Chevrolet News:Chevrolet Readying A Malibu Refresh For 2013

[hyperv6]

One does not question why they buy one just gives them what they want if they want to sell volume.

The market as a whole today is far from enthusiast driven and when looking at this segment we much not think so much as auto enthusiast but as general consumers.

Many buying here just want MPG proven by Honda, Quality as proven [not so much today but in the past] by Toyota and they would like value price as proven by Hyundai. All these companies enjoy a preception of all these values. GM has yet to win in any one of these values in this class. Now they have with the Cruze with near 200,000 sold.

The only sin with this car was it was designed a while ago and GM took the chance bringing it to market late after everyone else moved on from the party. like stated in the magazine this was a class leader 2 years ago. The fact is anything can be fixed it just takes time, money, man power and the want to do it. The question is how soon does GM plan to want to do this?

I am not sure who had to call the shot here but they were at a point do you risk selling the old car for a few more years or do you take a chance on the new car that is already outdated and avoid the delay. Some how I suspect this refresh was already in the works as fast as it is coming and they kind of expected this. Kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I know much of their efforts were put into the trucks and the new Impala that was way too old. I almost think they should have just refreshed the old car for a couple years and fixed this one before it came out. I am sure not everyone at GM was happy about putting this car out as it was but not it is what it is so fix it.

[smk4565]

The Corolla sells big too and is terrible. Imagine once Toyota over hauls that car and makes it competitive. We can all knock the Camry, I know it sucks, but people keep buying them in huge quantity because few automakers ever mount a challenge to the Camry and Accord. The Malibu just doesn't do enough to stand out from the crowd or to convince people to give it a look over the safe bet Camry. But I think it goes back to the mentality behind the Malibu, they just don't seem to care that much about it. GM wants to build 5-6 W-bodies or Epsilon 1 or Epsilon 2, they care more about making 5 average cars that are slightly different than a couple all stars.

[hyperv6]

No matter if we think the Camry is crap or not the general public does not think so.

Also standing out is not a requirement in this group. Lord knows few cars in this segment do. The fact is the present owers are happy with their car crappy or not and GM just has to build a segment leading car but still will have to earn the trust and sales back.

GM did not lose the buyers over one year and one model and it will take more than one year and one model to earn it back. So far they are doing well to get on track but they will have to continue to work.

Even as stylish as the Fusion is it still may finish 3rd in this race to the lack luster Camry and Accord. Nothing in this segment is given and the best car is not always going to win.

[regfootball]

Fusion's look grows old fast. Out of the gate problems I hope don't ruin the Fusion. I know two people who bought the last gen fusion before this new one came out, specifically because they did not like the new one.

The Malibu is a decent driving car, quieter and better road car than the new Altima and Accord. But if no shoppers even consider going to the chevy dealer......

If the new Mazda6 hits market, is the best thing since sliced bread, and still doesn't sell, then we know what car companies are up against from here on out. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai / Kia all have reputations and marketing that at this point can almost not be overcome.

Its amazing to figure on Chevy's history and see how they screw up not being able to leverage being in business so long.

Malibu's rear seat as a practical concern will kill more sales than people car to admit, followed by not class leading mpg in the base car. Hard to know the response on the styling when so few are on the road......

GM would do well to upgrade the chevy warranties to duke it with hyundai.....

Edited December 9, 2012 by regfootball

[regfootball]

The fascias don't really need help, from both an aesthetic and practical standpoint the car's problem is more than skin deep: its the shorter wheelbase. Not only is it down on rear legroom, but the proportions are all off. I've been saying that since day 1 though.

doingitright

doingitwrong.

pretty much. the new Malibu sort of has old school GM look to it.....short wheel base, bad packaging, long overhangs. And then there is all sorts of wasted space under the hood when you don't have a v6 in the engine lineup.

[smk4565]

No matter if we think the Camry is crap or not the general public does not think so.

