The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco

The mystery is this: Why do most consumers and reviewers praise the Chevrolet Malibu Eco, yet a handful of influential testers do not? The “riddle of the Eco” as one reviewer put it, is that Chevy tried to split the difference between a full hybrid and a combustion vehicle and came up with something a bit hard to define, a hybrid-hybrid in other words.

Competitive price-wise with its Toyota and Honda rivals, the Eco is in a strange position of losing out to one of its own company’s models, the Chevy Cruze, which gets better mileage numbers with a less complicated engine design. Not a hybrid by any means, the Cruze has a larger trunk than the Malibu Eco, is cheaper by about $6,000, and has better fuel efficiency at 28/42. Some, however, say the comparison between Cruze and Malibu Eco is unfair, since each has its own niche and very different demographics. For an up-close look at the Malibu Eco, and to judge for yourself, see the following review by Autobytel, which goes into detail about the car’s engine, interior, and features.

Note that Autobytel’s review of the Malibu Eco is surprisingly upbeat, considering how strict they are in other reviews of new models. The tester points out that the car uses two different power sources, but the Malibu always uses the gasoline engine as its main propellant. The electric motor only jumps in to add strength to the combustion engine.

The reviewer is clearly pleased with the car, noting its sleek look, easy drive, and reasonable price with a tag of just under $26,000. The 182-horse power and 26/36 fuel economy is competitive with its two main rivals, Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord. Designers obviously gave much attention to ergonomic design, aesthetics, and comfort.

For more information about the mysterious Malibu Eco, see the official corporate page for the vehicle:
http://www.chevrolet.com/MalibuEco

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Safety King: Malibu Eco mild hybrid

The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco, a mild hybrid vehicle, has swept the two most prestigious safety awards in the industry, gaining top prizes from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While both organizations use similar sets of safety criteria, each has its own specific methods for determining a particular car’s safety rating.

The IIHS evaluates passenger safety by looking at rollover, side, rear, and front crash data, while the NHTSA performs crash simulations that test a vehicle’s all-around strength in the event of an accident. The awards are a first for Malibu Eco, a car that will be in showrooms all over the world and will no doubt be helped by its sterling safety reputation. The car features an all-new body, safety design, and fuel efficiency systems. Have a look at the 2013 model that was on display at last year’s New York Auto Show.

In a strange turn of events for Chevrolet, the company recently introduced the Malibu Eco before the standard version of the car, likely due to public concern over the cost of summer gasoline. While the Chevrolet Cruze also offers and eco model, it is the Malibu that is getting all the notice. Some reviewers have compared Malibu’s new look to the Camaro, and its hybrid design elements to successful European models.

With an electric motor in back assisting the engine, the Malibu uses the electricity as an assistant to the bigger, gasoline power source. As a result of the main gas motor not having to do 100 percent of the work, Malibu Eco boasts fuel economy of 25/37, which is competitive with much more expensive pure-hybrid vehicles. Many automakers are turning to the mild hybrid design to boost mileage, both because it is popular with consumers and it keeps costs down. The addition of a small electric motor doesn’t break the bank when it comes to design department budgets.

For more about the Malibu mild hybrid, see the official company website for the car:
http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu-eco-fuel-efficient-sedan/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Honda Insight hybrid

Forget chocolates and flowers and all that traditional stuff. Moms want cars! Okay, it isn’t the most practical gift, but at the very least, we can help our Moms pick out a new car, even if we don’t actually purchase one as a present. In any case, here are the top picks for Mother’s Day. Any mother would be happy to have one of these green cars in her driveway.

The Honda Insight is the “forgotten hybrid,” that gets fantastic mileage, looks really classy, and makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

The video link below features a non-narrated clip showing the Honda Insight hybrid in action. Sometimes it is a nice break simply to watch a car go through the motions without any voice-over. In a way, the Insight is the unsung hero in the industry’s hybrid offerings, firmly perched in the shadow of mega-seller Toyota Prius. But, the 2012 Insight gets a solid 41/44 mpg, and sells for about $20,000. Honda’s Civic hybrid sells more units, but fans of the Insight love its quirky look, great performance, and comfort.

Technically not a “green” car, the Hyundai Elantra is one of the few non-hybrids to hit the 40 mpg mark, and does so at a very low price. Elantra’s new futuristic body style is something any Mom will love in a new car. The super-efficient 4-cylinder engine is the secret to Elantra’s awesome mileage.

The Toyota Prius C is perfect for Mom, since it is the smallest of the Prius family and just right for her to tool around town without burning much gasoline. At 53 mpg in the city, the Prius C is practical, fun, and stylish.

Rounding out the list is the Chevy Malibu Eco, which features eAssist, a clever setup that uses a tiny lithium battery as an engine “assistant,” a start-stop system, and regen braking. Not a full-hybrid, Malibu Eco gets the job done in the fuel efficiency department. Mom would love one!

