chicagotribune.com's view

Only weeks after its midsize sedan won the North American Car of the Year trophy from the automotive press corps, Chevrolet is looking to attract even more attention to Malibu by adding a green version.

Since Chevy has gone from one plant producing Malibus on one shift to two assembling them on two shifts in just its first few months on the market, it appears the car has caught the eye of buyers.

And with good reason. We tested the regular 2008 Malibu with its energetic 3.6-liter, 252-horsepower V-6 (Transportation, Nov. 18, 2007) so it’s the hybrid’s turn with its 2.4-liter, 164-h.p. 4 with a nickel-metal-hydride assist.

Like the Toyota Camry with which it competes, the Malibu hybrid now arriving in showrooms starts in gas mode to ensure it does so when the thermometer reads minus 7 degrees, as it did in part of our test. To best appreciate the Malibu hybrid you have to realize it’s a “mild” hybrid, more of an apprentice to than a card-carrying member of the green club. It shuts off the gas engine when idling at a stoplight and offers a modest boost when needed to pass.

Camry hybrid, in contrast, teams a 2.4-liter, 187-h.p. 4 with the nickel-metal-hydrides to travel at low speeds on battery power alone and get an electric jolt for passing or climbing. It too shuts off the gas engine at idle.

Since the batteries do more to spell the gas engine, the Camry hybrid is rated at 33 m.p.g. city/34 m.p.g. highway. That’s 12 m.p.g. city and 3 m.p.g. highway more than the gas-only 4.

And it tops the Malibu hybrid, which checks in at 24 city/32 highway or 2 m.p.g. more city and highway than its non-hybrid 4.

The Camry hybrid, however, starts at $25,200, the Malibu hybrid at $22,140. Toyota adds about a $2,200 premium with its hybrid, depending on trim package, and Chevy adds about $1,800.

The Malibu hybrid gets good mileage for a midsize sedan. But $1,800 seems a bit much for only 2 more m.p.g., don’t you think?

The 2.4-liter is neither whisper quiet nor overly energetic moving away from the light. Only way to smoke the 16-inch radials on this machine would be to bathe them in gas and light a torch. But then you don’t buy a hybrid for zero-to-60 times.

And the Malibu hybrid could let drivers in on its gas-saving secret better. Sure, a green “eco” light in the dash flashes when conserving fuel by coasting or easing off the gas. Andan “auto stop” reading in the tach shows gas engine has shut off when resting at the light. It restarts when you take your foot off the brake.

But you’d think that after going to the expense of hybridizing Malibu, Chevy would want to shout it out with more than a couple exterior badges and small gauges in the instrument panel.

Where’s the digital mileage readout to give folks evidence that $1,800 was well spent for 2 more m.p.g.? A digital mileage readout also would show how driving habits affect mileage.

The hybrid, like the regular Malibu, is built on a 6 inch longer wheelbase and 3 inches longer overall than the previous model. The interior has soft-touch surfaces and tight fits without wavy or uneven lines and a cabin considerably quieter thanks to laminated windshield and side glass, wheel well liners and carpet molded to the floor. Seats are well cushioned and supportive and entry/exit is easy front or rear. Luggage/grocery room is ample in the trunk.

Ride is a little less cushy with the hybrid than the V-6, but handling is still surprisingly good. No exaggerated lean or body wiggle into and out of sharp corners. It helps that stability control, traction control and four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard.

Noteworthy features include side-curtain air bags; a covered compartment in the top center of the dash for glasses, cell phone or iPod; holders that accommodate 12-ounce cans or 20-ounce bottles in the doors; cup and coin holders in the center console; and storage compartments under the center armrest.

Standard equipment includes power mirrors/windows/locks along with air conditioning, rear-window defogger and AM/FM stereo radio with CD player. But, being a hybrid, a couple things are left off to save weight and thus energy: Power seats and power sunroof.

Malibu is a roomy, comfortable, stylish sedan with above average performance and a decent price plus a hybrid for those keeping tabs on this planet’s energy supply.

Chevy general manager Ed Peper says the hybrid will account for 3 to 4 percent of Malibu sales of at least 100,000 units annually. He may be on the low side.

While Malibu is a mild hybrid, the full-size Chevy Tahoe gets a dual-mode system for 2008 that bumps the V-8 powered SUV to 20/20 in 4WD and 21/22 in 2WD from 14/19 without the boost. The dual-mode Tahoe starts at $49,500 plus change with 2WD, $52,500 and change with 4WD. That’s $13,000 to $14,000 more than the non-hybrids. Those prices make the decision to take the less-expensivemild route in Malibu a lot more understandable.

– – –

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID

$22,140

Price as tested.

Add $650 for freight.

M.P.G.: 24 City / 32 Highway

LENGTH: 191.8 inches

WHEELBASE: 112.3 inches

ENGINE: 2.4-liter, 164-h.p. / 4-cylinder

TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic

PLUSES

* A mild hybrid in which the gas engine shuts off when idling rather than waste fuel.

* Brief burst of battery power for passing.

* Redesign of sedan that won North American Car of the Year honors.

* StabiliTrak, traction control, side-curtain air bags and four-wheel ABS standard.

* Very good mileage in a midsize sedan.

MINUSES

* Not a full hybrid that can run briefly in battery mode or offer a prolonged burst of energy to assist gas engine when passing or merging.

———-

Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Transportation. Contact him at transportation@tribune.com.