[Duckybill]

Thought some here might be interested in my comparison of my 2010 Malibu LTZ with ecotec, A6 with my 08 Impala LT.

Transmission - Impala silky smooth! Malibu NOT!
Interior - Both EXCELLENT!
MPG - Impala 30 Hw, 18.5 avg. Malibu 37 Hw, 21.5 avg. according to the DIC.
Tilt steering wheel - Impala Excellent! Malibu pitiful.
Ease of entry - Impala MUCH easier!
Engine - Both quite peppy and quiet.
External - Impala a beauty. It has special wheels. Malibu even more so! I've received so many comments about my White Diamond Malibu LTZ, like WOW! AWSOME! COOL ASS MALIBU! I've been amazed at the compliments.
Remote start - Impala does a great job. Malibu just fair.
Ride - The Malibu is a bit better.
Driver seat adjustment - Impala better. Seat memories would have been real nice.
Visibility - about the same, good.
Trunk - Impala much better overall.
Heater/defrost - Impala better overall.
Noise - Malibu slightly better.

In summary, the Malibu is a nice ride and incredibly beautiful. If it had the nice features of the Impala it would be my dream car. If I could only keep one it would be the Impala LT.

 

[elcompaLalo]

Good comparison, I myself didn't even consider the Impala when shopping for my car. The looks of the Malibu won me over, everything else was just icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing, your comparison is a nice way to gauge the newer Impalas for anyone considering a swap.

 

[jeg1]

Comming from a 08 Impala LTZ to a 2010 Malibu V6 LTZ myself I would say you pretty much nailed it. I havent notice a differance in remote start range, also thought Impala had better visibility and about the same ride.

 

[Sandhopper]

I compaired the 09 Malibu LTZ to the Impala SS. Ended up with the Bu because it just has a fresher look and better styling. Also I did not want to try a work on that V8 shoe horned in the Impala. LOL

 

[Duckybill]

I should have stated that the main reason I would choose my Impala over my Malibu is the transmission.

 

[Duckybill]

Comming from a 08 Impala LTZ to a 2010 Malibu V6 LTZ myself I would say you pretty much nailed it. I havent notice a differance in remote start range, also thought Impala had better visibility and about the same ride.

Can you tell me the differences in your Impala LTZ and my LT? As much as I like my LT I suspect your LTZ is a real winner!

 

[green03malibu]

LTZ is more luxury and has more options. You'll also get a different engine if they haven't switched that up. Better suspension too.

 

[BillD64]

Tilt steering wheel - Impala Excellent! Malibu pitiful.

Is that because GM still uses their old style tilt wheel in the Impala? That is one of the biggest detractors about the Malibu and some other GM vehicles. They use the same tilt wheels their competitors use and not the superior one that GM developed several decades ago. It is easier getting out of my 08 Corvette than it is getting out of the 08 Bu. The Corvette uses the old design tilt mechanism.

Bill

 

[Silver LTZ]

I compaired the 09 Malibu LTZ to the Impala SS. Ended up with the Bu because it just has a fresher look and better styling.

Same here, and a nicer interior.

 

[Duckybill]

Same here, and a nicer interior.

That's pretty much what I meant. The Malibu LTZ's beauty overtook my common sense. Even though my Impala LT's interior is VERY nice.

 

[Yury]

Thought some here might be interested in my comparison of my 2010 Malibu LTZ with ecotec, A6 with my 08 Impala LT.

...
Trunk - Impala much better overall.
...

Malibu's trunk is what pushed me over the edge and made me trade for an suv (see sig).
It seemed ok before the baby but when a stroller came into the picture I struggled with awkwardness of the trunk opening for a while but eventually gave up and came to the dark side
Had it been a better shaped trunk I would keep the car for much longer. Would probably switch over eventually but in several years.

I swear a civic has a better trunk. Our old Sentra did, for sure.

 

[Duckybill]

I know what you mean. Our grandaughter's things fit nicely in the Impala trunk but BARELY fit in the Malibu's trunk.

