08 Malibu on chevy.com

[C.H.U.D.]

chevrolet.com

Didn't see this posted anywhere. The LTZ taillights are an improvement, though I wish they had've gone in a different direction.

[K.C.]

The guages on this thing are amazing. They took a trick from Honda nad faded the blue into the black. Thats very cool. This car looks to be competitive in every way with the Accord. I hope it gives it a run for its money. I hope its not a too little too late with the new 2008 Accord coming out.

[Sixty8panther]

The new Malibu is sort of bizzare but it's a nice alternative to the Accords & Camrys of the world.

I'll take bizzare or strange over "WATCHING PAINT DRY MAKES ME TOO EXCITED" cars like the

Camry, Taurus, Accord, Ford 500 & Fusion....

Edited January 9, 2007 by Sixty8panther

[aaaantoine]

Fusion isn't so bland.

I've said in another thread that the Malibu tail looks great in a head-on view. At the 3/4 angle it looks far too flat, almost like NASCAR stickers.

Uh oh...

[Eric77TA]

I see it gets the big ol' sunroof from the G6. I assume that there will be a smaller "normal" roof offered as on the G6 as well?

[!!!TED!!!]

more: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-chevy-malibu-1/

[Intrepidation]

I wonder if Fusion owns rub their faces on the grill to shave the...and on the deck lid to trim when they're done?

[RJB]

The back end is the only thing that bugs me about this car. It looks like it was rearended by a truck, and the tailights scream Mitsubishi Diamante. It somewhow does not flow with the rest of the car. But I will reserve my further opinions on it until I see it on Saturday.

[Satty]

I wonder if Fusion owns rub their faces on the grill to shave the...and on the deck lid to trim when they're done?

I've tried it, doesn't work. :(

[SoCalCTS]

The sunroof looks problematic and unfortunate and the back could use a little more design. I still like the rest of the car.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

The more I look at the car, the more it grows on me.

I see a lot of 60's Chevrolet in it but sure it's a little derivative of the Camry, TL or Diamante. Look at who it's targeting and you'll find that to be not such a bad thing.

I think it'll do well.

[Paolino]

The guages on this thing are amazing. They took a trick from Honda nad faded the blue into the black. Thats very cool. This car looks to be competitive in every way with the Accord. I hope it gives it a run for its money. I hope its not a too little too late with the new 2008 Accord coming out.

Yup... love it!

I really love this car!

[I hope GMRULES again]

Anyone else notice the Bowtie emblem that's on the front and rear lights, that looks sharp.

[Regalguy01]

This thing(including the rear) looks damn good.

[Cory Wolfe]

more: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-chevy-malibu-1/

It definitely looks alot nicer in that pic. I wonder how the taillights light up.

I wonder if Fusion owns rub their faces on the grill to shave the...and on the deck lid to trim when they're done?

I've tried it, doesn't work. :(

[corvette_dude729]

From what it looks like there is no middle seat headrest and no armrest in the back seat. Shouldn't all new cars have these two little things. One of them can save your life. IMO, it is kind of unacceptable.

Edited January 11, 2007 by corvette_dude729

[Croc]

From what it looks like there is no middle seat headrest and no armrest in the back seat. Shouldn't all new cars have these two little things. One of them can save your life. IMO, it is kind of unacceptable.

From that angle there's no way you can see enough to make either of those assertions.

[Paolino]

Anyone else notice the Bowtie emblem that's on the front and rear lights, that looks sharp.

Yeah, I noticed it... I'm undecided. I thought that was really cool, but then I thought it was like overkill.

[pow]

From that angle there's no way you can see enough to make either of those assertions.

Those are the same rear seats as the AURA's, which have neither.

[69396cst]

Those are the same rear seats as the AURA's, which have neither.

As a father of 3, you dont want the flat back seat like this so three can sit somewhat comfortably where as most cars have the seat divider in the middle which is never nice to sit on.

[Robert Hall]

Those are the same rear seats as the AURA's, which have neither.

No armrest or center headrest? That's wierd...

[AAS]

No armrest or center headrest? That's wierd...

I don't care much for center headrests. The other two do a good enough job blocking my view as it is. The lack of an armrest does seem peculiar.

[76ChevyTrucker]

I LIKE it. I really LIKE it. I do think that it would look better in a different color, but it looks good so far. I'm diggin it.

[ponchoman49]

I wrote Chevy some feedback on the new Malibu. I commented that the side styling is a bit too dull looking and that a bodyside molding should be at the very least an option to help protect from door dings. I also commented that the tail lights need to be redone and made more like a Cobalt coupes. The 3.6 V6's dismal 26 mpg highway rating was also discussed as was the 2.4 Ecotec's loss of 11 hp compared to many 2007 versions of this engine. The lack of a rear seat center armrest is unforgivable seeing as how they let this slide on the G6, previous gen Malibu and the new Aura and now this! Is it my imagination or is the 2008 Malibus only real gain is V6 hp over the previous version, styling aside. I was expecting a much better effert than what is shown here from all the talk from the dealers when they previewed this car last year.

Edited January 12, 2007 by ponchoman49

[CreativeVision]

I don't know...the more I look at it, the more I am starting to NOT like it.

The weird body crease on the corner of the front bumper just below the headlight, the flat boring side profile, and the way the grill area protrudes ever-so-slightly but enough to make me think Camry. I also HATE this color. So blah and unexciting. Couldn't GM pick another color to parade at the Auto shows, haven't we seen enough of it with the Aura? It doesn't do the car any justice if you ask me. At least the red metallic has more 'POP' and class. Come to think of it now, GM really made the LT look more upscale and expensive than the upper grade LTZ just because of the color they showed each in. Plus I really don't care for the aftermarket looking chrome grill inserts on the LTZ. Am I the only one who thinks they got this part of the marketing backwards?

In fact I think I am odd-man out here, as I actually think the best view of the car is the rear-3/4 shot. Specifically I think the only thing I am really liking on this car is from the C-pillar back at this angle. Probably because the tails and rear are looking like a Passat to me and I like the Passat.

The interior materials do seem far better than in past vehicles, but I'm still not convinced that there is enough rear seat leg room for my tastes. Guess I'll find out more for myself when I attend the Chicago Auto show in about a month.

Edited January 13, 2007 by CreativeVision

[titan]

I really like the small details Chevy did to the car... they really took there time. I love the Chevy logo on the headlamp projector.

Also, the molded lips above the tailpipes in the rear lower fascia... these are the things GM's designers would have overlooked in the past.

[Chicagoland]

Prediction: Car and Driver will find some tiny interior part that 'feels cheap', and declare the whole car to be 'not as good as an Accord'.

Another Prediciton: Should do well, and sell to many 'fence sitters' who are not totally "import only"

[BuddyP]

Have heard that Jim Press said "Well, guys, they have the better car. So, what are we going to do now?" after checking out the Malibu at NAIAS.

[Dragon]

Compared to the last Malibu, this one looks great, but overall, it doesn't tickle my fancy. I wouldn't even rank it in my personal top three for exterior styling, Camry, 6 (both of which need skirts or else they are meh) and the Fusion all rank way ahead.

[BlkHhr104]

Not only did you say the Camry is good looking you also said it looks good in skirts, I hate the Camry SE with a such a passion, as well as the Mazda6 in skirts, man do i hate skirts on cars, especially Camry and Corolla yuck...

[DeMAN]

Will the 08 Malibu have the NAV as an option?

[HarleyEarl]

I like everything about this car....stylish, dynamic, especially the rearend.

The only thing I'm not hot on is the steering wheel, this design has been

used a bit too much across GM carlines.