

-2 Boost

001, I don't exactly understand the point of the article. It may not have class-leading mileage, but that doesn't mean it's not a "SO good" car. BTW, most of the time we refer to the six-cylinder model when talking of its competence.

BigShow50 - 11/24/2007 3:32:54 PM

+5 Boost

Surprise, Surprise...just like the minds of typical GM engineering, their brains go as far as running "Mild"...what's new? All show, no go...

Lexus - 11/24/2007 4:23:58 PM

0 Boost

Agent001,

Happy Holiday!

Just wait until they put the next gen Prius battery and hybrid system into the Camry. It will close to 200 mpg. There was an article posted about the next gen Prius of getting close to 200 mpg.

Lexus

Rupert - 11/24/2007 7:37:46 PM

+3 Boost

Please don't say you believe that.
200 mpg in the land of make believe maybe...

maikoazu - 11/25/2007 2:09:28 AM

+6 Boost

The next generation Prius will still be using Ni-MH battery. I highly doubt it can get even close to 100mpg. Now GM's Chevy Volt with it's advance Lithium battery will do 150+mpg.

ZZZZ - 11/25/2007 6:25:00 PM

-5 Boost

in the hands of skilled "hyper-milers" it could well approach, if not exceed 200 mpg.

hypermilers already get in the range of 110 - 120 with the CURRENT prius.

hobbes974 - 11/26/2007 3:43:06 AM

+5 Boost

hypermilers are an accident waiting to happen on busy Southern California freeway.

We're are talking normal people driving under normal condition.

Hell, I can shift my 3 tons GMC Yukon into neutral and roll down a long stretch of hills and get over 100mpg.

chewy - 11/24/2007 7:34:04 PM

-2 Boost

Because it's a simple hybrid.

EL34 - 11/24/2007 9:08:54 PM

-9 Boost

Double O one has a good point.

Why not wait a year to introduce the hybrid that gets better gas mileage than the Camry or Accord?

EL34 - 11/24/2007 9:13:38 PM

-8 Boost

We'll see.

LE34 - 11/25/2007 4:34:34 AM

+1 Boost

Ya we will see. Oh the EL34 is angry now. What a poor fellow.

EL34 - 11/24/2007 9:12:24 PM

-2 Boost

Nothings over!

We're starting to see Toyota have more'er recalls than ever and they are going down the drain.

Things are just gettin' started ;)

EL34 - 11/24/2007 9:38:52 PM

-2 Boost

You're full of beans.

EL34 - 11/24/2007 10:23:30 PM

-3 Boost

But at this point Lexus is still in last place when competing with the German auto makers and you knows it ;)

S4cabriofoxone - 11/25/2007 1:52:08 AM

0 Boost

"The only thing that's starting is Lexus world luxury market dominance."

I honestly must know: what makes you think Lexus will be the world luxury leader?

With such stiff competition, it's not easy. Not all markets are going to welcome their cars with open arms, as shown by most European countries. BMW, Audi and Merc are not standing still by any means--BMW wants to remain #1, and both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have plans to topple them. So where does Lexus fit in the mix? They're not just going to "dominate with time," because things just don't happen that way. Their products don't have any one single clear advantage over the competition; nothing to really make them stand out. Okay, their cars are reliable, but I don't think you've ever owned a German car and it would surprise you to know that most German cars are reliable, too.

So, how? When? Why? Do you really think that?

S4cabriofoxone - 11/25/2007 12:12:26 PM

0 Boost

"i've had plenty of german cars in my family. much much more unreliable then a lexus. ANYONE who has owned both will tell you that"

That's me. We're trading in our RX330 for a new BMW X5 4.8i... tomorrow. We owned an RX300 before that. Maybe I've just been lucky, but the three Audis I've personally owned (and the one I bought for my son) have been nearly flawless. No mechanical problems, and maybe one electrical glitch throughout the seven years of owning these cars. The Lexuses have been similar--on the RX300, the speedometer froze within the last year of ownership, which I had to pay for. On the RX330, we only had a build quality problem: the rubber lining on the rear door came lose. That is all.

You never answered my question. Why will Lexus be #1? What is it about them that makes you think they're more impressive than the rest?

carfan33 - 11/25/2007 12:31:50 PM

0 Boost

GM does have a better hybrid system...the 2-mode...which is what BMW is going to use. The Malibu only has the mild hybrid tech.

GM has also been "doing" hybrids for a while...their hybrid bus fleet. They have also been doing the electric vehicle for a long while which will translate into their Volt.

