2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Pricing Released

[xcel]

$550 less than the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 23, 2011

2013 Malibu ECO with eAssist – $25,995 to start with a 26/38/30 mpgUS city/highway/combined rating (preliminary results).

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco midsize sedan will start at $25,995 when it arrives in dealerships in the first quarter next year in what GM is calling a value proposition for the midsize marketplace.

The 2013 Malibu Eco is by far Chevrolet’s most fuel-efficient Malibu ever thanks in aprt to GM’s eAssist system that we have highlighted in both the LaCrosse and Regal a number of times as linked below. eAssist uses a small Li-Ion battery and a small electric motor-generator in lieu of an alternator and 12V Pb-Acid battery to enable regenerative braking, a very small amount of electric assist and start-stop functionality providing the Malibu ECO with a GM-estimated 26 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway rating.

2012 Buick LaCrosse With eAssist Preview, Buick’s 2012 LaCrosse Hybrid, 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist and 12 Regal w/ eAssist Pricing and EPA Finalized.

Competitive Comparisons

While the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco’s highway efficiency is comparable the segment’s popular full hybrids and diesels, is arrives at a lower price.

Year	Make	Model	Passenger Volume (cu. ft.)	Cargo Volume (cu. ft.)	EPA FE (mpgUS combined)	Price
2012	Toyota	Camry Hybrid	103	13	41	$26,660
2012	Ford	Fusion Hybrid	100	12	39	$29,395
2012	Hyundai	Sonata Hybrid	104	11	37	$26,545
2012	Kia	Optima Hybrid	102	10	37	$27,250
2013	Chevrolet	Malibu Eco	100	14	30	$25,995
*2012	VW	Passat TDI SE (with AT)	102	16	34	$27,895
**2012	Hyundai	Sonata SE	104	16	28	$23,855

* Diesel ** Non-hybrid

The all-new, 2013 Malibu ECO provides future customers with more modern styling, better fuel efficiency, more content and updated features than its predecessors and is said to rival high-end sedans.

2013 Malibu ECO Highlights

• Aerodynamically optimized exterior, including underbody aero enhancements and electronically controlled shutters in the lower grille that close at higher speeds to push more air over and around the vehicle.
  
  
• All-new, Chevrolet-signature dual-cockpit interior that is more spacious, features premium materials and is engineered to be the quietest in the midsize segment.
  
  
• First Chevrolet car to offer new Chevrolet MyLink connectivity, which integrates online services such as Pandora Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio.
  
  
• Safety features including eight standard air bags, ultra-high-strength steel and rearview camera system.
  
  
• A five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, as well as a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty is standard on the Malibu Eco. Certain eAssist components are covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty, including the electric motor generator, three-phase electric power cables and high-voltage Li-Ion battery.

Fuel Saving Features

• Specific lightweight components and systems, including an aluminum hood, aluminum rear bumper beam, low-mass carpet and dash mat and more, which save approximately 130 pounds over a comparably equipped Malibu. Curb weight TBD.
  
  
• An Eco gauge in the cluster providing feedback to encouraging fuel-efficient driving. An Auto Stop Indicator on the tachometer informs the driver when the engine is in start-stop mode.
  
  
• Seventeen-inch low-rolling-resistance all-season Goodyear FuelMax tires.
  
  
• The eAssist system mated to a fuel-efficient 2.4L Ecotec direct-injection I4 and next-generation six-speed AT. The 2.4L engine features dual-overhead cams, direct injection, continuously variable intake and exhaust timing and electronic throttle control. It also has a lightweight aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head.

The Malibu Eco is offered with cloth or leather in eight exterior and three interior color choices. It is available with four equipment packages: Package 1 – Power Convenience; Package 2 – Premium Audio; Package 3 – Leather; and Package 4 – Navigation.

