CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID TAKES

GENRE UP A COUPLE OF LEVELS

I’ve never been a big fan of hybrids. the gas-electric powered cars that first came to the U.S. from Japan around the turn of this century.

Oh, it’s not like I don’t believe in saving gas, because I do, and it’s not like I’m against technological progress when it comes to automotive drivetrains, because I’m not.

It’s just that I think they have been overhyped and are really just a preliminary step on our way to fully electric vehicles while some Hollywood types seem to think they are the answer to all our fuel issues.

Overhyped because when it comes to fuel saving, newer conventional cars powered by either diesel or gasoline engines are getting mileage figures approaching those of the hybrids, and you have to drive a lot of miles to make up for the premium you have to pay in the hybrid’s higher MSRP. I figured it up several years ago that you would have to drive it at least for five years for it to pay you back.

Frankly, I don’t remember what the fuel prices were back then, but I’m assuming that time period probably has varied over the years and may have been a better deal a few years ago when fuel prices were so high. But now that prices are a bit more reasonable, at least by today’s standards, the savings in fuel costs probably are not as great.

But, someone once pointed out, I’m not buying a hybrid just to save money on gas. I also want to protect the environment because greenhouse gas emissions are much lower with a hybrid than with a conventional sedan.

Yes, but that advantage is somewhat mitigated by the pollution generated in the manufacturing process of hybrids compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. I say “somewhat” because a recent study (see www.howstuffworks.com) shows that if you drive both a hybrid car and a conventional car for 160,000 miles, the conventional car requires more energy and emits more pollutants over its lifetime than the hybrid.

I’m sure you drive your car at least 160,000 miles, right?

I’m not sure how the disposal of the battery pack of the hybrid might figure into this equation, but I really didn’t intend to spend this much time making this point. What I really want to get into here is this:

One of the biggest reasons for my reluctance to jump on the hybrid bandwagon was how funky the first hybrid vehicles to hit the market, i.e. the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, looked. The Insight looked like something from an old Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon serial (check it out at Netflix). The Prius? Let’s just say that once I approached one from behind as I was walking up a slight rise (we don’t have hills in South Florida, unless you count Mt. Trashmores) and was struck by the similarity between the back end of a Prius and the rear of a Pontiac Aztec.

That is not a compliment.

But the good news is that manufacturers have expanded their hybrid portfolios to include real cars, and thus you can buy something like the Chevrolet Malibu with a hybrid drivetrain and not look like a dork behind the wheel.

The Malibu Hybrid was completely redesigned for 2016 and features the same powertrain and technology found on the electric Chevy Volt. No, you won’t drive 40 miles on electric power only, but you will get 47 miles per gallon of fuel in town, 46 on the highway and 46 combined, according to EPA ratings, which is among the leaders for hybrids.

The combination of the 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors for the Malibu produces 182 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, so it’s not like you’re dealing with a slug when it comes to performance.

The website www.zeroto60times.com lists a clocking of 7.4 seconds for the 2016 Malibu Hybrid. That is actually a tad quicker than the Malibu LT1.5T, which is essentially the Malibu model the Hybrid is based on, and pretty quick for hybrid models in general. They caught the 2016 Prius in a pedestrian 9.6 seconds, which, TV ads to the contrary, I think detracts from its use as a getaway car from a bank robbery.

That alone would likely set the Malibu Hybrid apart from some if its hybrid rivals, but the Chevy has taken the Malibu Hybrid to new heights with its classy interior and sleek exterior profile. Chevy always did have a bold exterior, but the interiors always seemed to spartan.

Not any more.

The Malibu Hybrid’s cabin may fall a bit short of luxury class, but not by much. The new dash gives the impression it was designed with some thought with the 8-inch touchscreen included in the optional convenience and technology package integrated nicely into top of the center stack instead of sticking up in the middle of the dash like an afterthought.

Included in the base MSRP of $27,770 are such standard features as keyless start/stop, 17-inch alloy wheels, Chevrolet’s MyLink system for hands-free operation, rearview camera, dual zone A/C, steering wheel controls for audio, cruise control, and Bluetooth, Apple and Android capability, satellite radio (subscription service), OnStar, and 4G WiFi hotspot.

My test vehicle included several optional packages that added such features as the 8-inch touch screen over standard 7-inch, front and rear parking assist, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert with blind spot warning, and wireless device charging, among many other features.

With $875 destination and delivery charge and $745 discount on the leather package, that ran the total MSRP to $32,625.

What I liked about the 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid: I was aware I wasn’t behind the wheel of a sports sedan, but never did I feel I was being cheated when it came to performance. The cabin is really nice, and the ride is smooth and quiet. The backseat is pretty roomy for a midsize sedan.

