MORE VERSATILITY IN A FAMILY SEDAN
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Sat, Jun 12, 2004
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
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VERSATILITY IN A FAMILY SEDAN
Back in the 1950s, Dinah Shore was famous for belting out,
"see the USA in your Chevrolet" - the main sponsor of her long-running TV
show. It was the heyday for Chevrolet during that time as the world's
best-selling nameplate. But that was yesterday, and today Chevrolet sedans
are an afterthought with Toyota's Camry, Honda's Accord, Ford's Taurus
outselling the bowtie-badged sedans.
© All photos by Harvey Schwartz This
year, Chevrolet brings out two all-new Malibus: the regular four-door sedan, and
the Maxx five-door sedan. Both models share the same new clean,
contemporary design inside and out, the all-new, more rigid body structure, a
new 200-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, fully
independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and 16-inch tires and wheels.
The regular sedan gives families what they're looking for in an economically
priced, mid-size sedan with all the quality, features and safety found in the
competition from Toyota, Honda and Ford.
What the all-new Malibu Maxx offers is all that, plus a versatile rear cargo
hold that increases the uses of the Malibu for daily family chores - even a
drive from coast-to-coast. The all-new Malibu Maxx is truly unique in the
mid-size sedan segment, and I was very impressed with the idea and execution.
The Malibu Maxx rides on a 112.3-inch wheelbase that is six inches longer than
the Malibu sedan, yet its overall length of 187.8 inches is a half inch shorter.
The result is an interior that is cavernous for a car its size.
The Malibu Maxx has the ride and handling of a sedan with the interior
versatility of a SUV. Chevy calls it a five-door extended sedan.
This new category of car is reflected in the design of the Malibu Maxx's rear
profile. The rear window is a liftgate, which is made of lightweight
aluminum for easy operation - and is more like a sedan than a station wagon.
The steep angle and high overhang of the rear hatch make it easier to load or
unload cargo, because the cargo area is right in front of you when you open the
hatch. The cargo area of the Malibu Maxx (the area behind the back seats
when up) is officially calculated at 22.8 cubic feet - nearly 50 percent larger
than the trunk of other mid-size sedans.
The design of the Malibu Maxx's cabin and seats offer even more flexibility.
Rear seats and the front passenger seat fold forward flat, creating a space that
can accommodate longer items. The rear seats also are split 60/40,
providing flexibility for passengers and cargo. The cargo area also
features a standard power outlet and a two-sided, multi-functional cargo panel
with four positions for two-tier loading. The cargo panel also can be
positioned as a table for picnics or tailgate parties. Hooks on the cargo
panel help secure smaller items, and cargo nets on each side of the cargo area
help keep items from sliding around. The cargo area and cargo panel are
very similar to what you have in the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chrysler says that
you can reconfigure the rear cargo area over 32 different ways.
The economically priced Malibu Maxx also gives first-class comfort to rear and
front seat passengers. The rear seat slides nearly 7in. fore and
aft-unlike the stationary rear seats of most conventional mid-size sedans-and is
split 60/40 not just in the seat back, but also the seat cushion, to further
increase comfort. The seat backs recline-distinguishing them from the seat
backs in most sedans-allowing different-size rear passengers to tailor their
seating position in a similar way front-seat passengers can. The Malibu
Maxx has a generous 106cu.ft. of passenger space and a luxurious 41in. of
legroom with the seats pushed all the way back. The Malibu Maxx also
features a standard fixed rear glass skylight that provides a spacious, open
atmosphere over the rear seats, and reduces the feeling of occupants being cut
off from the outside that some backseats create. Both driver-and
passenger-side rear occupants have the option of opening or closing the standard
split/retractable shade to control the amount of light coming through the
skylight.
Interior fit and finish is much better than on the previous Malibu - even the
imitation wood inlay on the dashboard and doors is of a higher quality. The
steering wheel is now both tilting and telescoping with power pedals that give
you the perfect position behind the wheel. The leather-wrapped steering
wheel also contains buttons to control the audio system and cruise control.
The instrument panel is clean, nicely laid out, easy to see and understand with
a big 140 mph speedometer and 7,000 rpm tachometer, with smaller gauges for fuel
and engine coolant temperature. Bright LED readouts alert you to system or
safety failure. All buttons, dials and levers are within easy reach and
fully illuminated for safe nighttime driving. The tumbledown center stack
is within easy reach with simple to use controls for the audio system and
electronic climate system. Two vents on the center of the dash-dubbed
'turbo blasters' by the car's engineers-are designed to pour generous
amounts of heated or cooled air directly into the back seat.
Four levels of radio offerings are available on the Malibu Maxx, including an
up-level radio with an in-dash, six-CD changer, six speakers, automatic volume
and tone controls, and XM satellite radio. An optional DVD entertainment
system complements the spacious rear accommodations. The system is mounted
into the rear of the center console, increasing rear visibility for the driver,
and includes a 7in. flip-up LCD screen, two sets of infrared headphones, video
game jacks, remote control and independent audio selection.
Other standard equipment in the Malibu Maxx include power-heated outside
mirrors, automatic headlight control, fog lamps, power door locks/windows, power
rear hatchback release, leather trimmed seats with drivers-side six-way powered,
cruise-control, remote keyless entry, variable speed wipers/washers, thick pile
carpeting with embroidered front floor mats, plus the center stack has a readout
for the driver information center that enables personalization of electrical
features and provides more than 15 warning messages including low key-fob
battery life, outside temperature readout, the possibility of ice forming on the
road and an oil life monitor. Options include heated front seats, OnStar,
and XM satellite radio.
