ON THE ROAD: Malibu & Silverado

I was lucky enough during a recent television commercial shoot to be able to check out two Chevrolet products for 2008 first hand, the new Malibu and the Extended Cab Silverado*. I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality and feel of both. The days of rattles, moans and groans from a GM product are now in the past.

MALIBU LS

The moment I entered the Chevy Malibu LS, I was impressed how quiet the cabin was while the engine was running. With acceleration, there was a pleasing swish of air and engine with very little rumble of last winter’s pot holes and jagged railroad tracks making it to the cabin. The more I drove over a variety of surfaces and conditions, the more the Malibu’s solid construction and integrity became evident. Smooth handling and a great suspension for most conditions. No wonder this redesigned Malibu is in such high demand. The 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder, engine seemed to be willing to do what I asked it to, without any protest or hesitation. Of course, as with any car, a 6 cylinder would have been even more fun.

However, all was not perfect with the Malibu. My first impression of the quality of the dash plastic was that it did not dazzle me, but this seemed less noticeable as time passed. A source of discomfort for me was the odd placement of certain interior controls. Maybe it was because I was new to Chevrolet, but some of them did not make sense. The remote for the powered side mirrors is mounted higher up on the “A” pillar than other cars; too high for easy access while driving which could become a distraction. Also, the climate and the radio controls took me awhile to decipher. No longer new to Chevrolet, now I know.

After several pleasant hours working with the Malibu, it is easy to see why Chevrolet has nearly sold out of this year’s inventory. Who would have thought that the makers of the Vega and Citation would create such a gem? We all learn from our mistakes.

STATS: Malibu LS

4 Cylinder, 2.4 Liter, 169 hp, FWD

Seats: 5

Luggage Capacity: 15.1 cu. ft.

Fuel Tank: 16 gal.

EPA Mileage City/Highway: 22 mpg/30 mpg

Range City/Highway: 352 miles, 480 miles

SILVERADO 1500 (Extended Cab)

I am not a truck guy. I am much more comfortable in a tight performance car, zipping around a corner, testing g-forces and the laws of physics. The floating, rolling feel of a behemoth such as this, is not my idea of driving fun. But, after overcoming the initial shock of parking, this Silverado turned out to be a rather nice place to spend a day.

The first noticeable impression of this Extended Cab Silverado was the nice throaty exhaust note upon start-up. Its pitch changed nicely with acceleration, and varied its note throughout its moves. I found the Silverado to have a great suspension whether on the interstate highway, or lumbering over hilly, off-road terrain overlooking the rocky coast of Maine. The cab was quiet and comfortable, especially for a truck. With clear visibility on all sides, navigating the Silverado was surprisingly easy; although I did appreciate a spotter as we positioned the truck on the edge of a wharf in Freeport, then next to a 10 foot plunge into the ocean in Cape Elizabeth. As with any large vehicle, it is difficult to judge clearance as the driver maneuvers around low obstacles. This one is better than some that I have driven.

Thanks to my time in the Malibu, I was more comfortable with the Chevrolet controls and their placement, even though some of them still did not make sense. By the end of our day, I even had the XM radio mastered, a nice luxury for a truck or a car. The Silverado has plenty of room in the second row for kids and/or cargo, genuinely turning a utility vehicle into a family source of transportation. This truck certainly has adapted well to family life. Too bad its mileage figures will continue to stunt its growth.

STATS: Silverado 1500, 4 Door Extended Cab

V8, 4.8 Liter, 295 hp, 4WD

Seats: 6

Towing Capacity: 8500 lbs.

Fuel Tank: 26 gal.

EPA Mileage City/Highway: 14 mpg/18 mpg

Range City/Highway: 364 miles, 468 miles

CONCLUSION

Chevrolet has raised the competitive bar with two very nice designs in both the new Malibu and the Silverado. With various strikes and contract negotiations behind them, it should be full steam ahead for these two Chevys. Now that we are in the Chevy mood, maybe a test drive in the new Corvette Z6 is a good idea. Now that’s a Chevrolet!

*Thanks to Quirk Chevrolet and Pape Chevrolet for their assistance.