The Chevrolet Malibu, a swift mid sized sedan, has been around for
many years. It is a reliable model, thus there are plenty of used Malibus
available. The Chevrolet Malibu nameplate has been
around for a long, long time, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Once
a big car, the Malibu has in recent years been Chevrolet's
bread-and-butter sedan, fitting in the lineup just below the larger
Impala, which is itself a downsized version of the old full-size
Impala. The initial lineup consisted of rear-drive midsizers that
included coupes, sedans, wagons and the legendary, high-horsepower
SS-badged muscle car. After a downsizing in the late 1970s and a
quiet death in the early '80s, the Malibu was reincarnated as a
smaller, anonymous, front-wheel-drive favorite of rental fleets.
The
latest generation boasts a level of refinement and overall
competence that puts it head and shoulders above its past
generations and on par with other top midsize family sedans.
Benefits such as a comfortable and quiet ride, a roomy cabin,
satisfying performance, handsome styling and value pricing make
Chevrolet's Malibu a strong choice. The redesigned 2008 Chevrolet
Malibu emphasizes civilized road manners, quality construction and
practicality, with clean, contemporary styling. For 2008, the
distinctive and classy Chevrolet Malibu has been completely
redesigned with more luxurious styling both inside and out. The
Malibu competes directly against the other midsize sedans on the
market, among them the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima,
and Ford Fusion.
Find Used Chevy Malibu Models
2008 Malibu models offer all the latest features, all with the
benefits of purchasing a used car. The previous version of the Chevy
Malibu was offered from 2004-08. As there was that one-year
overlap, Chevrolet distinguished the two different Malibus by
calling the retiring version the Malibu Classic. In addition to a
sedan body style, the outgoing Malibu was also offered in a
longer-wheelbase hatchback version called the Malibu Maxx. Compared
to earlier Malibus, this one came with more powerful engine choices,
a roomier layout and state-of-the-art safety features like available
side curtain airbags and adjustable pedals. The ‘new’ ’08 Malibu
offers a more balanced, predictable ride and handling
characteristics, plenty of passenger and cargo space, ample safety
and convenience features and an innovative new remote start feature
for preliminary warm-up/cool-down.
In previous editions consumers complained of a lack of style and
performance, and this was fully addressed when the lineup was beefed
up with the leather-trimmed LTZ and high-performance SS. All models
were hooked up to a proven four-speed automatic transmission, and
the SS featured a manual-shift mode. The V6 engines provide an
agreeable combination of performance and fuel economy. This Malibu
offers smooth ride quality, fuel economy, and roomy interior and top
safety scores.
Previous to this, there was the Chevrolet Malibu from 1997-2003.
Following its introduction, this midsize Malibu went upscale with
optional leather trim and a sunroof in 1998. In 2000, the front
styling was modified to be more Impala-like and the 3.1-liter V6 was
improved with more power. Minor detail changes like
exterior/interior trim revisions, automatic headlamp control, new
audio systems with a CD player and new colors carried the Malibu
through its next few years. In general, late-model, low-mileage
examples in excellent condition should serve as useful second cars
or for commuting duty. To discover the Malibu further, visit the
official Chevrolet Malibu home.