2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco HD Video Review

[OfficialDmack716]

This car looks SICK!! But i wanna see what the 2013 Impala looks like b3 i take out a car note.

[johnnyViDeO]

I like the high-quality video that sets your channel apart from the amateurs. How about MPG figures, please.

[Chrispisz12]

Why does everybody forget about the Kizashi? It's such a good car!

[stewardlie]

Is that real twins or just great video editing? I have been watching a lot of his videos, couldn't tell.

[columbuscrewfan20]

I would never but a chevy again. Brought 08 silverado a big mistake. Chevy makes shitty car hand down worst than Chrysler.

[trirycheman]

@columbuscrewfan20 I'm ashamed that you are a Buckeye. I worked for Ricart for 8 years, you couldn't GIVE me a Ford truck. My 08 Silverado was perfect. the only reason I traded it in was I needed a 4x4. My '10 is also perfect. And Chrysler is the worst.

[denisrenelara]

I have questions! 1- if the engines stops when you stop and stars when you take the foot of the brake the engines comes back on, wouldn't that kill the starter?

2 - can the car keep operating the the little electric motor goes bad? because image when that think stops working; I guess is going to cost a fortune to replace.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@denisrenelara The electric motor is very robust, it shouldn't hurt it to start and stop all the time. My guess is the car won't operate properly if the motor goes bad. It would have to be replaced, just like any hybrid. Looking at it's mounting point, it appears that it wouldn't be too hard to replace but that's just a guess.

[01fastrace]

What about a Diesel, like what GM is claiming to place in the U.S. Cruze?

[poopeater14]

not bad, i just can't get over the rear end

[tsw44]

now make a 2 door and ill take one

[HamadHHAG]

yeah i think they like chevy cars

[TCB1468]

you forgot about Mazda

[yootubeloobe]

Chevy's back in the game! Especially with the Cruze and this upcoming Malibu! I'm telling you!

[asb81689]

Camry what?

[ThereIsMike]

2011 has not ended yet, but somehow this is 2013 model? Why not from 2020? Geez, this is stupid. Will 2.5-liter model be available in Eco version? Should one wait for the 2.5? Also, I've read comments about noise from the fan located in the back, which sucks air from the cabin to cool the battery. Can you comment on that? Overall, I appreciate GM offering this car with a 2.4 or 2.5 (e-Assist or turbo) instead of humongous and thirsty V6. I like the idea of "soft hybrid" too.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@ThereIsMike I was in the car for hours and never heard a fan from the battery. If you need fold down seats and (probably) a lower initial price tag you might want to wait. You'll have to wait until summer to get the standard versions though. As for the model year, well, what can I say?

[ThereIsMike]

@DrivenCarReviews Thanks. When 2.5 becomes available, will it be used for the Eco version, or will the Eco continue using the 2.4? I've heard that the new 2.5 is much better that the current 2.4.

[landon390]

Looks good

[avlisk]

The squished-up head-and-tail lights are a negative design esthetic that simply ruins the Camaro and does the Malibu no favors. However, to include rear turn signals is a major plus, so it balances out here. Overall, not a bad-looking car, but the distinctiveness of the last generation is already missed, and the mirrors are a deal-breaker (pun intended) for us parking-garage users. It's a lot better than the Camry, though, so, if it doesn't fall apart, it might be OK.

[MrLeamsi73]

very nice, but looks too much like camry

[bigphat200]

I may have missed it, but what was the fuel economy ratings?

[DrivenCarReviews]

@bigphat200 26 city / 38 highway

[Jeredin13]

Looks--amazing! Seems like a solid mid-size car!

[remustintoi]

looks exactly like a camry



[DevPack]

i am excited for the 2013 fusion. I feel its going to be better.

[OneOfaKind949]

If Chevy or GM made a car as reliable as Toyota or Honda... then I might consider it, if I were in the market for a midsize. GM still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to reliability. By now you would think they would get it. I think most buyers just want a reliable product. If the US can put a man on the moon, why can't they make a car that last over 100K with no issues. Somehow Toyota and Honda know how to.

[rueben44]

@OneOfaKind949 Wow times have changed I guess you have to catch up because even the once trashy Hyundai can make a reliable car to 100K and so does American builders. Toyota and Honda have there fair share of issues now and the only cars that are really reliable are the old models they haven't really changed underneath.

[TylerBrandonHardwick]

That was quick to release the review

[RichardJoash]

does it have the same eassist thing?

[iHsg16]

I think every car interior looks better in person

[rueben44]

Love it seems like it will be tied at the top because honestly no one is really taking it out of the box. Some fell behind but many lead.

