2012 Chevrolet Sonic

 

  

CARBARN | 2012 Chevrolet Sonic | The Sonic has slightly different gearing and weighs about 400 pounds Fewer than the Cruze, so We expect better acceleration and fuel economy across the board. The Sonic's turbo pulls well above 3000 rpm; there is noticeable lag at lower engine speeds, despite a low peak torque of 1850 rpm. Chevrolet had a Honda Fit and a Ford Fiesta on hand for comparison, and the Sonic held up well.

The Honda, the which is geared shorter, feels better at low engine speeds. The Sonic is an economy car, the which means sacrifices in creature comforts. Both sedan and hatchback Sonic share the same 99.4-inch wheelbase. The four-door, at 173.1 inches, is 14.1 inches longer than the hatch but loses in the space race with 14 cubic feet of trunk space to the hatch's 19. The hatch also has slightly better rear-seat headroom. The cargo area in the five-door, although not as spacious or ingenious as the Honda Fit's, has a removable false floor That creates a level surface the seats are folded. There is also a slot for the cargo to slide into cover behind the rear seats. Chevrolet will not divulge pricing Sonic until the fall on-sale date gets closer, only hinting That Will it be competitive in the segment.

Also like the Fiesta, we're guessing the will of the Sonic hatch command a premium for its looks more attractive, although We have to say That the sedan Sonic manages to look something less than dumpy-a huge achievement in this segment. Even in base LS trim, the Sonic comes with the aforementioned wheels, plus air conditioning, power locks, keyless entry, stability control, and an impressive 10 bags of water. As part of GM's restructuring, the Sonic Will be assembled in Lake Orion, Michigan.

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2013 Chevrolet Suburban

  

CARBARN | 2013 Chevrolet Suburban | This car will present the automotive world is expected in 2013, the concept car of this family have the body that is big enough and certainly have the functions it is also abundant, have the great power and the others want to know the following report

The SUV model of 2013 Chevrolet Suburban Will be the latest model of GMT900 platform, together with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and GMC Yukon. Thanks to lambdas design, it Brings New Hope for the manufacturer and the markets That Will highly public response to the 2013 Chevrolet Suburban.

The design of the SUV provides more cargo and passenger space to Ensure the comfort on riding the vehicle in fair fuel economic size.There is still Speculation spread Among the market, but looking at the current economic condition, with the raising strength of U.S. dollars, the stable fuel price apart from the international conflict, and the improvement of GM's financial condition, We just need to wait until at least the quarter end of 2012 for the announcement of the latest design of 2013 Chevrolet and other models form GMT900 platforms.

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Chevrolet Malibu

 

  

CARBARN | Chevrolet Malibu | The Malibu, a North American car Previously only, Will Become the GM's latest global car in its eighth generation and the Chevrolet brand's first global midsize sedan. Chevrolet says the next Malibu Will be sold in 100 countries on six CONTINENTS and built at multiple plants around the world. The Malibu, Chevrolet says, was designed for a global audience with "European-inspired driving characteristics," which Should mean sporty handling.

While you can see the evolution from the current-generation Malibu to the new car, the 2013 Malibu is less round and swoopy and more sharp and edgy. The rear end draws clear influence from the Camaro with its squared taillights, rectangular fascia and dual exhaust tips. The car you see here is a Chinese-spec model, but Chevrolet says Will there be a minimum of differences the between the US-spec and Chinese-spec cars.

The Malibu is a hugely Important car for Chevrolet and General Motors. The company says That the car's intended global segment counted for nine percent of all vehicles sold globally in 2010. Here in the U.S., the admittedly aged seventh-generation Malibu was sold over 200.000 copies and was Both Chevrolet and General Motors' best-selling passenger car.

Will Chevrolet also debuted the car on its Facebook page at the same time and reveal the will of the live stream on iPad and iPhone. Anyone watching is encouraged to send questions about the car to Chevrolet's Twitter account is at Malibu Reveal or to the Malibu tab on Chevy's Facebook page.
 

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox

  

CARBARN | 2012 Chevrolet Equinox | This 2012 model comes in LS, LT, and LTZ trims. For comfort of the occupants, the LS variant has all Necessary amenities like air conditioning, power driver seat partial, reclining and sliding rear seat, complete power accessories, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, audio controls, OnStar, Bluetooth connectivity, a CD player with 6 - speaker sound system, auxiliary audio jack, satellite radio, and alloy 17 - inch wheels.

The 1LT variant is fully loaded with all essential features tinted rear windows, heated outside mirrors, premium cloth upholstery, rearview camera, leather steering - wrapped wheel, 7 - inch touch screen with upgraded sound system, USB / iPod audio interface, and rack side roof rails etc. The 2LT remote start, automatic climate control, heated front, 8 - way power driver seat, auto - dimming mirrors, 8 - speaker Pioneer sound system, and fog lights.

