Thinking about the new 2013 Malibu LTZ!

[rayle]

One negative I've noticed from the online Chevrolet build feature as well as from the dealer brochure is that in order to get one of the most basic functions (driver memory seats) on the 2LTZ, one has to add on THREE extra packages adding nearly $3000 extra to the cost. I hope I'm wrong.

[BruEmbry]

Hi All,
When thinking of the 2013 Malibu you should also think of the Eco version. I know everyone thinks the Eco version is higher cost then the rest of the Malibu’s. But if you price an ECO 2SA with leather interior the resultant price is only $115 more than the LTZ with the 2.5. Driving an ECO after it has completed its Brake-In period is somewhat different then driving a Malibu Eco fresh from the factory. The car is more powerful, electric boost kicks in more easily and the brakes feel more linear and smother. MPG has also increased. I took delivery of our 2013 Malibu on Oct 1st 2012.

[nutcrunch]

I can't say I've noticed those changes except for a little better gas mileage in our Eco which we bought back in May and have over 6,000 miles on it now.
It always drove smooth right off the lot with plenty of power and the brakes feel just as good as they did then.

I think most people are turned off just hearing the word Eco. I would have been too and probably not have even driven the car if a regular Malibu had been available when we looked. When we drove ours I was really surprised how much power it had, I always assumed any eco or hybrid car was a slug. I also loved how it shut off at lights and restarted so smoothly, cool as hell. It didn't hurt that it was supposed to get better mileage too. We fell in love with it and bought it.

[08LTZ]

I love the new malibu inside and out but when we replace our 08 I believe we'll be moving to a Camaro. I just don't think the 2.5 is going to be poweful enough and I don't trust any gas turbo engine to go 200,000 miles.

[Steve_AZ]

nutcrunch - what mileage are you getting with your Eco?

[dcsforum]

Nutcrunch,

I'm also very interested in hearing your mileage. There are 3 e-assist models listed on fueleconomy.gov and those results are not too good:

1. 19.5 mpg with 50/50 city/hwy
2. 20.7 mpg with 80/20 city/hwy
3. 34.0 mpg with 30/70 city/hwy

So, two are very low and the other is generally within the EPA estimates. I've been personally thinking that I can't sacrifice the trunk space for our family of 4 but one guy on another site said he was getting 43 mpg while using one for work which is enough to make me at least consider it. But the numbers are all over the map so your experience through 6000 miles would be good to hear.

dcsforum

[nutcrunch]

Well we mainly drive city and the wife uses the car all week to drive to work. I reset the average speed a while back and it always stays right around 20 mph. We get about 23 mpg.
Around Halloween we took a drive out to another state and got right around 37mpg on the highway.

[rayle]

The trunk space in the Eco was also a big negative for us since we travel a lot on long trips and need lots of "stuff."

[nutcrunch]

I was worried about the small looking trunk at first too until we took a 3,000 mile round trip road trip last July and it fit luggage for 2 adults and 2 kids in it just fine with a little room left over. We fit a very large suitcase, a slightly smaller suitcase, 2 kids small suitcases and a bathroom supplies bag in there and like I said we still had some room left.

I documented our mileage on that trip along with some other thoughts in this thread http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=10681

I also posted some mpg numbers after the trip over in this thread for anyone interested http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=10772

[tradosaurus]

I just traded a 2008 Honda Accord for a 2013 Malibu Eco 1SA.

Also test drove the 2013 Honda Accord.

Time will tell but the Malibu is quieter than even the new Honda Accord.