Turbo-diesel.

I'd buy this with a TD in a heartbeat (assuming it would get even better MPG).

Diesel is at $4.45 right now :( The US cant support a large amount of diesel cars. 22/32 isnt too bad considering that the malibu is a pretty large car.

I hope they offer this in a lower trim package for those looking for more of a basic commuter sedan that's not a compact. I think the turbo diesel would be nice as an alternative for the V6, but for the mass market this car has the right specs.

An Impala is a large car. Want a econo-box. Buy a yaris.

22/32 for a 4 cylinder still isn't that great. My wife's 3.3 V6 in her Sonata gets 20/30. I'd rather take the extra 65hp over an estimated 2 mpg. Especially since you'd be wringing that I4 out to get decent acceleration and passing power which would probably lower that 22mpg estimate.

About time. The new Malibu is very competitive, but a 4cyl/4speed taxed that ebgine. the 6speed should keep this model in the hunt.

engine-sp

"Especially since you'd be wringing that I4 out to get decent acceleration and passing power which would probably lower that 22mpg estimate."

I guess someone needs to explain to you what a transmission does and why more gears is a good thing.

Bottom line - the 6 speed should improve acceleration AND mpg (and if they had a 7th gear with a seriously low gear ratio they could boost mpg significantly).

One of the best ways to improve performance AND acceleration is the increase the number of gears. Yes, there's a weight issue with current automatics, but there's no reason that they can't make them lighter using different materials. Also, sequential transmissions get much better mpg than automatics due to the lack of a torque converter.

If companies were willing to use more advanced materials, they could make cars lighter, faster, and get better mpg.

Check the Chevy website for stats on the 4 cylinder/4 speed auto Malibu. That car gets 22/30. So for about 3 grand more than a 2LT car, you can get 22/32, and maybe a slightly faster car.

Those looking for the best MPG Malibu would probably be better served buying the Malibu Hybrid and saving a couple grand. Those start at $24,290, but will possibly be subject to dealer mark-ups since availability is very limited at the moment.

The Malibu Hybrid is a JOKE compared to the Camry and Altima hybrids.

I would take a 4-cylinder Honda Accord w/5spd auto over the Malibu any day. Not to mention it gets 21/31 while it's 2.4 pumps out 190 hp.

@ Totenglocke

He was comparing 4cylinder to 6 cylinder, not the number of gears.

You're neglecting cost considerations in all of your suggestions. There's always a reason not to use better anything. Better stuff costs more.

By and large, SMG/DSG transmissions are not as smooth as automatics. People value smoothness more than gas mileage.

If a really low gear for the last gear would improve mileage so much then don't you think manufacturers would do it on all cars? Then they could brag about MPG and sell more cars. Don't assume you're a better engineer than the teams they have working on the car.

::::::

This is a good move for Chevy, it seems to be the trend and it seems to be what people want with $3.65 gas.

Hmmm...
The MSRP on this model is $26.5 K, isnt that Sonota V6 territory?

Okay, maybe Chevy dealers plan on offering significant discounts on that price after the newness wears off.

Is this insane? who the hell is goin to buy a what-(malibu) @ 26.5k?
You can get a RX-8 or Audi at 27.5k!!!!!

@ Cheap Car Lover

"You're neglecting cost considerations in all of your suggestions. There's always a reason not to use better anything. Better stuff costs more."

I'm well aware it costs more. I wasn't talking about costs though, I'm talking about what's possible and best long term (especially since fuel prices will most likely keep going up and up). I love cheap cars (price wise, not quality wise), but I also realize that there's no reason we're not using more advanced materials in cars -- especially when increased usage would most likely cause prices to go DOWN.

"By and large, SMG/DSG transmissions are not as smooth as automatics. People value smoothness more than gas mileage."

They're getting smoother with each software revision. Also, if you REALLY don't like paying $4 or whatever per gallon, you'd deal with a few bumps in the ride to save money. There's also that novel idea of not being lazy and hitting the button to shift yourself -- not only is it smoother, it's more fun too. (Not calling you lazy, talking about the average American here)

"If a really low gear for the last gear would improve mileage so much then don't you think manufacturers would do it on all cars?"