 

[jonrjohnston]

Malibu's trunk is what pushed me over the edge and made me trade for an suv (see sig).
It seemed ok before the baby but when a stroller came into the picture I struggled with awkwardness of the trunk opening for a while but eventually gave up and came to the dark side
Had it been a better shaped trunk I would keep the car for much longer. Would probably switch over eventually but in several years.

I swear a civic has a better trunk. Our old Sentra did, for sure.

I hear you. The current Malibu trunk volume is more than Accord and Camry, but the styling gives it a small opening. I am the engineer for the next gen Malibu trunk, and I am working on giving it a larger opening. Feedback like this helps me convince the design studio that, despite styling trends for a short deck, people still want a useful trunk.

 

[Yury]

I hear you. The current Malibu trunk volume is more than Accord and Camry, but the styling gives it a small opening. I am the engineer for the next gen Malibu trunk, and I am working on giving it a larger opening. Feedback like this helps me convince the design studio that, despite styling trends for a short deck, people still want a useful trunk.

wow, good to have people like you here!

Other than the opening, the trunk is not as deep as in other cars. So if you manage to squeeze whatever you are loading though the opening there's a good chance it will get stuck just past that point.
As far as I remember there was a good amount of space under the floor...I remember considering making another floor that would sit deeper.

 

[Yury]

despite styling trends for a short deck, people still want a useful trunk.

btw, short deck is probably fine, it's just the lid should go down more.

I personally think that's the volume figure doesn't matter that much, but the accessible volume does. The extra room near the seats is useless if you have to crawl into it to reach a water bottle. I am 5'6" and reaching all the way there was not fun at all. I much preferred smaller and more rectangular space on a 2001 Sentra, it was actually more practical. BTW, It could take that stroller I mentioned before.

 

[Sandhopper]

As short as the rear deck is on these bu's, they could easily be changed to 5 doors. That is the only real drawback I have found with our Bu. It is real hard to get a med. sized cooler in the trunk. Great to hear we have Chevrolet engineers on board!

 

[paul99]

2 different cars.My 08 Impala was great except for rotten egg smell,replaced secondary air injector to cat.Replaced water pump seal and of course warped rotors.Our 2010 Malibu shift points better after first 500 miles.Musty odor I traced to (Belive it or not) the rubber wiper blades,put the nose to it LOL.Bottom line ,we have a Excellent dealer service & Love both cars.You can upgrade to a autodim mirror with compass,you will need to run another power wire to it.

 

[Duckybill]

After hitting a BIGGGGGG pothole almost 2 weeks ago I've been driving my Impala. My Malibu was in the shop all this time getting fixed. Nearly $2000 worth of damage! I got my Malibu back today. I must say it was a real pleasure driving it. It rides smoother than my 08 Impala, no doubt. The beautiful LTZ wheel was severely damaged and replaced. The tire was busted. But it looks like new again. It may even drive a little smoother after being re-aligned. The beauty of my LTZ is almost intoxicating, interior and exterior. I continue to receive compliments from total strangers. To be honest, it would be hard to choose my Impala LT over my beautiful Malibu LTZ. Even with the A6 transmission. When my LTZ is clean it is a sight to behold.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Sounds like being reunited with an old flame! Nicely put.

This is the first car I've ever owned where people have made compliments out of the blue as well. It's a nice feeling, especially since I really don't have any sense of style to speak of. I'm usually quite pragmatic, and I actually didn't buy it for the looks.

And I agree wholeheartedly. It's a pleasant sight when it's cleaned up and shiny!

 

[DrumMedic965]

We have one of each ... 09 Malibu 1LT (fiance's) and 09 Impala LT (mine).

I like the Malibu styling better, but overall like the Impala better. Smoother ride, more power, more room. Gas mileage is pretty close the same in everyday driving. The only complaint I have about the Impala is the woodgrain trim. If I could get rid of that, I'd be happy. The Malibu has around 11k, and the Impala is 4600. They are both great cars, no issues with either one.