Also standing out is not a requirement in this group. Lord knows few cars in this segment do. The fact is the present owers are happy with their car crappy or not and GM just has to build a segment leading car but still will have to earn the trust and sales back.

GM did not lose the buyers over one year and one model and it will take more than one year and one model to earn it back. So far they are doing well to get on track but they will have to continue to work.

Even as stylish as the Fusion is it still may finish 3rd in this race to the lack luster Camry and Accord. Nothing in this segment is given and the best car is not always going to win.

Mostly agreed, but I don't think the Fusion can outsell the Altima, it will be lucky to be 4th, it could probably beat out the Sonata which will take 5th. This segment is super competitive, the Camry outsells the new Malibu 3-1, I bet on retail sales it is even more. It will take time, but they need a better effort than the 2013 car and to be consistent, they have never been able to keep the Malibu competitive year after year.

[Drew Dowdell]

>>"I found it telling that even Automobile Magazine in the most recent issue stated on the BU. "Bankruptcy delayed development. What would have been class leading 2 years ago is now only competent.""<<

Do not overlook the fact that publications (paper or cyber) have a prime vested interest in portraying "The New" in order to move copy. Fact of the matter is, while there has been some degree of lateral movement in car design since 2011, we've had no forward movement. Malibu is clear evidence of moving backward, in fact.

The position that a car built in 2011 is no longer "competitive" may speak to the OCD test-drive junkie, but it's laughable to 98% of the vehicle consumer pool. The 'competition gap' within a given year's vehicles are closer than ever in design, safety, reliability, economy, & amenities now, COO included. I would extend that to include a 5-yr span of model years, for the most part.

I don't believe that is the case for this Malibu. We can argue about the quality of the ashtray lining all night, but the long and short of it is that the Malibu comes up short in key areas that the 98% look for.

Point by point as the 98% sees it:

• It has the least interior room in its class and gives no discernible advantage over the Cruze in this regard. It is bested on interior space by the Jetta of all cars as anyone cross-shopping would quickly find out. If they sit in the back of a Passat and read the sticker price, game over Malibu.
  
• It has fuel economy numbers that aren't close enough to the class leaders. 2 or 3 mpg a buyer might excuse, but the Malibu is more than that behind the class leaders of Accord, Altima, Camry and Fusion.
  
• It's hybrid model gets the same fuel economy as non-hybrids from other manufactures and it loses trunk space that you don't lose in the competition. The hybrid model is 10-15 mpg highway behind the hybrid/diesel competition.
  
• The interior is interesting to look at and certainly more advantageous than most others in this class, but build quality is a concern and if they are sending out cars with build quality issues to journalists, imagine what the general public is looking at.
  

[balthazar]

^ I was speaking generally (and I haven't seen the current Malibu up close) but as I stated/agreed with above, the exterior is definitely a move backward.

The general idea that a car is competitive when designed in Year X, and is now UNcompetitive in Year X+2 doesn't hold water, IMO & from my experience.

The current 'bu isn't competitive with the previous generation in many areas.

[Drew Dowdell]

^ I was speaking generally (and I haven't seen the current Malibu up close) but as I stated/agreed with above, the exterior is definitely a move backward.

The general idea that a car is competitive when designed in Year X, and is now UNcompetitive in Year X+2 doesn't hold water, IMO & from my experience.

The current 'bu isn't competitive with the previous generation in many areas.

Normally, I would agree with you, but the models released in this class over the last 24 months have really seemed to shift in the same direction, that is bigger yet lighter and more and fuel efficient in both hybrid and non-hybrid models. ... this goes for everyone except GM, who's car have gained or maintained weight while being reduced in size. (Chrysler doesn't count since they haven't released in this class in the last 24 months)

[Robert Hall]

^ I was speaking generally (and I haven't seen the current Malibu up close) but as I stated/agreed with above, the exterior is definitely a move backward.

The general idea that a car is competitive when designed in Year X, and is now UNcompetitive in Year X+2 doesn't hold water, IMO & from my experience.

