Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'?

boulder_bum · 05-27-2008, 04:52 PM

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 · 05-27-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

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 · 05-27-2008, 05:07 PM

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

ZC1

JackDodge · 07-05-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

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 · 07-05-2008, 09:22 PM

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 · 07-05-2008, 09:41 PM

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

**Tideland Prius** · 07-05-2008, 09:48 PM

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 · 07-05-2008, 10:12 PM

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** · 07-05-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

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 · 07-06-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

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.

05-27-2008, 04:52 PM	#1
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,293 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 1 Thanked 23 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 5	Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? 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? __________________ Help With African Business Startups and Scholarships at www.AfricanChristianCharities.org.

05-27-2008, 05:07 PM	#3
ZC1 Junior Prius Owner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 681 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 13	Re: Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? The new Malibu is a hybrid. Kidding? I would have never known. ZC1

07-05-2008, 09:22 PM	#5
SVPriusFan Hymotioned and loving it... Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver Suburbs Posts: 115 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 4	Re: Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? 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...

07-05-2008, 09:41 PM	#6
Prius 07 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 604 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? It is GM's attempt to discredit hybrids and turn potential buyers away from them.

07-05-2008, 09:48 PM	#7
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? 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.

07-05-2008, 10:12 PM	#8
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,186 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 120 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Is Chevy Malibu Even a 'Hybrid'? 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.

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