Car Prices Blogs

2013 Chevy Malibu ECO

Have you been waiting for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu? Chevrolet has been on a roll since the Cruze was launched in 2011, and the new Malibu promises to be even better than the outgoing model.

Chevrolet is now offering the Chevrolet Malibu in ECO trim. The good? The Malibu ECO achieves 37mpg/highway by utilizing technology and advanced aerodynamics. The bad? The price. But we will get to that later.

For starters, the Malibu ECO has aero shutters that closes the air dam to create a more aerodynamic profile. The aero shutters are electronically activated to open again if the engine needs sufficient cooling (like driving in traffic, for example.)

But the Malibu ECO utilizes more than trick gadgetry to achieve phenomenal efficiency. The whole shape of the Malibu is partly responsible for the 37mpg rating. The bold exterior styling was created to provide beauty and substance in creating a smooth, aerodynamic shape. Even the tail lamps were designed to smoothly disperse the aero resistance of the car while travelling at speed.

Engine

The all new Chevrolet Malibu ECO is powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder E-assist engine that generates 182hp. The engine is paired with a 15KW electric motor generator. The Malibu ECO is essentially a mild hybrid, utilizing the electric motor to store energy on lithium-ion batteries. The Malibu ECO has also a regenerative braking system that converts heat energy from the brakes to electrical energy. You never need to charge the batteries as the simple act of driving the car is enough to charge the batteries.

The Malibu ECO is rated at 25mpg city and 37mpg highway. The car uses the gasoline engine to accelerate and build up speed. When the car comes to a halt, the gasoline engine shuts down and the batteries take over to power the vehicle. The batteries can also provide a performance boost on demanding situations such as driving on a hill or during overtaking.

Fuel Economy

Imagine driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco with just a single tank of gas. That is approximately 580 highway miles. That is what it feels like to drive a car that is capable of 37 highway miles to the gallon.

Interior

The Chevrolet Malibu ECO has more room compared to the old car and still retains the dual-cockpit design theme on the interior. Ambient interior lighting gives the car a premium feel and the refined surfacing of the dashboard gives it an expensive and classy look. The Malibu ECO also has the Chevrolet MyLink System that uses voice command and a touchscreen to control the various functions and entertainment features of the car.

Safety

The chassis and the frame of the Chevrolet Malibu Eco was built for safety. The Malibu ECO comes standard with 8 airbags as well.

Price

Starting at $25,235 the Malibu ECO is not exactly cheap. But then again, it is not a normal car. You will have to wait for the other variants of the Chevrolet Malibu in the coming months, but with fuel prices reaching $4/gallon, it is hard not to take a look at what the Chevrolet Malibu has to offer.