The current 'bu isn't competitive with the previous generation in many areas.

Normally, I would agree with you, but the models released in this class over the last 24 months have really seemed to shift in the same direction, that is bigger yet lighter and more and fuel efficient in both hybrid and non-hybrid models. ... this goes for everyone except GM, who's car have gained or maintained weight while being reduced in size. (Chrysler doesn't count since they haven't released in this class in the last 24 months)

It's also got to be dissapointing for GM as midsize is the class/niche, or at least it used to be, though I think there is movement towards compact becoming the most critical segment for cars..

Edited December 10, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

The problem is the lines are getting more blurred.

[regfootball]

GM can't have the next Malibu be on Epsilon. It will get crucified.

GM really needs to pull an ATS here, a new chassis, lighter, dynamically superior, but with economy, price, and room the main concerns. Said platform needs to integrate AWD option, and hybrid possibilities. It needs to account for cars of multiple sizes and vehicle types. It could be crossovers, etc.

Everyone is kind of doing it. VW, etc. Pretty sad when jettas and sentras have much more leg room than malibus with an extra almost a foot of open space under the hood.

I still believe GM needs to fleet the snot out of the Malibu and lease the snot out of it. Saw an ad for 129 camry leases today. How can you compete with that?

[Drew Dowdell]

You can get $199 leases on Verano. If you're ok with the Malibu in size, just get the Verano with a nicer interior

[regfootball]

that actually is a tossup.

the Verano is a really nice car. And it feels great. However, after driving both, I think of them almost equally in terms of appeal. They are really just different, malibu has a little more girth and a little more of a planted solid feel. The Malibu rear seat would be a deal killer if my kids were bigger. If i had to sit back there much, I would cross it off the list. What I like about the Verano is how the cabin atmosphere is just right, the right balance between vault and open air interior, and the size for one person commuter is just right. The back seat is pretty ok for a compact. I really like the interior environment of the Malibu however, as well. Where I really would not tweak any of the interior of the Verano, I do think I would change a few things inside the Malibu. But the most important part of the Malibu, the view forward, the panorama of it I like a lot. The sides and rear feel a bit bunker like but i think it also gives it a sporting personality and intimacy of a smaller car.....which is in ways in direct conflict with its nature of mid size family car. I would change the steering wheel and the straked dash and gauge setup in the malibu and get it a little more typical and refined. The center stack is bangup and the seats are fine imho. SOme interior materials on the plastics and seats need help also. But overall the Malibu interior is still very ok with me.

I really do think GM hedged their bet on the whole 'if people want space they will buy an IMpala'. That could be the only way they could sell IMpalas going forward, to make sure the iMpala was still the big car. Ford might be able to sell a Fusion and taurus so close in size, and Toyota might be able to sell camrys and avalons in a similar fashion. But the Malibu if too big would cannibalize a more expensive Impala. And GM needs to have impala+malibu volume come close to fusion+taurus volume etc. GM needs the combination of those two together to make the math work.

Buick is darned lucky the Verano turned out. It was a big gamble, and so far it's worked. But I don't see droves increasing on the Verano. Its more a function of the economy and the fact that no one can afford as many regals and lacrosses. And they don't want to be stuck in a chevy. The verano hits the sweet spot where it is cheap enough but actually nice and won't suck gas. I was at the dollar store the other day and this old couple (old folks and weirdos go to the dollar store in droves) pulled up in a new verano. They both had trouble getting out of it. I am sure they were likely the type that liked LeSabres and such, but now the Verano is the only Buick they can buy that is not a Chevy that they could afford on retirement income - medical bills. I was going to ask if they liked it but i didn't want to slow them from getting in and getting their fudge stripes and stuff.

Malibu vs. Verano to just me is almost a wash. I would not lease or buy a more loaded Verano. I could see popping for a Malibu turbo if the deal was set up right. To me there is a stepping point where if you want a maxxed out Verano, just step up to a Regal.