What I didn’t like about the 2016 Chevy Malibu: The trunk capacity is reduced to 11.6 cubic feet because of the battery pack for the hybrid setup. Storage capacity is 15.8 cubic feet for the other trims (L, LS, 1LT, and Premier 1LZ).

Would I buy this car?: If I were in the market for a hybrid, I would give it a long look. But I’m not, so I probably wouldn’t. If I were looking for a family car, I especially would have to think it over because of the reduced trunk size. Thinking of family vacations here with the kids and all their stuff.

CATCHING UP ON AUTO REVIEWS

Back near the end of May I started posting my auto reviews at examiner.com instead of on this site.

I thought anyone who was interested could go there. It’s a short trip.

But I since have learned that apparently my reviews are tailored for the South Florida area, or maybe the Southeast, and not available everywhere, at least not yet.

The more I publish, the better chance I have to be promoted for national exposure. In the meantime, here are a couple of my recent reviews:

First, the Audi A5.

The 2013 Audi A5.

I really liked the A5, and so did my wife. Not sure the pictures really do it justice cuz it really is stunning.

The performance is unreal. With all-wheel drive, the handling is excellent, and it is great when cornering with no body roll. The suspension is tight enough yet provides a comfortable experience for your passenger.

And, as I point out in the review, the pricing is realistic with the coupe starting under $38,000 (six-speed manual transmission).

My test model came with the Tiptronic automatic and a base price of $39,050, but extras pushed the final price tag to $43,635.

I’ve never personally shopped in that segment, you understand, but in today’s market, you have to consider that reasonable. The $40,000-plus car of today is pretty much what used to be the $30,000 car.

Here is the link:

www.examiner.com/review/2013-audi-a5-great-looks-great-performance-one-package

The second of my recent reviews is on the Prius c.

The 2012 Prius c.

Full disclosure here: I’ve never been a big fan of hybrids. Early on, they were not worth the price, and you had to drive them so many miles over the norm to make them worth the premium you were paying up front they weren’t worth it.

That is pretty much still the case, really. I have a friend who probably doesn’t drive anywhere near 10,000 miles a year. I told him he it would be a long time before he made up the difference. but he bought a Prius anyway.

But I have to give Toyota some credit. The improvements they have made with the Prius have made it a much better car.

They also have come up with several variations of the model to fit your needs. The Prius c is designed mostly for urban use as it is slightly smaller than the full-size Prius and will take up less space in parking lots or parking on streets.

Yet the Prius c isn’t one of those two-seat bubble cars that greenies seem to love, which is a big plus in my book.

For a second car and a commuter, it may not be a bad choice. It starts at under $20,000.

Here is the link:

www.examiner.com/review/with-toytota-s-prius-c-is-for-the-city

That’s a couple of my reviews. I’ll try to keep you updated with links to future copy.

And thanks for reading!

MY PREDICTION: LEXUS TO PUT OUT HYBRID HATCHBACK FOR 2011 YEAR

I know it’s hard to imagine, but the government is misleading us again.

Transportation secretary Ray LaHood is taking credit for something he couldn’t possibly have had any influence on.

Lahood, at a conference in Colorado with EPA administrator Lisa Jackson last week, said that the administration’s CAFE standards are responsible for the many hybrid vehicles that are on the road today.

“I think we jump-started the ability,” said LaHood was quoted in news reports. “When you see now a Lexus hybrid, no one would have ever predicted that two years ago. Every car manufacturer is getting into hybrid. I think we jump-started those opportunities.”

Oh, really?

It’s a matter of record that simply isn’t true. Toyota has long been in the forefront of the hybrid trend since bringing the Prius to the U.S. market for the 2001 model year, and the Japanese automaker was working on hybrid power for Lexus models long before even the 2008 election.

Here’s what the company’s website has to say:

“In April 2005, Lexus introduced the crossover RX 400h, the world’s first hybrid-powered luxury vehicle. Two months later Toyota launched the Highlander Hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV).

“One year later in April 2006, the Lexus GS 450h made its debut as the world’s first front-engine, rear-wheel drive, full-hybrid performance sedan.”

That’s damning enough, but what is even more disturbing about LaHood’s comment is his apparent assumption that an edict the administration put out a couple of years ago is already having such a huge impact on automotive production.

The timetable from idea and drawing board to the auto showroom is a process that usually takes several years. Even taking into consideration Toyota’s extensive experience and background in hybrid technology, which could speed up the process, it still would be realistic to see such quick results.

In fact, when it announced in 2010 it was planning on having a hybrid version of every model it produces, the company gave itself a timeline of 10 years to complete the goal.

So Ray Lahood, who is transportation secretary remember, is either appalling ignorant about a key industry under his domain, or he is, well, simply lying to make his department (and the administration) look good.

I simply can’t think of any other way to put it.

I’ll let you guess which one.