2004 Chevrolet Malibu Base review from North America

I have had the car since purchased new in November of 2004 and have had ZERO problems, it's an amazing car.

The best parts of owning this car can be defined by me in 4 components: Cost, Comfort, Reliability, Performance.

Cost: I took advantage of the low payment SMartBuy ($240 with no money down for 4 years), but I own it and can trade anytime! I do a lot of highway miles and I average 35 to 38 miles per gallon, very impressive, but then again this car leads it's segment for fuel economy. In the city I get mid 20's. The car has an Oil Life Monitor, so it lets you know when to change it. My first oil change was at 6,742 miles, and I just had my second at 13,768 miles. Cost is important to me, and this car reaks of affordability.

Comfort: Huge cavernous space for 5 people very comfortably and on long trips, it's great. The back seats fold down, and the trunk is very wide and deep. I can put a 6 foot ladder in the trunk and it sits just behind the front seats. The passenger seat folds down flat and I can put objects longer than 8 feet in there. The Base has a power driver seat height adjuster, and a telescopic and tilt steering wheel make the perfect seating position easy. Access to the radio, CD player, information center and climate controls are easy and require no stretching, and I am short.

Reliability: I have had literally no problems at all, nothing. The only times I brought it by the dealer was to get the oil changed and tires rotated. I prefer the dealers and their prices are the best, plus the work is guaranteed. This is a brilliant machine and no problems are a testament to the great work put into designing and building this car.

Performance: The 2.2 Ecotec is a strong runner, and gives me plenty of power to potentially meet police patrol cars, but I have been lucky. Even loaded with people and stuff, it's got the power you need. The car is built on the Epsilon platform, same as the current SAAB 9 series, but the ride is incredibly smooth and quiet. The Electric Power steering is smooth and easy at any speed or when stopped. Turns on a dime and handles extremely well around corners. The automatic transmission has an auto-stick feature for low gears, and is easy to use and figure out.

Power windows, power door locks were standard. ABS was optional, but I did not get it, and after a year of driving it and one winter, it's okay without it. The only option I got was the keyless entry and cruise control, on the steering wheel.

Great Car, Great New Body, Great Deal!