Actually, they do on several cars. However, there's this idea that it's an outrage to have to downshift to pass on the highway, which causes companies to not do it for "improved performance".

"Don't assume you're a better engineer than the teams they have working on the car."

First, my dog is a better engineer than most of the people working for American car companies. Second, it's a simple fact of physics that a lower gear ratio means fewer rpms at a given speed, which means less gas used to cruise at a given speed.

Agree with Toenglocke: the mere fact that the 6 speed was not available from the start, even more so on just the more expensive model, is proof American engineering teams ain't shit.

They learn the same physics and such as any other nationalities team, but I just think that after having dealt with American automotive engineering bureaucracy before (the staffs and chiefs of development) that any good ideas will always be shot down in favor of a) pet projects or b) some old coger who either wants a last hurrah for something he liked about old cars or is to stubborn to see that automobiles really need to change right now.

I am going to defend the Malibu though: while the 6 speed should be available on lower end models, this is the "LTZ" trim level. You get all the goodies of the V6 LTZ but with I4 fuel economy. So its not really gipping the customers on that front, it says LTZ and they get the LTZ trim (which isn't my taste but it is up to par with othe manufacturers design).

I have driven this car in 4cyl, 4 speed form. It's about as fast as a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass diesel. The reason Chevy made the car so quiet inside is so you can't hear the engine screaming for it's life at 65mph. And forget passing. I kept punching the accelerator while driving around town at different rpm's trying to find the power band. Yeah, the "power band" is between 3500-4000 rpm. After that,________________________________flatline.

Who is going to belly up and buy an LTZ model 4 cyl Malibu and drop $28K+ just to get a 6 speed and save a little gas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

I think this is a good move. I like 4 banger's for their simplicity. Nowdays, they make enough power for most applications.
For a company to have a future, you have to compete in this segment. They days of V6's and V8's is going bye,bye.

Chevy marketing is as brain dead as ever. The car is pretty nice for a checky and then the retards in the front office hold the 6 speed tranny hostage for the LTZ package. One step forward, three back. They never learn.

@Tim:

We picked up my wifes fully loaded V6 Sonata for ~$21,500, so if this Malibu $25k then they're seriously over pricing that Malibu.

@Totenglocke:

No, nobody needs to explain what a transmission does or how extra gears can give better mileage as I've probably rebuilt more transmissions then you gotten to shift. What they need to explain to me is how Chevy can only get 22/32 out of their little 4 banger with a 6 speed while Hyundai can squeeze 20/30 with a 5spd out of thier V6 and then Chevy tries to brag about it....

Hyundai gets 19/28, not 20/30 for the v6. The Malibu v6 gets 17/26, but makes some more power. As for the I4s, the Sonata with the 4 speed gets 21/30 compared to the 4 speed of the Malibu with the I4 which is 22/30. HP and torque for the I4s are the same pretty much the same. Curb weight is also pretty much the same. Size wise, they are the same. So why does one cost more then the other, that's for you to decide.

Personally, I don't care for the look of the new Malibu at all, though better then the last gen. Between the two, I would most likely take the Sonata.

@ Totenglocke

Wind resistance and parasitic drag are also considerations in slecting a high gear. Lower RPM's don't always mean it's going to get better mileage if it can't overcome what's working against the car.

I drive a stick shift, automatics bore me to tears. But theres a reason Maseratti struggled to put an automatic in their 4 door, it's smoother (better?) for some people. To me, even DSG's are boring.

@Avatar

Personal experience tells me better than EPA ratings. We drove from Austin to Baton Rouge and averaged about 30.8 on the highway doing 75ish. Driving around the city my wife averages 19.4 so 20/30 is closer to reality in the Sonata and this is with aftermarket 18" rims... 40k miles and counting and the only warranty work done was for a loose visor hinge. I'll stick with Hyundai over Chevy any day. Chevy also claims the Impala SS will get 18/24 but ask any owner of them and you'll see they rarely if ever hit 24 and usually average 17ish.

