Surprizingly, Malibu turns out to be a good mid-size vehicle,, that can honestly boast all the bells & whistles, as standard inclusions. A good ride, performance, economy, & styling, massive boot space, as standard.
Being a Holden Commodore, Berlina driver for many years, it wasn't my ideal vehicle, but Malibu gave me more inclusions, for less cost than it's rivals.
Which also got me out of the used car market, & into being a new car owner, for similar pricing as a second hand Commodore.
The. Malibu grew on me pretty quickly, despite the obvious step from driving a V6 4.2, into a 2.4L. It isn't as thirsty at the petrol bowser, & drives more efficiently. So the savings made it easier to get used to, quickly.
Although Korean built, Malibu has been tweeked by a very demanding American market, that insists on more bang for your buck.
A good thing really, as Mailibu drives under the Chevy badging there, & has incorporated some Camaro styling, & enhancements, that sets it apart from other Korean builds, (like Hyundai) before coming to Australia, under the Holden banner.
Bigger than a Cruise, slightly smaller wheel base than Commodore - (63mm is a credit card difference)
It was worth the extra to step up to the CDX variant.
That way you get the sat nav, power adjustable leather seats, including seat warmers (questionable for Australian conditions) Enhanced dual zone climate control, built-in proximity warning powered wing mirrors,
CDX also gets you stylish 18 inch alloys, dual stainless exhaust, shark fin aerial, led tail lights, hand-stitched leather sports steering wheel, & of course, a a sportier 2.4 EFI than the base model, coupled with tiptronic 6 speed auto transmission.
Overall, Malibu is finished off well, with chrome window surrounds, & spot lamp bezels. A lot of inclusions, at reasonable price, at the end of the day.
Despite the knockers & complainers, it seems surprising, that Malibu didn't take off in Australia, once you have owned one.
It's a good all round motor car, once you get used to it., with a heap of creature comforts & inclusions thrown in.
The Malibu is backed up with manufacturer warranty, plus added dealer warranty, provides peace of mind for 6 years. Plus Holden's fixed price servicing for life.