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has some optional amenities like 18 - inch or 19 - inch chrome-clad alloy wheels, forward collision warning / lane departure system, sunroof, and navigation system. As per the EPA fuel estimation, it achieves 22 mpg on city roads and 32 mpg on Highways with front-wheel drive.

The width of this model is 72.5 inches and height is 69.3 inches while the length is 187.8 inches. The ground clearance of this vehicle is 6.9 inches and the front track is 62.9 inches while the rear track is 62.1 inches. the top payload capacity of this 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is 1.131 lbs and gross weight is 4.960 lbs while the Curb weight is 3.829 lbs.

For the safety of passengers, the security panel offers antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control, side curtain airbags, front seat side airbags, OnStar, and last but not the least, the traction control. On all trims, the rearview camera is standard. In government crash tests, this roadster overalls achieved four out of five stars for frontal crash tests and five stars for side protection overalls.

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Chevrolet Colorado

 

CARBARN | Chevrolet Colorado | The Chevrolet Colorado has been given a Pepperdust Metallic exterior paint finish That has been accented with polished aluminum details on the fascia. There are also integrated side steps and black-masked projector style headlamps have LED lighting elements That.

Other items worth noting include a streamlined "cab collar" design with a body-color hard tonneau cover on the bed, gray Accents on the front, side, and rear lower moldings, side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, and a set of 20 "aluminum wheels with a liquid metal finish and Stone Gray color wheel shod ports on a set of Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/50R20 tires. The interior of the Colorado also comes with an unmistakable Chevrolet design language. There's a dual-cockpit instrument panel Whose continuous lines create a wrap-around effect, giving the entire cabin a spacious feel. The overall space is accented by an ice-blue lighting and double-faced leather trimmed seats.

Chevrolet has not yet Revealed the performance details on the new Colorado. So to Provide a little perspective on what we Could be in store for, the current generation Colorado has A Few engine options, including a 2.8-liter I-4 producing 185 horsepower and 190 lb / ft of torque, a 3.7-liter I- 5 That produces 242 horsepower and 242 lb / ft of torque, and a range-topping 3.5-liter V8 produces 300 horsepower and That 320 lb / ft of torque. Maximum towing capacity of the Colorado reaches all the way up to 6.000 lbs. Like the performance specs, prices for the notes Announced Colorado were the resource persons.

The Dodge Dakota comes standard with a 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 engine producing 210 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine also comes with Electronic Throttle Control for positive throttle response, and exhaust gas recirculation to help lower emissions. Meanwhile, the new Ford Ranger is powered by a new 3.2-liter, I5 Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine produces 198 horsepower and That 346 lb / ft of torque. Keep this in mind Pls figures the performance details of the new Colorado are released.

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Chevrolet Avalanche

  

CARBARN | Chevrolet Avalanche | This time the car is a car coming from the world of mini-vans, car are low forms of superiority was so much, want to know? The following report  Up to 6 passenger seating is found inside the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche rear seats are not needed for cargo.

 
Universal home remote, audio system with navigation, XM NavTraffic and rear seat entertainment system are available upgrading equipment to the LT or LTZ models of the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. Offered in a rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche is equipped with a 320 horsepower, 5.3 liter V-8 engine . StabiliTrak with traction control, six airbags and tire pressure monitoring system is standard safety equipment found on the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. 

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Chevrolet

Chevrolet, 2010

= Chevrolet Equinox
= Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
= Chevrolet Camaro Transformer
= Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 Pace Car
= Chevrolet Camaro SS

Chevrolet, 2009

= Chevrolet Stingray Concept
= Chevrolet Corvette GT1
= Chevrolet Cruze WTCC

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Chevrolet Camaro SS 350

CARBARN | Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 | This is one of the cars are very popular with the speed enthusiast, especially the euro, because this one car has an engine that is very tough and well-powered, it is enough to show more sport, want to know the following report the Camaro was more than just an answer to the Mustang, which was an instant icon that captured the attention of the car market oriented young pony. Derived from a French word meaning "comrade" or "friend" Camaro was quickly recognized as a friendly word for sports car buyers looking for value. With its elegant lines and a long list of luxury and performance options, the new car was a hit with the audience.

All-new Camaro, semi-unified chassis became the basis for a variety of suspensions of performance and power plants. Wrapped around a body frame was destined to become a classic. The timeless time, a short deck design epitomized the concept of a pony car, and was perhaps the most fluid and change without disturbing the subject. Pages of options and upgrade packages, such as RS and SS, buyers allowed to build, literally, custom car listings from dealers' option. Right out the gate, the Camaro can be powered with anything from a six cylinder to a large block of 396, but the buying public took a while to warm up the notion that a pony car can also be fast. Most F-bodies were ordered with a small-block 327 or 350 new, which easily held off Ford 289, and made excellent foundation for street performance. The mid-year introduction of 302-powered Z/28 reached an almost ideal combination of power and weight to the overall performance, and immediately began tearing the SCCA Trans Am circuit.