Either way giving up 65hp for 2-3mpg isn't a great trade off IMO.

Had an Impala SS V8 with cylinder deactivation and drove it an hour commute back and forth to work and regularly got 26, sorry to spoil your rant with my "Personal experience"...

Hyundai seems to think the Sonata 4 cylinder is only available with a 4-speed auto and that the 6 cylinder only gets 19/28, you better tell them to fix that

@Gary

It looks like Chevy will be doing some discounting, phasing out the 4 speed auto, or something. I just dont think people will pay that much of a premium for a 6 speed auto, the Malibu doesnt cater to that type of performance crowd. In fact I doubt most people that end up renting this car would even know it had 6 speeds inless its stamped all over the interior "Chevy Malibu 6 speed auto, you should feel impressed!"

@Gary

It looks like Chevy will be doing some discounting, phasing out the 4 speed auto, or something. I just dont think people will pay that much of a premium for a 6 speed auto, the Malibu doesnt cater to that type of performance crowd. In fact I doubt most people that end up renting this car would even know it had 6 speeds inless its stamped all over the interior "Chevy Malibu 6 speed auto, you should feel impressed!"

Gary, my personal experience tells me that any car can get better then the rated ratings. For example, my GTO. Driving around the city, I rarely start out in 1st or 2nd, this helps up my mileage to the twenties constantly, despite being rated at 17 for city. On the highway, it works out to about 27 or 28, cursing at 75 mph when again it is rated for 25, and I am not the only one to get these types of numbers.

Due to lower availability of 6 speed autos (Ford and GM are sharing this tranny) it just makes sense to put this unit in a high margin car initially. However, when economies of scale begin to be realized, you will see this tranny in the entire model line up. I know its a little ridiculous to still be installing 4 speeds, but they have so many to choose from and they cost peanuts. Besides, my mom or your mom does not give a hoot about how many cogs is in her respective tranny so long as it continues to run for a long time. The down side of a tranny on the north of side of 4 speeds is cost. When I purchase your used 8 speed Lexus some day, the cost to service and ultimately replace or repair it will be out of this world and Amoco transmission will not be able to help me.

"When I purchase your used 8 speed Lexus some day, the cost to service and ultimately replace or repair it will be out of this world and Amoco transmission will not be able to help me"

That is if that 8 speed Lexus will ever need to fix its transmission. Amco will likely not see the 8 speed for another two decades.

I've been the victim of a dropped Lexus transmission at less than 6K. They're not perfect, they just pursue it better than all the others.

Fair enough but i don't think you would ever take it to amco to get the transmission fixed.

On the tranny... Not under warranty, no I would take it to the dealer. After warranty I wouldn't take it to the Lexus dealer with their 150/hr service rates. However, it wasn't the 8 speed in question it was a 2005 GS, so it wasn't quite so exotic. I imagine AAMCO has seen a few of those (5 speeds, not necessarily Lexus 5 speeds) by now...

Two general comments...

1) this is the only 4-cylinder 6-speed auto combo available in a Mid-size car the US market (Per Car & Driver)
2) the point isn't that the 6 speed is only available on the LTZ, it's that you aren't forced to get the V6 in the LTZ. It's been forever now that if you wanted the fancy trimmings you were forced to buy their biggest (or at least most powerful) engine.

Both the Accord & the Camry offer the 4 in their high-zoot models, but some options are unavailable when you choose the 4... Why? to save the manufacturer money, that's it. No grander purpose than any other manufacturer.

It's all about the market the manufacturers compete in...

Honda and Toyota have made a name for themselves on Fuel economy, even though physics has largely removed that advantage, people buying a stuffed-content Accord still ASK for 4s, that's why they make them available. Now people are asking Chevy for the 4 and they are LISTENING something new for the "Detroit" 3.