Standard Features

• DI 2.4L with continuously variable valve timing and eAssist technology, rated at 182 HP
• Six-speed AT with tap-shift control
• 2.64:1 axle ratio
• Four-wheel discs with ABS
• Regenerative braking
• Grade braking control
• Brake assist
• Electronic park brake with push button
• Electronic stability control system
• Electric power steering
• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Four-link rear suspension
• Seventeen-inch five-spoke Alloys
• P225/55R17 all-season low-rolling-resistance Goodyear Assurance FuelMax tires
• Active front lower grille aero shutters and aerodynamic underbody panels
• Projector-beam headlamps with automatic exterior lamp control
• Heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors (body color)
• Fin-type combined OnStar/SiriusXM Satellite Radio antenna (body color)
• Acoustic-laminated, solar-absorbing glass
• Intermittent windshield wipers with structureless blades
• Chevrolet MyLink
• Six-inch-deep illuminated (when headlamps are on) hidden storage behind articulating touch screen radio face
• Dual zone automatic A/C with odor filter
• Audio system: AM/FM stereo with CD with MP3 playback and auxiliary input jack
• Seven-inch-diagonal color touch screen for the audio system
• USB port for the audio system
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Six-speaker sound system
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Cruise control
• Remote keyless entry
• Power windows with express down feature
• Power door and window locks
• Driver information center
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Steering wheel audio and cruise controls
• Ice blue ambient lighting
• Driver’s footrest
• Overhead console
• Compass display
• Two auxiliary power outlets
• Rear center armrest with storage
• OnStar with six months of Directions and Connections plan, including Automatic Crash Response, Crisis Assist, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Remote Door Unlock, and more.
• Dual-stage frontal air bags
• Driver and front passenger side-impact air bags
• Driver and front passenger knee air bags
• Head curtain side-impact air bags (front and rear outboard seating positions)
• Safety belt pretensioners
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Package 1 – Power Convenience includes all standard equipment plus:

• Eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar control
• Rearview backup camera system
• Remote start
• Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
• Universal garage door opener

Package 2 – Premium Audio includes all content in Package 1 plus:

• Pioneer nine-speaker audio system with high-output amplifier
• Fog lamps
• Leather-wrapped shifter knob and steering wheel

Package 3 – Leather includes all content in Package 2 plus:

• Leather-trimmed seating
• Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat with lumbar control
• Heated front seats

Package 4 – Navigation includes all content in Package 3 plus:

• Navigation system
• Memory seats and mirrors
• Auto-up driver’s window

A power-operated sunroof is available on Packages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Exterior Color Choices:

• Silver Ice Metallic
• Black Granite Metallic
• Summit White
• Crystal Red Tintcoat
• White Diamond Tricoat
• Taupe Gray Metallic
• Steel Blue Metallic (late availability)
• Champagne Silver Metallic (late availability)

Interior Color/Trim Choices

• Jet Black
• Jet Black/Titanium
• Cocoa/Light Neutral

All told, the Malibu ECO does not quite provide hybrid-like fuel economy with an estimated 30 mpgUS combined rating yet costs almost as much as the full hybrids it is competing against. The ECO is but one of four trims with the LS, LT and LTZ providing good mid-size fuel economy without eAssist for a lot less $’s hopefully

[RichXKU]

Yikes. Yes, for an extra $500, I'll take a slightly bigger Sonata Hybrid with significantly better FE.
Swing and a miss.

[herm]

$25,995 is just the starting point before negotiations and cash on the hood

This is a Malibu we are talking about, always room for negotiation.

[Indigo]

For $665 more, you can get a Camry Hybrid and get 11 MPG more. That's a no-brainer.

[MaxxMPG]

One thing that's keeping me from marking my 2012 calendar with "Countdown to Malibu Eco" -



That's Wayne's result from driving an early eAssist setup in the larger and heavier Lacrosse - a stretched version of the same platform used for the 2013 Malibu. In the FE department, it didn't seem to be a breakout design that the projected EPA numbers suggested.

If the official EPA ends up at 26/38, it won't be all that far away from the 2012 Camry 2.5 at 25/35 or the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata 2.4 at 24/35, and all three undercut the Eco's MSRP by a comfortable margin. These same three cars in hybrid trim cost roughly the same, but beat the new Malibu in both city and highway EPA estimates.

[herm]

Previously we talked about the cost of eAssist, we thought it was around $3k.. but its sold as a $690 option in the Canadian version of the LaCrosse.

So not a bad deal for that kind of $$.