2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on May 21st, 2008 filed in car, hybrid, miles per gallon, transportation

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

General Motors has introduced a hybrid Malibu. Sounds like America’s largest automaker is finally getting it, huh? According to reports about the vehicle, it is solid competition for the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord, both its direct competitors.

A standard Chevy Malibu is rated at 22 miles-per-gallon (MPG) in the city, and 30 MPG on the highway. The Hybrid version Chevy is now producing gets…

wait for it…

24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. Yes, you read that right - today, with oil prices reaching a new record of $133 per barrel - General Motors’ hybrid version of one of their most popular vehicles obtains a whopping TWO MPG more than the standard version. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that a feat such as this could have been obtained much more simply than by adding a hybrid drive. Also, there are “standard” vehicles that match, exceed, or even kick the crap out of the Hybrid Malibu’s MPG rating - like, for instance a STANDARD Honda Accord, or a STANDARD Toyota Camry.

So I say - “Way to go GM!” Way to show the world that you are no where near ready to answer the issue of skyrocketing oil prices and help drivers with vehicles that make it not only more affordable to fill the tank, but maybe even are powered by something other than oil.

While I appreciate the gesture of bringing another hybrid to market - GM is greenwashing their product line without pissing off their oil company comrades by actually making any significant improvements.

Blah.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

How do you feel about the minute improvements made by hybridizing the Chevy Malibu? Do you think it’s greenwashing? Do you think it’s a valid first step for GM to really improve its vehicle offerings? Flood the comments with your opinions… maybe GM will even hear you!

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4 Responses to “2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid”

  1. no imageTeresa (Who am I?) Says:
    May 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    Once again I was stopped by not 1 but 3 people today (people do this all the time) all of whom wanted details on my Prius, they wanted to sit in it, open the hatch, examine the computer screens, etc. They ooh’d and ahh’d over my incredible gas mileage. On one 10 gallon fill-up I can go 497 miles, yep I said it, almost 500 miles on one fill-up. Now after all this I just want to know where is my dadgum commission check from Toyota? GEEZ GM make the the darn car and it will sell itself or rather its driver’s will. I smell coffee do you?

    Teresa

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  2. no imageKristine (Who am I?) Says:
    May 23rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Very humorous take on a very serious problem! I have written about the audacity of American auto makers myself and this one really takes the cake. No wonder they are not making any money. Ugh. Those GM executives are all making serious coin and are working more for the oil companies than for their own shareholders. Shame on you!

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  3. no imageAnne Florenzano (Who am I?) Says:
    May 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Boy, do I agree with Teresa! I’ve been driving my Prius since 2004 and regularly get almost 500 miles per 10 gallon tank-full. Except when it’s really, really cold up here in Minneapolis; then I only get - gasp! - about 35 mpg. GM’s effort is sad, simply sad. It doesn’t measure up to a Prius even in the worst conditions. Wake up, America, and smell the green! If you make it green, as Teresa says, it’ll sell itself and you’ll get the green!

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  4. no imageclint (Who am I?) Says:
    June 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    I really like these new hybrids,but the price tag is to high.I think i could buy a camery for 10,000 less and get 37mpg.

    Cheers
    http://www.promomaker.blogspot.com

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