[YankeemanLT]

Looks really nice. GM is going the right direction with it. Interior feels nice, they just need to address the issues Tom pointed out. The next gen Malibu could be the real competitor and maybe even a favorite.

[projectdoom2]

The lower front fascia of the car makes the front remind me of the new Legacy. All around nice looking car. Can't wait until they reveal the new Impala.

[cm18cam]

This car looks great! Its right up their with the Sonata and Optima

[tjstreeter]

Like the car. Big improvement over the current design. However I wonder if it's going to suffer from the huge depreciation as the current model since the majority of Malibu's are used as fleet and rental cars.

I regularly see 2010 and 2011 Bu's with under 30K running around $15,000 or less.

[TheMadSyrupMaker]

@tjstreeter , My aunt just bought a 2010 Malibu with 29,000 miles, it was $20,500. Malibu's hold their value just as well as Camry, and almost as good as Honda, within 2%. The old tale that Malibu is sold mostly to fleets is just that "A TALE", every company goes after the rental business, they would be fools not to.

[tjstreeter]

@TheMadSyrupMaker Was the $20,500 the original sticker price or what she paid as a used car.

In my area, you can purchase a 2011 Malibu1LT with 32K for $14,877. If you don't believe me...go to berterachevy and see for yourself.



[rueben44]

@tjstreeter Sorry but you just sound like a hater. Look at Hyundai and others and how they changed the game in just a couple years. If you think you can play in the new school with old ideas you are mistaken. Don't believe me...then read more.

[tjstreeter]

@rueben44 I'm labeled as a hater because I ask a question? Read everything that I said before you make such an ignorant comment. I gave praise on the redesign. However if you look at resale values on all of the family sedans. The Malibu is always the worst. It's based on facts. Not brand loyalty biased. Also I don't recall mentioning Hyundai anywhere. So I'm confused why you would even mention it.

[rueben44]

@tjstreeter Malibu may be seen as less by some on the market that are Toyota lovers but if you don;t keep up with times then your just out of the loop and buying a car that is less than other based on the past like some GM buyers once did. Your loss but fact is perceptions change and companies change and so do resale values. GM has done substantial fleet reduction and the new Malibu will hold it's value better than in the past because of that and the fact it is great product...simple

[tjstreeter]

@rueben44 Honestly I was seriously looking at the current Malibu as a candidate mainly because of the dirt cheap prices. However after some research on chevymailbuforums and seeing the chronic complains regarding the quirky 6 speed. I decided to look at some other options. It's a shame since, I do agree that on the surface, it's a good value for the money, If Chevy would just address the programming issues on the tranny. It would be a solid car.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@tjstreeter FWIW the Chevy people at the Austin launch were very eager to point out this is a second generation six-speed.

[tjstreeter]

@DrivenCarReviews I read that as well. It's strange because the same 6 speed is used in the Cruze and their doesn't appear to be any reproduction of the issues as seen in the Malibu. Let's hope they have it ironed out, it can be a great product if it does. Thanks for the great reviews..as always. I always look forward to them.

How is the new Soul doing? Does she still like it?

[rueben44]

@tjstreeter True they had a programming issue at first which has been resolved(100K warranty). You also have to remember people usually come to message boards for fixes and complaints so go to any forum for any make and you will see "Help me please" "Tranny issue please help" and such. The current car is still based on the one from 2004 so it is/was a stop gap because of financial issues. The new one coming is going to be the real deal like most of their new releases.

[tjstreeter]

@rueben44 Issue has not been resolved. Go read the forums. Forums are a great resource and when the most active thread is one regarding the transmission. Statistics will prove there is an ongoing issue with the tranny. It's the law of averages,.

As a current GM owner (2005 Pontiac GP GTP - Great Car). Nothing would make me happier to stay in the GM family. However neither the current Malibu or Impala currently are holding my interest.

[rueben44]

@tjstreeter I read your comment and I realize it comes from limited knowledge. The current update is still based off the older model. It was sent to fleet as you said BUT they have steadily reduced it , to fleet, as the years went on to assist in reducing depreciation. That is why I said what I said to you. Also depreciation is one view what if I am someone who keeps my paid off cars then you hold no relevance. Just saying the industry is more dynamic even than I just stated so....

[tjstreeter]

@rueben44 Hmmm another confusing comment. GM may have made an effort to reduce the current design going to Fleet sales. However it does not change the perception that Malibu is nothing more than a rental car. Which in turns drives the resale down.

