Suspicious GM Canada ads for the Malibu Hybrid...

[Evilshin]

Any idea how GM Canada can justify most affordable hybrid in it's class?

The Malibu in Canada's MSRP is: $27,595

The Prius is: $27,400

Both are mid-sized cars if you use passenger and/or cargo volume.

Also other GM ads claim the regular Malibu's fuel efficiency is 5.9 L per 100km on the highway.
EPA's estimate is 6.9 L/100km for the hybrid, and 7.9 L/100km for the non-hybrid. This is all for highway fuel economy.

WTF, I thought it's against the law to lie in an ad?

How are they getting away with such questionable claims?

[markderail]

Must be in the fine print somewhere.

* Amongst all GM made vehicles, the Malibu Hybrid is the most affordable hybrid in it's class

[Evilshin]

Well it does have a double asterisk:

"And now, with the most affordable mid-size hybrid in Canada**, it will also change the way you look at Chevrolet.

...

** Based on 2008 MY MSRP and competitive information available at time of printing. Does not include any government rebate programs that may be in effect."

2009 not included, does not include government rebates, as is the best information at the time of printing... hmmm this is from their web site! LOL...

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Evilshin

Any idea how GM Canada can justify most affordable hybrid in it's class?

The Malibu in Canada's MSRP is: $27,595

The Prius is: $27,400

Both are mid-sized cars if you use passenger and/or cargo volume.

Also other GM ads claim the regular Malibu's fuel efficiency is 5.9 L per 100km on the highway.
EPA's estimate is 6.9 L/100km for the hybrid, and 7.9 L/100km for the non-hybrid. This is all for highway fuel economy.

WTF, I thought it's against the law to lie in an ad?

How are they getting away with such questionable claims?

A couple of things:

- 2008 Prius price is $27,600. You're quoting the 2009 price
- Did you use Transport Canada's rating or did you use the EPA and convert it to L/100km?

[Evilshin]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

A couple of things:

- 2008 Prius price is $27,600. You're quoting the 2009 price
- Did you use Transport Canada's rating or did you use the EPA and convert it to L/100km?

Yes, you are right the ad was based on 2008 prices... which seems kind of deceptive.

And yes, I did use the EPA ratings but did not convert, since the their site lists fuel economy in both metric and in imperial.

But even with the 2008 prices, it's hard to consider the Malibu as the most affordable hybrid in it's class unless you don't actually drive the car, considering fuel prices...

Anyways, it should be illegal to advertise claims with previous year's models as a caveat in the fine print. When you claim it's the most affordable hybrid in it's class, you better mean among all available vehicles, not just the ones of a particular model year, that come in the colour of forest green....

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by Evilshin

Yes, you are right the ad was based on 2008 prices... which seems kind of deceptive.

And yes, I did use the EPA ratings but did not convert, since the their site lists fuel economy in both metric and in imperial.

But even with the 2008 prices, it's hard to consider the Malibu as the most affordable hybrid in it's class unless you don't actually drive the car, considering fuel prices...

Anyways, it should be illegal to advertise claims with previous year's models as a caveat in the fine print. When you claim it's the most affordable hybrid in it's class, you better mean among all available vehicles, not just the ones of a particular model year, that come in the colour of forest green....

ok well it's not GM's fault that Toyota released 2009 prices. Their ad stands as it's comparing 2008 models which is accurate.

Also, Transport Canada numbers are different from EPA numbers.

e.g. the old EPA gave the Prius 60/50. The Transport Canada rating is 59/57.