Edited December 10, 2012 by regfootball

[Drew Dowdell]

Regal's base price is up to $29k now. You get a lot of Verano for that price.

[regfootball]

but no power recline on the seat

[Drew Dowdell]

I've driven both extensively... I would get the Verano in spite of that. Heck, I would get a loaded Cruze Eco and save some cash before I got the Malibu....

and that's exactly what I think is happening.

[hyperv6]

Word is the Malibu is in line to get the new refreshed 1.6 Turbo with 200 HP in 2014.

[vonVeezelsnider]

But will be that 1.6T be as "hot" as Ford's 1.6 Ecoboost?

[Drew Dowdell]

The mpg numbers on that engine are supposed to be very good. Shame the Malibu will still be so heavy.

[G. David Felt]

But will be that 1.6T be as "hot" as Ford's 1.6 Ecoboost?

Some how I doubt it and it will still be a failure as GM does not have faith in this car or segment. It is really weird that they have done so terrible in such a large segment.

[regfootball]

Word is the Malibu is in line to get the new refreshed 1.6 Turbo with 200 HP in 2014.

that will be a nice option. hope an 8 speed auto comes with.

still, first on the list is to carve out lots more room in the backseat. all new seat designs would do it, thinner, raise the mounts out of the toe and foot space, etc. too cheap to fix it though i am guessing.

the new 2.5 is a good engine though! for most folks it is fine! its specs are darn close to the 3800........

Edited December 12, 2012 by regfootball

[hyperv6]

The new 1.6T will have better Mileage and better power and a very flat Torque Curve.

I think it is also a sign GM is not just going to slap a new grill on the car and let it go.

Before we condem GM on the fix lets at least see what they so. We are no longer working with the old people anymore and for the most they have gotten most things right. Lets see now how the work when they need to fix something.

At least so far they are not waiting 4-5 years to fix it like they would have.

Again for this many changes coming so fast I suspect they knew they were in trouble and had planned on these changes before the car came out. While things did not go great to bring this car out after the Fusion would have been worse. Now thye have a little more time to make the fixes.

The car is not a bad car just not as good as the others and that can be addressed.

[Guest charts.1]

Problem with the Malibu is beyond a sport or LTZ or Eco trim, it is that the car overall isn't that good, and the consumer perception of the Malibu is poor at best. The Camry and Accord have legendary reputations, they can sell on that alone. The Sonata, Optima and Fusion have great looks, great feature content, great driving dynamics which helps them sell cars. Plus the Altima is the #5 selling vehicle in 2012, another good product with a good reputation.

The car basically needs restyled inside and out, better build quality and more marketing. They barely advertise it, and the ads are weak, the car is so bland there is nothing even to put in the ads to lure buyers in. I think the warranty needs to be bigger too, perhaps doubled, because people buy Toyota/Honda due to belief in low ownership cost and reliability, Hyundai used a mega warranty to combat that, Chevy needs to also.

The 2013 Malibu is a nice car, but so are all the rest. Eco models just don't make common sense. A couple more mpg, at the expense of a smaller trunk, smaller engine, mushy brakes, and much higher retail value makes no common sense at all. Today the cars in this segment are sold based on higher resale value, Unique styling, brand loyalty, now determine what cars break away from the pack. The Malibu comes last in each category.

Toyota, Honda and Nissan have built their reputation on " YEARS OF GOODWILL" GM never got there.

Hyundai, and Kia are now big players and have learned from the mistakes of the big 3.

[Guest charts.1]

^{If the malibu refresh coming is any indication that the 2.5 isn't strong enough with good enough mpg numbers, then the 300 pound heavier 2014 Impala will be doomed with its 2.4 eco and 2.5 4 cylinder engines.}

[hyperv6]

The Impala has the V6 and most sales will be with the V6 so I expect little doom.

We already see that with the Lacrosse. Few complain about the 4 as most are V6 models.

[Drew Dowdell]

The Impala has the V6 and most sales will be with the V6 so I expect little doom.