Go stop by a dealer and look at the entries in the segment. and resale values wiill in the this order. I kinda know as I've been looking at this segment for the past 3 months for my wife

Accord

Camry

Fusion

Sonata

Optima

Impala

Malibu

[rueben44]

@tjstreeter That is saying because of an issue you read on a board it is wide spread. Not scientific at all and I have read the software issue was resolved. I had a rental Chevy Cruze for over a month and I saw no issues with its transmission. Still not scientific but fact of the matter is they stand behind the product with a 100K warranty that even after that can be extended so it would be a non-issue for me either way. Plus the current Malibu and Impala are old cars who wants them.

[tjstreeter]

@rueben44 I guess. However I tend to put more stock in the actual owners of the vehicles and real life experiences.

[Artyfil]

already some surface rust on the muffler at 1:23?

[DrivenCarReviews]

@Artyfil Not rust, pre-production car. Do you really think a modern car would have rust on the exhaust system?

[denisrenelara]

@DrivenCarReviews I dont get, can cars get rust on the exhaust system?

[uakronsam116]

now if GM would focus on the Impala and redesign it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mecyang]

Good to c u again evil twin

[superchan7]

The new Malibu seems like a decent competitor, but any plans on getting some discipline into Evil Twin?

[marshknute]

This will never be as good as the new Ford Fusion. Chevy is a brand that makes decent vehicles until Ford releases a winner the following year.

[123Rosko]

poor kizashi :(

[DrivenCarReviews]

@123Rosko Ah, you watched to the end.

[madant1977]

It feel European because it IS a cheapened version of Opel Insignia. I find it funny how US reviewers don't mention stuff like that. I guess they just feel bad that it is not a domestic product and try to pump up the marketing fluff...

[eskil1u]

@madant1977 i thought that the buick regal was the opel isignia

[madant1977]

@eskil1u It is, as is this one but changed a little.

[carguy379]

@madant1977 the regal is the insignia, not this

[madant1977]

@carguy379 Both.

[madant1977]

@carguy379 And don't forget Buick Lacrosse and Saab 9-5. Just read the wiki page about them.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@madant1977 It wasn't mentioned because no one in the US is comparing the Insignia (which we can't buy in the US) to Malibu. Many buyers have no idea the Regal and Insignia are essentially the same. GM builds world cars now, not European, Asian or American. No one feels bad, especially if they're getting a good car.

[madant1977]

@DrivenCarReviews Actually Insignia was built by germans from Opel, which is in GM corporation that used it copy/paste for Buick and a little changed for Chevrolet. You only need to look at the same front, and how they awkwardly changed the stoplights. Anyway, I thought it as a good marketing point...

[camaroman101]

FANTASTIC REVIEW! 8 plus minutes long, you put R&T's lame 1 minute video to shame

[camaroman101]

FANTASTIC REVIEW! 8 plus minutes long, you put road & track's lame 1 minute video to shame

[camaroman101]

FANTASTIC REVIEW! 8 plus minutes long, you put road&track's lame 1 minute video to shame

[camaroman101]

FANTASTIC REVIEW! 8:18 minutes long, you put road&track's lame 1:23 minute video to shame

[weedmastersr]

Woow In my opinion this is a much more interesting car than the VW Passat, GM really did it this time, this might be a huge hit ! Competitors should be scared !

[Moparman58]

ugly ass thing but much better than current malibu, needs an optional v6

[DrivenCarReviews]

@Moparman58 Think turbo, not V6

[skoshy]

Preview? As in, full test to come?

A really compelling new model, really interested in seeing it succeed. The e-assist technology too.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@skoshy I generally consider press events previews because I don't have a full week to discover small things (good and bad). I did have nearly two days with this one though so it's fairly complete I think. Will try to snag a press car for the full experience, plus the standard models are coming as well, will want to do those too..

[ilovecars1996]

this car would be great if a 6-speed manual was offered.

[denisrenelara]

WOW! I thought that the Cruze was a midsize sedan, but the Malibu is bigger, more spacious. That fuel economy is great! the interior is really nice! I am pretty sure that GM could improve the MPG in the middle of the year.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@denisrenelara This is the MPG leader in the Malibu lineup. Don't think it's going to improve significantly.

[denisrenelara]

@DrivenCarReviews I was just thinking of the Cruze and how GM was able to squeeze a couple of miles for the 2012 model by doing changes to the suspension.

[jojo0827]

that wood grain is horrendous. but other than that, its nice.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@jojo0827 In person it looks fairly good actually. Also, the cabin looks better in person than the video. I'd say it's as good overall as the new Camry though it takes the sporty direction to Camry's formal look. Just depends what a buyer wants.