First Impressions...08 Malibu

[bowtie_dude]

The new Accord interior, design-wise (and really, this is the only thing we can argue as none of us have sat in either a new Malibu or Accord), is derivative and uninteresting. The base level interior we've seen looks especially cheap. I'm sure the material's standard will be there, but arguably the presentation is more important than material. The Malibu, despite the bowtie radio, sells itself well. The Accord, however, does not.

[The O.C.]

The new Accord interior, design-wise (and really, this is the only thing we can argue as none of us have sat in either a new Malibu or Accord), is derivative and uninteresting. The base level interior we've seen looks especially cheap. I'm sure the material's standard will be there, but arguably the presentation is more important than material. The Malibu, despite the bowtie radio, sells itself well. The Accord, however, does not.

<slurp....slurp> Geez this GM kool-aid really tastes great!

[Cory Wolfe]

How shallow!

Haha... so looks only matter on the outside?

[Intrepidation]

The new Accord interior, design-wise (and really, this is the only thing we can argue as none of us have sat in either a new Malibu or Accord), is derivative and uninteresting. The base level interior we've seen looks especially cheap. I'm sure the material's standard will be there, but arguably the presentation is more important than material. The Malibu, despite the bowtie radio, sells itself well. The Accord, however, does not.

Design is a matter of opinion, and lest we forget the base Malibu interior doesn't look any better.

If we want to talk derivative the Malibu's new interior is a cross between the old one and the Aura. It's a nice design but hardly original...the originality lies in the upper trim colors...which look fabulous.

[K.C.]

I am hoping that all of this talk from the media is true and not just a bunch of hogwash. I am afraid that the new Malibu will be more competitive with the last gen Accord now that there is a new one out. I hope GM can continually improve this car to make it more competitive with the upcoming (or is it current gen now) Accord with the 190 hp 4 cylinder. After seeing the new Accord, I can say the new Malibu is my far the better looking of the two, and much better looking than the Camry.

[Eric77TA]

My neighbor across the street had a 2008 Malibu with manufacturer plates (I don't live that far from Fairfax) in his driveway this weekend. It was an LS in dark grey, but had chrome alloy wheels (which I thought was kind of odd since LS is base, no?) It's a MUCH better looking car in person than it is in pictures, IMO. You really can appreciate the lines better seeing the light play off of it. The new Accord is nice, too, but I don't think it's a runaway from the Malibu in style. The new 'Bu certainly looks much more elegant than the previous one.

[Drew Dowdell]

Also, the center stack looks depressingly cheap compared to Camry, and perhaps more importantly, the new Accord.

Cheap in a Timex clock sort of way?

Or cheap in a way where you can pull the center stack apart with your bare hands like TED! did at an autoshow on a Camry?

[CARBIZ]

I am hoping that all of this talk from the media is true and not just a bunch of hogwash. I am afraid that the new Malibu will be more competitive with the last gen Accord now that there is a new one out. I hope GM can continually improve this car to make it more competitive with the upcoming (or is it current gen now) Accord with the 190 hp 4 cylinder. After seeing the new Accord, I can say the new Malibu is my far the better looking of the two, and much better looking than the Camry.

But if it puts out 130 lb ft of torque at 5,500 rpm, like the rest of the Moulinex-inspired Honda engines, the ecotec won't lose any sleep.

[bowtie_dude]

<slurp....slurp> Geez this GM kool-aid really tastes great!

Its called an opinion. The Accord interior is boring, the Malibu's is not. I wouldn't buy EITHER car, were I in the market (and could afford a mid-size sedan with the options I wanted) anyway. My ass would be in an Altima coupe or Mazda 6.