2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Review

2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is an outstanding vehicle. It is actually going to be the very next car I purchase because unlike a lot of the hybrids on the market it is roomy enough to accommodate a big guy like me and still get in the 30's (MPG). Chevrolet has really done a great job on the Malibu Hybrid.

So the deal with the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is the same deal as last year.  This is Chevrolet's attempt at throwing some competition at the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  Did they do a good job? Yep.  The Camry is a great car; nobody can really say it isn't.  But, the Chevrolet looks nicer, gets just about the same gas mileage and is made in the USA.  With the economy doing as poorly as it is, I think every American should really think hard about making sure their next few vehicle purchases are from american automobile manufacturers.  This can make a significant difference to the good folks in the United States that are losing jobs due to layoffs.

The improvement on gas mileage in the new 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid comes from a new battery charging software that puts less load on the engine.  In addition, GM went with some very nice 17-inch low rolling resistant tires over the 16-inch tires they used last year.

The Malibu Hybrid also lists at about $1,500 bucks less than the Toyota Camry and that's a significant difference (that's about 5 payments less!).

If you haven't figured it out by now, the Hybrid cars are the way to go for the whole "Total cost of ownership" thing.  On the average if you drive just 12,000 miles a year, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is going to save you about $2,500 a year in gas costs. So if your payment is 300 bucks a month, and you are saving $208.33 a month on gas, it's like paying $91.67 a month for your brand new car.  With savings like that you might be able to afford that second new car for your wife/husband, because even if you do own your 2nd car you are still spending an extra $208.33 a month on average if he/she drives 12,000 miles a year.  If you are going to spend the money shouldn't you be driving something a little newer and better for the economy?

I'll have to admit when I first drove the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid I was a little skeptical because the car is pretty peppy for a hybrid.  It's also very roomy... I was thinking I was going to have to drive like my grandfather in order to really see significant savings on gas; so I put it to the test.  I drove the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid like I would my own vehicle.  I didn't beat the bajeekers out of it, I just drove it like I normally would and I averaged a little over 29 miles per gallon (In the city and on the highway combined).

So in closing, 29 miles per gallon (real world testing driving like a real person would) on average around town and on the highway (mixed) was impressive, it's peppy, the real world savings ($2,500 a year in gas savings), $1,500 less than the Toyota Camry and the $1,300 tax credit you get for buying the Malibu (Can't get it with Toyota Camry)... I'd have to say this is vehicle is the 2008 Reviewboard Magazine's Car of the Year. 5 out of 5 stars.