Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'?

[boulder_bum]

The Chevy Malibu hybrid is advertised as being the cheapest "hybrid" out there, with a very small premium for the hybrid version. It's also one of the most pathetic: seeing only a 2 MPG improvement over the non-hybrid version. GM is on the record saying that expensive hybrid systems don't make sense for small cars (they figure why get a 15-20 MPG improvement on something that is already fuel-efficient when you can get a 4-5 MPG improvement out of something that burns through gas like crazy).

The Malibu seems to be a manifestation of GM's sentiment. It's hardly a "hybrid" at all!

Does anyone else feel like the Malibu hybrid is for GM to say they technically make a hybrid car and for consumers to say that they technically have a hybrid?

[bac]

Originally Posted by boulder_bum

Does anyone else feel like the Malibu hybrid is for GM to say they technically make a hybrid car and for consumers to say that they technically have a hybrid?

In a word .......... yes.

... Brad

[ZC1]

The new Malibu is a hybrid. Kidding?
I would have never known.

ZC1

[JackDodge]

Originally Posted by boulder_bum

The Chevy Malibu hybrid is advertised as being the cheapest "hybrid" out there, with a very small premium for the hybrid version. It's also one of the most pathetic: seeing only a 2 MPG improvement over the non-hybrid version. GM is on the record saying that expensive hybrid systems don't make sense for small cars (they figure why get a 15-20 MPG improvement on something that is already fuel-efficient when you can get a 4-5 MPG improvement out of something that burns through gas like crazy).

The Malibu seems to be a manifestation of GM's sentiment. It's hardly a "hybrid" at all!

Does anyone else feel like the Malibu hybrid is for GM to say they technically make a hybrid car and for consumers to say that they technically have a hybrid?

A Chevy Malibu hybrid is to a Prius what "all natural" is to organic. Sounds good and is so named due to a loophole or two but in name only.

[SVPriusFan]

I wouldn't consider it a true [Prius-style] hybrid any more than the Tahoe or any other GM "hybrid" bastardizations.

Perhaps their idea of a hybrid is a car that changes from "burns a lot of gas" to "burns a little less gas" rather than the gas/electric concept the rest of us have...

[Prius 07]

It is GM's attempt to discredit hybrids and turn potential buyers away from them.

[Tideland Prius]

technically... yes. But in reality? It's just a start/stop system with a small battery. Might as well just make it a start/stop system. It'll be even cheaper lol.

[patsparks]

Come on guys, don't be so harsh on the GM hybrid, it does after all come with a chrome exhaust tip and body coloured mirrors and with its limited availability I suspect it is to draw potential Prius customers into Chevy showrooms so they can show them how much better an Impala is than a Prius.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Originally Posted by SVPriusFan

Perhaps their idea of a hybrid is a car that changes from "burns a lot of gas" to "burns a little less gas"...

Or what they call "gas friendly."

[JackDodge]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

technically... yes. But in reality? It's just a start/stop system with a small battery. Might as well just make it a start/stop system. It'll be even cheaper lol.

One of those things that they could have put in their cars years and years ago but didn't bother with. That's the Detroit 3 in a nutshell, nineteenth century minds in the 21st century world who can only think three months ahead at a time.