ZZZZ - 11/25/2007 6:41:02 PM

+2 Boost

i was less than an hour ago reviewing the new CR ne car guide.

most assume CR is only good for their much vaunted reliability ratings (which they have been doing since the 1950s!). little recognized, is the fact that they do ROAD TESTS too. MORE comprehensively than any other publication. with cars they anonymously buy, as opposed to cars on loan to other mags/testers, which may or may not be RINGERS.

every car they test is given a final numeric score, along with the range of scores of similar vehicles.

in the sedan category the TOP SCORE is 99. most range from the 30s-40s-50s up thru the 80s.

the top 99 score, was given to the Lexus LS460L.

even the Merc S and Bmw 7 only score in the 80s.

Toyota/Lexus WILL eventully dominate the planet. just a matter of time.

ZZZZ - 11/25/2007 6:49:27 PM

-1 Boost

end of 1st sentence should be CR new car guide.

further, those were the road test scores ONLY. factor in the RELIABILITY scores, and especially the TEN YEAR records, and it becomes a no-brainer on what the SMART choice is. not just in the ultra-lux category, but across the whole line of toyota/lexus products.

(the road tests do note most toyota/lexus products are "repsonsive" but not "sporting" in handling. ONLY those who think EVERY car should handle like a sports car will make a big deal of that.)

no1listensanyway - 11/25/2007 1:36:16 AM

0 Boost

Who ever said the Malibu hybrid would be good??? Im a GM fan/owner and I can even tell you the hybrid is going to suck, just look at the Aura hybrid. Cmon Autospies, you are reaching with this post.

LE34 - 11/25/2007 4:33:10 AM

+1 Boost

TOYOTA is actualy the master of hybrids. Like it or not, this is the fact.

ZZZZ - 11/29/2007 6:51:36 AM

+2 Boost

compare today's diesel engines with those of 20 years ago. compare gas engines with those of 100 years ago. (yes, they HAVE been around that long now.)

hybrids are still in their INFANCY, as used in cars.

what they are likely to be like in 5, to say nothing of 25 years hence, will be hard to imagine.

gm has a ways to go, before catching up to honda, say nothing about toyota. maybe the dual mode version will be better.

i do give them credit for trying. i'd LOVE IT if they actually DO start to give toyota competition. that will FORCE everyone to step up their game in boosting efficiency!

bmwdrvr - 11/25/2007 3:22:45 PM

-1 Boost

so basically you created a post to say.....hey the malibu still isnt good enough to compete with the camry.....pointless, the aura also doesnt get that high in a hybrid either so the mpg are no surprise for this malibu...but the bottom line is this car is worthy to compete with the Camry, epa ratings or not....what a rediculous post

froggy780 - 11/25/2007 5:20:59 PM

+2 Boost

First of all the new Malibu doesn't look that great. The front end looks decent and aggressive but the back end is awful. As for hybrids, who the heck looks to GM to produce good hybrids? Seriously, American car companies are known for producing strong and powerful engines not gas savers. American car companies are only producing hybrids because its trendy and the average comsumer is dumb enough to believe that their getting their moneys worth for American hybrids--they really don't get significantly better gas mileage. Toyota and Honda have hybrids that actually get much better gas milegae compared to their "other" cars. A Chevy Tahoe hybrid----what a joke!!!! The Chevy Voltz is another example of American car companies wanting to be like the imports. First of all, the Voltz is ugly. Second, Honda is already going to beat Chevy with their introduction of the Honda FCX Clarity which will be available in limited quantities in Summer 2008. Whose fooling who?

bmwdrvr - 11/25/2007 6:42:04 PM

+1 Boost

wow what a bias....for one most of what you mentioned is simply subjective.....the clarity is hydrogen powered so how does this relate to his hybrid......and if GM can get 500hp from a 7.0 liter V8 in the Z06 and get 15/24 which is only 2 mpg off a g37, on par with many cars with much smaller engines, and less power....than GM can produce big engines and relatively good epa numbers. Engines with this kind of power from the German companies are gettin 11 and 12 in the city and less than 20 in the highway...the 400 hp base vette is gettin 16/26. We are talking companies here being like someone else, has little to do with being competitive. In order to be competitive you must stay on pace its not copying, hybrid technology is far from new, as is hydrogen. Im def a BMW fan but i dont have some unfounded Bias that saids im not a Car enthusiast......the Malibu is a great effort is it perfect no but a great Effort None the less.

Htay7500 - 11/25/2007 5:48:06 PM

0 Boost

what good will this hybrid even do?

1970toyotamarc - 11/25/2007 10:09:18 PM

0 Boost

As good as the new SUV hybrids are, I am also shocked the GM is trying to foist this weak mild hybrid, in yet another guise, on an unsuspecting public. The Malibu already has a decent 4 banger (with an upgraded tranny next year, it will get quite decent mpg.) They dont need this mild hybrid. It just doesnt make sense. Nor does it make sense in the Aura. Ive stated many times the Aura needs a decent 4 cylinder, not this hybrid.
Many eople dont realize just how good the Camry hybrid is, combining superior economy and decent performance. The Aura and Malibu hybrids are just a waste of money.