Long-term update: 2010 Chevrolet Malibu interior
Our long-term 2010 Chevrolet Malibu had been taken away for more than a week for an agency photo shoot, during which time we cruised around in a courtesy Cruze. Our Malibu is back now, with about 500 additional kilos on the clock. As interesting as the Cruze is, upgrading to a Malibu again is like getting bumped up to first-class. In fact, on the day we got it back, we took it along when we returned the Accord Crosstour to the Honda Middle East HQ. We gave a tour of the Malibu to a person from Honda, and he uttered the words “wow nice” multiple times when he checked out the Chevy’s interior. That is high praise indeed, especially when coming from someone who works for the competition.
Admittedly, the Malibu’s interior build quality is not 100% perfect. There are some minor imperfections in assembly and colour-matching of different panels that could be improved upon. However, these are only noticeable to critics like us, so it will probably not bother regular consumers as long as the cabin stays in one piece, looks good and works right.
We absolutely love the two-tone orange-black colours, but we’ve met a few people who didn’t. They actually wanted grey or white instead of orange, which Chevrolet actually offers too, so that’s not an issue.
The soft-touch areas extend to the upper dash and most of the door areas. The inner door handles are solid metal. The shifter knob is leather-covered, as is the steering wheel. There is tasteful use of chrome around the gauges, the shifter and elsewhere. And the driver’s seat is fully power-adjustable, although the front passenger seat is manual.
The central cup-holders are covered up front, and can even hide a Pepsi can if needed. The rear has flip-down cup-holders near the floor. The central cubby under the armrest is sizeable, while the dash-top compartment can store sunglasses. All doors get pockets. The rear seat 60:40 split-folds. The long luggage boot has non-intrusive struts instead of cheap hinges to hold it up. And it also has nets to hold smaller items back there.
So a practical cabin and use of premium materials are both generous. We figured a tour is in order for what has to be the Malibu’s biggest selling point.
Original Mileage When Borrowed: 12,131 km
Latest Mileage To Date: 13,010 km
Latest Average Fuel Economy: 13.1 litres/100 km
Cost of Latest Problems: Dhs 0
Cost of Latest Maintenance: Dhs 0Total Non-Fuel Running Cost Since Borrowed: Dhs 0
Comments
royer
Excellent looking interior. Close up photos revel, the panels have very less gaps between them (seamlessly fitted). I can see Mash clicking on 6th pic..hehehe.
Sting316
Do you own this car?
detfan
I own a 2008 Malibu LTZ and it is the best car I’ve owned, including a 2000 Acura TL. It is quiet, feature laden, smooth driving, and has excellent interior and exterior design. The guy is right about Honda. I had an opportunity to drive a 2009 Accord while on location for a few months and I couldn’t wait to get back into my Malibu.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Royer, I left myself in there to see if anyone spotted it, hehe.
Stingy, I think you missed all the older reports.
Sting316
Ok, I just finished reading all the reports on the malibu.
Yeah Mallu pics never impressed me so never bothered reading the previous reports. But now I am realising that it’s seems to be nice guys nice car.
For how long did they give you the car, I didnt read that part of the story.. 🙂
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
^That is kept vague on purpose. You’ll know when it goes, hehe.
sabitha sajan
sorry mash… with all the previous reports about malibu and including this report…. im still not liking this car… you’ve been writing a lot about this car, its time to move forward and find another car to test drive and write about…. what about a long term test for the “safran” or “optima” or maybe try something new like the new Kia Mohave.. i saw many and it looks interesting… 🙂
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Both the Safrane and the Optima are painfully boring cars. I’d run out of stuff to write about them in 1 week. But both are on my recommended list, obviously, only because they’re cheap.
Fahrer
Mash, immediately below the gear level, the little silver strip that’s just ahead of the rolling cupholder cover, put your finger there and you can lift the entire plastic bezel off its hinges! Interior quality is dreadful dude…
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
^They glued it tight when they took the car away in between. As I said, it’s nowhere near perfect, but functional and fixable. Did you see this in the showroom?
Ameer
no.. sorry… didnt like it…