The mid-sized sedan offered in North America has been pigeonholed in all of its functional glory as a docile standard for the motorist on the wrong side of 40. The safety features, spacious seating arrangement, generous fuel efficiency, and ergonomic savvy of these vehicles -- not to mention the price that usually hovers around the $20,000 base mark -- were all elements of the sedan's prior charm. However, the bulkiness, innocuous design cues and tame performance were not -- and thank God they've been added.
The common thread between 2008 models, featuring a harmonious blend of practicality and aesthetic flash, has even trickled into the affordable sedan class. Making sure that owning one of these four-door wonders doesn’t automatically equate to having one foot in the nursing home, Chevy and Honda have each released brand-new sedans that are sure to get your blood pumping, even if you are just dropping the kids off at school.
Both the Chevy Malibu and Honda Accord were sketched with the aim of providing a visually and kinetically stellar alternative to a formerly drab bracket, but which one actually brings that sketch to fruition? Out of 100 total points the challenge is to rack up as high a score as possible, spread over six categories. Chevy's got a tough challenger with the Honda-bred Accord, but let’s see if the Malibu really is "the car you can't ignore."
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
MSRP (base): $19,345Engine: 2.4-liter, DOHC, Ecotec I4 cylinder
Horsepower: 164 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 159 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
MPG: City: 22; Highway: 30
Performance - 16/20
The 2008 Chevy Malibu, much like the exiting generation, is fundamentally cropped onto GM’s ever-progressing "Epsilon" platform, the same that's found on Saab, Pontiac and Saturn/Opel variants. The suspension makes the most of a four-wheel, independent configuration with aluminum bits and hydraulic bushings.
Perhaps the “G” in GM should be changed as this 2.4-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, Ecotec, inline 4-cylinder with twin-balance shafts and variable-valve timing is anything but "general." The compact block produces 164 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, and 159 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. The fuel-conserving four-speed automatic (and six-speed manual optional) transmission isn’t the least bit jittery, and maintains snap reaction times that seemingly anticipate proper downshifts. A straight-arrow asphalt run clocks the Malibu’s 0-60 mph time at 8.0 seconds, flat. Not too shabby for a vehicle with a curb weight of 3,200 pounds.
Exterior design - 14/20
Chevrolet has billed its latest sedan as one you definitely can't ignore, and although it’s all a relative matter of opinion, we think it does a damn good job of grabbing your attention. A glossy, metallic, badge-embossed sill plate on Chevy's new facade dual-port grille is the initial focal point of an edgier re-tinkered aesthetic. Overall, the Chevrolet Malibu is elongated by three inches, with a wheelbase that tacks on six inches of girth. Sleek sides envelope the fender flares and accent the heavily European-influenced character lines, while the 16-inch alloys were pushed to the farthest corners of the vehicle. The Malibu features a Corvette-adopted hood line (which is high), a multi-paneled sunroof and twin-orbed tail lamps. Although far more sophisticated than the preceding model, we could have done without the addition in size on the new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.
Interior design - 5/10
One doesn’t have to look much further than the color-matched, two-tone, brick and tan stitching, along with the well-textured plastic accents to see that the Malibu’s cabin has been extensively tailored with great attention to minute detail -- but still in a way only American automakers can manage.
Despite the widened wheelbase, the cockpit’s interior room gets scaled down to 95 cubic feet, while still retaining its airy feel. Front legroom swells to 42.4 inches, as the quadrant split layout makes for good passenger separation -- almost as if there were four cars in one. The bucket seats offer opulence and a relaxed driver’s stance, with long cushions under the legs and hips, greater seat maneuverability, superb support in the lumbar region, and stiff side bolsters for snugness in the twisties -- that is, if you ever feel so inclined in this car. The control panel and easily legible gauge pods come to life, backlit with Chevy’s blue-indigo glow, and all knobs are readily accessible and fairly simple to operate.
Sound system/goodies - 5/10
Attempting to keep the road trip gripes of angst-ridden family members to a minimum, the Malibu’s median entertainment bundle may prove to be more difficult than desired. The seek-and-scan, XM radio, CD, MP3 compatible, 200-watt, six-speaker sound system is subpar at best, and can detract from an otherwise grand package. However, the OnStar availability that is now standard on all editions of the Malibu is much welcomed, as well as the two dual-stage front airbags, two side-impact curtains and two side-impact thorax bags, which gives you and your passengers a total of six more reasons to feel safe in this new sedan -- even if you aren't enjoying the music.
Bang for your buck - 18/20When on the hunt for a mid-sized with safety and quality relative to price, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better uncompromising bargain than the 2008 Chevy Malibu. It brings enough to the table and leaves enough in the wallet to deserve some serious consideration. It may not be the latest supercar, but for under $20,000 it delivers in all the right places and really shouldn't be ignored.
Driving experience - 17/20
In addition to its long-trek prowess and smooth-as-marble motoring ability, the Malibu is also an ace in noise reduction. The rear windscreen is crafted from acoustic glass; 2 mm thick sheets of glass bonded with acoustic media, designed to absorb all things sonorous. Spray-on acoustic foam insulation was also incorporated along with composite liners in the wheel wheels, and nine tuners and resonators (five in the new engine cover) make for a serene impression.