For more:
http://www.honda.com
http://www.hyundaiusa.com
http://www.toyota.com
http://www.chevrolet.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

The automaker has installed the drivetrain from its recently-released Nissan Leaf electric car in a Nissan NV200 multi-usage van. The resulting vehicle “previews a near-future production version of a full electric vehicle designed to provide businesses or families with flexible, roomy interior space, while achieving a dramatic CO2 footprint reduction,” according to Nissan.

The Nissan e-NV200 Concept may look familiar to some. The Nissan NV200 van is due to start service in New York as the city’s exclusive taxi beginning in late 2013. Nissan has been testing an electric variant for some time now, with examples under trial with the Japan Post Service and FedEx in London, according to the Green Car Reports blog.

The new concept, along with the all-electric Leaf, form Nissan’s strategy to capture market share in the growing electric vehicle market.

In Detroit this week Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn said the automaker plans to double sales of its Leaf electric car to at least 20,000 this year. It will also expand availability of the car to all 50 states by the end of the year and will start building the cars in its new manufacturing facility in Tennessee.

The news comes amid some concern about the safety of electric cars.

Last week, General Motors said it would offer owners of its Volt electric car an enhancement to the vehicle’s structure and battery coolant system to protect the 400-pound lithium-ion battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash.

The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.

Larry Judkin

Larry Judkin + is My Perfect Automobile’s General Manager, but people call him Lar’. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Co-owner of My Perfect Automobile. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

    

EAssist uses power stored in its lithium-ion battery to provide a boost in certain situations–jumping quickly off the line or climbing a hill, for instance. The 15-kilowatt-hour electric motor can provide a 15-hp boost on those occasions, easing the strain on the engine.

The mild hybrid system helps save fuel in several ways. First, it provides a boost when passing–instead of dropping into a lower gear, the Malibu can just stay in sixth and glide by. It’s the same when climbing a hill: Where most cars would have to switch into a more inefficient gear, the Malibu pushes on–in theory.

In practice, if you really need to pass someone, you’ll probably put your foot halfway down and jump into fourth, like in a normal car.

Second, the battery stores energy that’s normally lost during braking and deceleration while the engine takes steps to limit fuel use. The car cuts fuel delivery to zero when the driver’s foot leaves the gas pedal. Along with that, the Eco has an automatic stop/start system that switches the engine off when stopped at a red light or in traffic. When the brake pedal is released, the electric boost provides the first bit of torque before the engine kicks back in, almost seamlessly.

To get the impressive fuel-economy numbers–25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway–Chevrolet had to whittle the body down in the wind tunnel. Nearly 500 hours of testing netted the lowest coefficient of drag in GM’s sedan stable, besides the Volt. The job was made more difficult by the fact that this Malibu is a world car, meaning it will wear the same sheetmetal in America, China, Europe and India. That means bending to safety and pedestrian regulations in every driving country around the world.

How does it drive?

The 2013 Chevy Malibu is supremely quiet on the road. The engine and body have been wrapped with multiple layers of sound-deadening material, and the company claims moving parts were refined several times to get the level of silence it was looking for. The mirrors lost some mass in the wind tunnel, and the underside is mostly covered, leading to less air disturbance and less wind noise. Even the wipers move like a church mouse.

The Malibu Eco won’t blow anyone’s doors off, though. Chevrolet claims 8.7 seconds to 60 mph, and it feels like it. The car has no problem maintaining expressway speeds, and if you put your foot down at a stoplight, it’ll take a few cars off the line, but a brute it is not.

Steering and chassis are tight for a midsize sedan. Chevy provided a Hyundai Sonata hybrid and standard Toyota Camry for comparison, and the Malibu had a solid, well-weighted feel that we like on our cars.

Chevy put out the call to manufacturers for new low-rolling-resistance rubber, and Goodyear delivered. Since low resistance also means low friction, Chevrolet asked for an extra inch of width to keep the handling acceptable.

The interior of the Eco is decked out with a seven-inch display screen that controls everything from the radio to the climate control; commonly used systems get redundant knobs on the dash as well. In addition, Chevy’s MyLink proved easy to use.

Storage spaces are located all over the car, but perhaps the best spot is hidden behind the radio face. A quick flip of switch, and the display opens up revealing softball-sized cubby behind. One could easily toss a Bluetooth-enabled music player behind and not have to think about it until it needs a recharge.

Should I buy one?

If you’re looking for a big sedan that will net you an easy 30 mpg on the freeway, then yes. Chevy will offer a nonhybrid 2.5-liter engine later, along with a turbocharged 2.0-liter mill with a bigger wheel package in the summer. If you want more performance, you might want to wait for that.

The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco will run $27,605 including destination; navigation and leather trim will add a bit more. It has good trunk space, room for four American adults (the car was widened by four inches) and an infotainment system that is ahead of the times.

Larry Judkin

Larry Judkin + is My Perfect Automobile’s General Manager, but people call him Lar’. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Co-owner of My Perfect Automobile. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…