Orlando Sentinel's view

The Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique and Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus were supposed to be the cars that stopped the imports dead in their tracks. That never happened.

Although this quartet from Ford and Chrysler have sold well, they haven’t siphoned off enough buyers from the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry to put a serious dent in sales.

But the larger Chevrolet Malibu, which wears the conservative styling Accord and Camry owners prefer, could be America’s first real competitor for the best-selling Accord and Camry.

From the design and layout of the Malibu’s interior to the car’s size and styling, the Malibu has a definite import-oriented influence. It also has a significant price advantage over comparable foreign models.

The Malibu is another vehicle that ought to be included on your list of cars to test-drive if you are in the market for a mid-size family sedan under $20,000.

PERFORMANCE, HANDLING

The Malibu comes in two models, standard and LS.

The standard model is built with General Motors’ greatly improved 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. This is a 16-valve, double-overhead cam motor that provides excellent performance and economy.

The more expensive Malibu LS comes with a smoother, quieter 3.1-liter V-6 engine rated at 155 horsepower. A four-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available on either model.

I tested a well-equipped standard Malibu for one week and about 300 miles.

The four-cylinder Malibu doesn’t have the well-honed refinement of a four-cylinder Accord or a Camry, but at roughly $4,000 less, that’s a concession I can live with. Plus, the Malibu’s motor requires less upkeep over the long run.

The 2.4-liter engine tends to get a bit growly when revved, but what it lacks in finesse it makes up for in performance. This powerful four-cylinder engine has plenty of pep, making the Malibu quick from a stop and giving it ample power to merge onto interstates.

As with many other GM cars, the Malibu has been designed to be easy on the wallet over the long run. No tuneups are required until the car reaches 100,000 miles, and the transmission is sealed for life and never needs servicing, because, under normal driving conditions, the fluid won’t wear out. Also, the radiator coolant and spark plugs are designed to last 100,000 miles, and there is no bothersome and expensive timing belt that needs to be replaced.

Our light brown test car delivered outstanding fuel economy, registering 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

The four-speed electronic transmission shifted smoothly up and down through the gears.

Chevy engineers designed a super stiff body on which to mount the Malibu’s four-wheel independent suspension system. The Malibu’s rigid body enabled the suspension team to fine-tune the ride to provide a nice blend of sportiness and luxury.

The ride is quiet, and the car takes the rou gh stuff easily. Yet it also handles well, taking corners quickly and without fuss. The Malibu has a youthful, agile feel and is as easy to drive in heavy traffic as it is on the open road.

Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is standard on all models. Anti-lock brakes – an expensive extra on most imports – comes standard on the Malibu. By the way, the Malibu’s power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes are excellent – maybe the best in this class. They have an almost BMW-like feel. When you step on the pedal, the front disc, rear drum brakes bite hard and slow the car quickly. This enhances the overall feeling of safety.

FIT AND FINISH

Import-oriented buyers will find the interior of the Malibu to be familiar territory. Although Chevy’s interior decorators won’t win any awards for original thinking, they have crafted a user-friendly cabin that has a warm ambience.

I wouldn’t call the interior stylish, though. Like a Camry or an Accord, the Ma ibu’s analog gauges are plain but easy to read. The rotary controls for the air conditioner are standard fare, and they work well. All this is housed in a cleanly styled, curving one-piece dash.

The switches for the door locks, electric mirror and power windows are located on the door panel. They are lighted at night for easy use.

Our test car sported comfortable cloth-covered bucket seats and a floor shifter. The rear seat offers plenty of leg room for adults. And head room is excellent. However, unlike many cars in this class, the rear seat doesn’t fold down. If you want a folding rear seat, you have to pay extra. The trunk, however, is large and easy to load and unload.

Our test car had one minor flaw: The panel that housed the window switches had worked loose. I found this disappointing.

The margin for error is microscopic when you are competing against the Camry and Accord. Chevrolet will have to make sure that each car is as close to flawless as possible if the Malibu is going to seriously challenge the imports.

Overall, I enjoyed my week with the Malibu. I like the car’s size and conservative styling, and I think the Malibu is a sensible car for a good price.

If you look closely at what you get for the money, you’ll find that the Malibu has many advantages over the competition. Air conditioning, dual air bags, 5 mph bumpers and daytime running lights are standard equipment in all models.

So far the Malibu has gotten off to a roaring start with more than 50,000 sold in just three months.

Specifications: Base price: $15,470. Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes, side-impact protection, front and rear crumple zones, daytime running lights. Price as tested: $17,396. EPA rating: 24 mpg city/38 highway. Incentives: None.

Truett’s tip: The new Chevrolet Malibu offers plenty of room, snappy handling and conservative styling. It’s a tightly built, well-equipped car that is loaded with safety features and offers excellent value.