Like the Malibu sedan, the Maxx is all new from the ground up. The Malibu
Maxx and sedan are the first North American applications of GM's Epsilon
global architecture, which also provides the foundation for the new Opel Vectra
and Saab 9-3. The main characteristics of the Epsilon architecture were
developed with GM's Opel subsidiary in Germany, which accounts, in part, for
the European flair in Malibu's ride and handling. However, each Epsilon
vehicle is adapted regionally to meet local conditions and tastes. "A
lot of customers may not care that we call this the 'Epsilon architecture',
but if they have driven last year's version of the Malibu, they will
immediately notice a firmer, quieter, more linear feel in the ride and handling
of the '04 version" said Gene Stefanyshyn, vehicle line executive of the
Malibu sedan and Maxx.
In addition to the vibration-reducing properties of the Epsilon architecture
itself, the car has a host of noise-elimination features, including a cast
foam-rubber barrier covering the dash panel, a modular noise-dampening plate in
the dash panel, a compression-molded fiberglass-composite hoot insulator, and
front and rear 'glove-fit' carpet floor modules.
The Epsilon body structure gives the Malibu Maxx a high degree of structural
stiffness, greatly enhancing both vehicle handling and interior acoustics.
A fully isolated powertrain cradle with tuned bushings-also found on many
high-end luxury vehicles-further contributes to Malibu Maxx's quiet ride.
The all-new Malibu Maxx is designed with crisp lines that nicely outline the
car's space efficient and aerodynamic exterior. Crystalline-like halogen
headlamps behind clear lens, a wide grille and lower airtake, bright rectangular
fog lamps and a chrome front bar with a gold Chevy bowtie highlight the front
fascia. The side view shows the low front end, steeply raked windshield,
flat roof, blacked-out green house, full-perimeter lower body extensions,
full-length rub strips, pullout door handles, and 16 x 6.5 inch machine-faced
aluminum wheels that are wrapped around by P215/60R16 all-season touring tires.
The rear fascia is highlighted with the deeply cut hatchback or fifth door, big,
triangular shaped tail/brake and back- up lamps, chrome bar with a gold Chevy
bowtie and a single aluminum coated stainless steel exhaust tip.
Powering the all-new Malibu Maxx is GM's new 3.5 liter OHV V6 with a cast iron
block and aluminum head. This engine makes 200 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and
220 pounds feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. The new V6 engine features many
improvements in performance, fuel efficiency and NVH over last year's 3.4liter
V6. This engine is mated to a Hydra-Matic 4T45-E four-speed
electronic-shift automatic front-wheel-drive transmission for smooth and
powerful shifting. All Malibu models are equipped with electric rack &
pinion power steering (EPS) with variable assist for low and high-speed
maneuvers.
Giving a smooth and precisely controlled ride is Malibu's new fully
independent suspension system. Up front are MacPherson gas-pressurized
coil-over struts, coil springs, 19.5 mm stabilizer bar and a full frame isolated
front chassis cradle. The rear suspension features a 4-link design with
twin-tube gas shocks, dual rate (non-linear) mini block coil springs, 20mm
stabilizer bar and adjustable toe and camber.
Safely slowing the all-new Malibu Maxx down from speed are big, power-assisted
four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (anti-lock braking system), traction control,
dynamic rear proportioning and active wheel-speed sensors. Up front are
11.65-inch vented discs with a dual piston caliper and in the rear are
10.63-inch solid discs and a single piston caliper.
Keeping you safe in the event of a collision are standard front/rear crumple
zones, driver/front passenger front airbags, optional head curtain side-impact
airbags, 3-point safety belts for all passengers, with front pretensioners,
daytime running lamps, steel beams in each door, LATCH child seat latch system,
child-proof rear door locks, and energy absorbing steering column.
The all-new 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx is a fresh, new idea in the mid-size, family
sedan segment, giving good value for the money with versatility and flexibility
not found in any sedan priced under $30,000. The Malibu sedan and Maxx are
also the first American automobiles to offer remote-starting, allowing you to
start the car while inside the house on cold winter mornings, or sweltering
summer afternoons. The system is designed to work from approximately
200ft.
With everything that is available, the Malibu Maxx is a great car for a staring
price of only $24,100.00. The remote starter is just $150.00 and the DVD
system is just $995.00.
I really enjoyed the better handling, smoother ride and interior versatility -
as good and better than the competition.
© All text and photos by Harvey Schwartz For more information on Chevrolet products, go to www.chevrolet.com.
More photos from Harvey Schwartz can be found at www.autofotos.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name of vehicle:
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
Price: $24,100.00, as tested $24,965.00
Engine type:
3.5-liter OHV V6 with cast iron block, steel crankshaft and cast aluminum head
Horsepower:
200 hp at 5,400 rpm
Torque:
220 lb.ft. of torque at 3,200 rpm
Drive configuration:
Front engine/front-wheel-drive
Transmission type:
Hydra-Matic 4T45-E four-speed automatic with OD
Front suspension:
Independent MacPherson coil-over-strut (gas-pressurized), coil springs, 19.5 mm
stabilizer bar, full frame isolated chassis cradle
Rear Suspension:
Independent four-link design, twin-tube gas shocks, dual rate (non-linear) mini
block coil springs, 20 mm stabilizer bar, adjustable toe and camber
Wheels/tires:
16X6.5 machine faced aluminum wheels/P215/60R16 all-season touring radial
tires
Brakes:
Front: 11.65-inch vented discs with twin-piston caliper
Rear: 10.63-inch solid discs with a single piston caliper. ABS, traction
control with dynamic rear proportioning and active wheel speed sensors
Overall length:
187.8 inches
Overall width:
69.8 inches
Overall height:
58.1 inches
Curb weight:
3,476 pounds
EPA mileage estimates:
22mpg/city, 30mpg/highway
0-60mph:
8.2 seconds