We already see that with the Lacrosse. Few complain about the 4 as most are V6 models.

Just to back up with official numbers, Per Buick, Lacrosse eAssist has a 25% take rate, meaning 75% are V6 models.

[Paolino]

the new 2.5 is a good engine though! for most folks it is fine! its specs are darn close to the 3800........

With numbers like 197/191... and the specs of the 3800 SIII in the LaX being 200/230... that's not really so darn close.

Props to GM for recognizing the problem and actually doing something about it quickly. Hopefully they will seriously address the areas of concern. Next gen though must go on a diet. Can't play the mpg game with the big boys until you drop the pounds.

[Drew Dowdell]

the new 2.5 is a good engine though! for most folks it is fine! its specs are darn close to the 3800........

With numbers like 197/191... and the specs of the 3800 SIII in the LaX being 200/230... that's not really so darn close.

Props to GM for recognizing the problem and actually doing something about it quickly. Hopefully they will seriously address the areas of concern. Next gen though must go on a diet. Can't play the mpg game with the big boys until you drop the pounds.

this.

[Daryl Z71]

I don't understand why no one is buying it? I think it's a very nice looking car. Most of the complaints I have seen on it are how ugly it is? Can't understand why someone would choose a Camry over this...

[hyperv6]

The reason many are not buying it are not that is bad car but others are just more updated. It is a good car just not best inclass since it was late to the market.

The Refresh I suspect was not just based on present issues. I think GM may have already had them planned and may have just moved them up a little. They know the market and while this car is not segment leading they could not wait 18 more months to bring it out. They were Damned if they released it now Damned or waited.

The greatest issues in the looks department is it looks too much like a older Malibu and even the Cruze. At a glance I have even mistaken one for one of the others. The new Chevy face will address this issue. The tail is subjective and while I may have now drawn one like it I am ok with it because it is not offensive and it at the least sets the car appart from the others in class that look all the same.

This is what GM is up against. Hard driven love of the Camry and Accord. These folks are loyal. The new Fusion has styling that makes the car much more expensive looking than it is. It also has a lot of well done detail to hide the tall nose and the entire design flows. The Malibu's greatest flaw is how hight the nose is in profile. While not fatal it just looks like they added the space between the hood and engine after they designed the rest of the car. Ther eis no flow from the hood to the A pillars back.

GM can address a lot here in a refresh with the nose. The new 1.6 Turbo will also help. I hope they work on the rear leg room some with the front seat backs. They did it in the last gen and no reason it won't work now to add needed room with out a major rebuild.

The Regal has proven this platform can be loved but the Malibu has details to address and I suspect GM will take care of many here soon as they have too much riding on this segment.

[ponchoman49]

After having spent a solid week with a 2LT 2013 Malibu and a 2012 2LT Cruze with leather, I would unquestionably choose the Malibu hands down! The new 2.5 liter is much more pleasant than the boomy noisy Cruze 1.4T. The 2.5 was also quicker, made it's power over a much broader band and it idled smoother and quieter to boot. The Cruze 1.4T and 6 speed automatic are fine for normal driving but the moment you ask it to do something quickly it responds with a very brief on/off power surge followed by a transmission that is very slow to up-shift. The Malibu also felt roomier inside despite all the posts about having no rear legroom. If it weren't for the cut outs in the rear seats the Cruze would have no rear legroom period. The Malibu was also quieter, rode better, had a larger trunk and more interior storage such as an overhead compartment for sun glasses in addition to a larger center console rear compartment. About the only area the Malibu fell short was in overall average mileage. About 24 overall versus the Cruze which saw close to 28 with a high of 38 on the open road going 72 MPH! The Malibu was lucky to see 34 on the highway and usually settled back to 31-32 as time wore on

[hyperv6]

Refresh reported to be addressing the rear leg room.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/01/upcoming-chevrolet-malibu-refresh-reported-to-address-rear-seat-leg-room/