Overall score - 75/100
Chevy has had a hard time grabbing the eye of consumers in North America in recent years, which is due to the manufacturers problem with producing "exciting" cars. But, finally, the 2008 Malibu has caught our eye and for all the right reasons.
Honda Accord
MSRP (base): $20,360Engine: 2.4-liter, DOHC, I-VTEC I4 cylinder
Horsepower: 177 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 161 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm
MPG: City: 21; Highway: 31
Performance - 17/20
The Honda Accord, now in its eighth generation of production, shares a similar platform with the TSX from Honda’s luxury affiliate, Acura, and is exclusively driven by the front wheels. The chassis has grown several inches in order to improve both stability and corner carving abilities. Although a long shot from the sport-tuned, higher trim, V6 rendition, the calling-card four-wheel, double wishbone, all-independent suspension makes its return with only light modifications. The 2.4-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, inline 4-cylinder, I-VTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), gives an 11 horsepower bump compared to last year's Accord. The engine now dispels 177 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, and 161 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Acceleration is initially lax, but then shows promise as you reach the mid-range of the power band. There’s a standard five-speed manual transmission on the LX and an optional five-speed automatic; both do an exceptional job of swapping cogs. Full-size sedans aren’t typically known for speedy manoeuvres, but the Accord manages a slightly better-than-average 0-60 time of 8.9 seconds.
Exterior design - 18/20Honda’s North American Vice President of Corporate Planning and Logistics, Dan Bonawitz, says that the Accord’s all new blueprint is a “step in the right direction,” and this sedan's new face is definitely a welcome change. The face-lift includes scrapping the snub nose that marred the ’07 edition and replacing it with an aggressive grille and auto-off headlamps. The Accord shifts into the full-size bracket from the compact class with an inch more in width, an inch more in height and a three-inch extension. A quick walk around the '08 Accord reveals the wider-opening doors, the subtle side paneling, matching body-color door handles, and power side mirrors, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels. Aesthetically, this sedan is curved and cut in all the right places. While previous designs may have left drivers with a ho-hum feel, this brand new Accord fires up emotions in any and all drivers -- and that's just from looking at it.
Interior design - 8/10
All that stretching of the underpins wasn’t just for improved handling and vanity, it also tacks on a considerable amount of cabin room. So much room, in fact, that the freshest model boasts the most leg room of any Accord model to date, and ousts the Toyota Camry, Saturn Aura and Nissan Altima in this segment. Although the buckets are generally simplistic (there is no adjustable lumbar support) they are wider and deeper. There are a few dramatic lines and curves, mated with finer Acura-inspired cloth material, which add to the feeling of superiority and better build quality. The trunk’s rear-seat pass-through is cramped, but the rear seats themselves can be folded using release levers in the cargo area. Despite all the comfort and space, Honda did fall short of designing a user-friendly center console. The entire display is complicated and cluttered, with the HUD placed higher than before.
Sound system/goodies - 4/10
With no options added, the Honda Accord’s features package can leave the consumer feeling a bit slighted. With minimum ambition applied, the result is a lackluster audio unit. All levels are outfitted with AM/FM stereo, CD player, speed sensitive volume and illuminated steering-wheel volume control, a radio data system, and MP3 capability. A total of six speakers convulse 160 shallow watts that seem to kick in and out at random. The optional satellite radio configuration utilizes the same input logic as the Acura systems, but, much to the dismay of the Honda public, it will only be granted to those who ameliorate to the EX-L. Active head restraints, three-point seat belts, six airbags and a brake-assist aid with safety, but don’t do enough to salvage the Accord’s highlights on this one.
Bang for your buck - 15/20
The Honda Accord has held many sales and best-in-class titles since its inception, and with just cause. The current incarnation is definitely advancing the breed, reaching another mark by bumping up the interior room and beefing up the exterior look. We didn’t expect Honda to shy away from the amenities so drastically, but don’t expect the number of units sold to drop either.
Driving experience - 17/20 The engine output itself is adequate enough to make motoring about town relatively fun. Although more stout than others the power increase is going to be a key purchasing factor, and all should note this separation from its competitors. Even in its cheapest form, the dynamics of the build quality can be felt and seen, and they leave no doubt that this '08 sedan surpasses all previous generations.
Overall score - 79/100
By Honda standards, the latest Accord has a radical new aesthetic, and it should continue to see the same success it has enjoyed thus far, if not more.
and the winner is…
If reading about the Accord’s mainstream and manufacturer flagship ability since 1976 wasn’t enough to clue you in to its immense marketing potential, maybe the abundance of them seen during your commute will. Sales figures aren’t going to fluctuate much, but in this head-to-head, GM’s Malibu has put up quite the fight. American automobiles are on the up and up, and while their build quality and design may lag behind their Asian and European counterparts, the brand new Malibu is testimony to their ever-present efforts to pull ahead. Unfortunately though, Honda takes the cake on this one.79/100
Resources:http://www.chevrolet.com/
http://www.automobiles.honda.com/
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