Chevy is very proud of the new 2013 Malibu, especially the Turbo model, and quite rightly so. The 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine in this car makes a BMW 328i-busting 259-horsepower (193 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm). But the main reason for using Turbochargers these days is fuel economy. Happily, the Malibu doesn’t disappoint in that aspect either.
EPA revealed its official ratings for the 2013 Malibu Turbo, and they are 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, 24 mpg combined. Pretty good records for a four-door sedan that can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, and has a top speed of 155 mph.
The Malibu is a really well-engineered car and well-equipped too. It comes, as standard, with 18-inch aluminum wheels, Chevy MyLink, with a seven-inch color touch-screen radio, Bluetooth, and USB port, Dual-zone automatic climate control, Remote start, Eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar, Tilting and telescoping steering column with steering wheel controls for audio and cruise control, and Ice-blue ambient lighting.
Chevy has also tried really hard to make the car handle like a European car by giving it stuff like four-wheel-independent suspension system, hydraulic ride bushings, and premium electric steering gear. But at the end of the day, it is still a big American saloon. It’ll never be as good as a BMW.
The Malibu turbo goes on sale this fall, available as both a mid-level LT model with a suggested retail price of $27,710 and as a more luxurious LTZ model with a suggested retail price of $30,925. Both prices include a $995 dealer freight charge.
This must be a great car if the writer compares it to BMW 3 series (I assume) instead of the other cars it actually is COMPETING against. Why must writers compare lower priced with higher priced. Turn that around and if the higher price is no better than lower then that is a story then.