For die-hard horsepower enthusiasts, word traveled quickly that the Camaro had a terror straight into circulation. Big-block Camaro immediately began driving legends like Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins to victories in Super Stock drag strips across the country, and pilots of the weekend followed their lead. Recognizing an untapped market performance, as Dana Chevrolet dealer, Yenko Nickey and soon created some legends of their own, sliding under 427 engines Rat Camaro hoods before sending them out the door.

The 1967 Camaro Z/28 had no external emblems. (They were introduced in 1968) However, the owners can always add aftermarket emblems of their 1967 cars. The result of this lack of badges mean't the only track on the 1967 Camaro Z28 is the dual stripes that go down the hood and deck lid. GM-developed energy-absorbing steering column and wheel were introduced. In 1967, Elliot M. "Pete" Such was the general manager of Chevrolet Motor Division. It was a good year for the Camaro as production of 220,906 cars were made in the model year. Which represented 2.9% of total U.S. industry. The total included 58.761 6-cylinder (I-6) cars and 162,145 V8 engine-powered Camaro. Industry trade journals reported that 154,698 Camaro factory were built in Norwood, Ohio, and 65,008 were made in a Camaro factory in Van Nuys (Los Angeles), California. In addition, trade journals showed 1,200 Camaro "produced" in an assembly plant in Bloomfield, New Jersey. According to sources Camaro Brand Manager Scott Settlemire, these 1,200 cars were actually units produced at the Norwood factory and shipped to a location near Bloomfield (possibly Little Ferry) where they were "knocked down" for shipment overseas. This means that the total number of cars built in Norwood was actually 155,898. Camaro sales for the year 1967, reached 205,816 (2.7% of the industry) in 1967 compared with 46,758 (0.6%) in the fall of 1966, shortly after he was first introduced.

The March 1967 edition of "Road & Track" magazine featured a road test of a Camaro RS (Rally Sport) Sport Coupe with the 327-cid 275-hp V8 engine, 4-speed manual transmission and rear axle ratio 7.3: 1. He did 0-30 mph in 3.7 Mon, 00 to 60 mph in 9.1 Mon and the quarter mile in 16.9 seconds. at 87 mph. The May 1967 edition of "Motor Trend" magazine road tested a Camaro Z28 coupe with the 302-cid 290-hp V8 engine and four-speed manual transmission. He made 00 to 60 mph in 7.0 Mon and the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds. to 96 mph. The magazine noted that this engine was "rumored to bring more than 400 hp faithful to the starting line." He also pointed out that the Z28 ran a slower tempo than a 0-60 mph (Super Sport) 396-cid Camaro SS, but increasingly fast quarter mile. The 1967 Camaro convertible RS/SS-396 was selected to pace the Indianapolis 500 Mile race. A total of 104 similar convertibles were built for use "official" in the great race. Camaro front sub-frame was large enough to keep the engines big block Chevy V8 as the 396-cid V8 Turbo-.Jet. This meant that the 427-cid V8 engines could also be accommodated and a small number of 1967 Camaro's were converted to 427 power by Yenko Chevrolet of Cannonsburg, Pa., Mickey Chevrolet Chicago, Bill Thomas of Anaheim, California (who worked in Mickey connection with Chevrolet), and Baldwin Motion Performance, New York.

 

Camaro is built on the model year, 56.2% had automatic transmission, 21.5% had a 4-speed manual transmission, 26.6% were equipped with an I-6 (inline 6-cylinder) engine and 73.4% were equipped with a V8 engine. 78.8% had an AM radio, 2.8% had an AM / FM radio, a clock was 18.2%, 12.8% had air conditioning, 3.6% had a tilt steering wheel, 41.7% had power steering, 8.3% had power drum brakes, 6.7% had disc brakes, 2.2% had power side windows, front seats were 97%, 23.7% had a vinyl roof, 63% were white side tires, 37.1% had a tinted windshield (only), 15.7% had all tinted glass, dual exhaust was 16.3%, 14.4% had a limited slip differential , 67.9% had wheel covers and 0.1% had cruise control A total of 204,862 new Camaro was registered in calendar year 1967, compared with 41,100 in calendar year 1966. 1967 Camaro SS 350 package (RPO Z27) Chevrolet dealer cost $ 152 and retails for $ 210.65. In 1967 RS package (Rally Sport) (RPO Z22) Chevrolet dealers cost $ 76 and sold for $ 105.35.

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Chevrolet SSR

CARBARN | Chevrolet SSR | one car that has a very unique shape, other than that this car also have a fairly luxurious facilities and also favored the men, sound a good system, car often encountered in automotive car contest, because this car is for the modification cool, it is also not difficult to modify it, want to know? The following report . I had my first chance behind the wheel of this 2-seater last fall at Pocono Raceway, where I had an opportunity to put the SSR through its paces on both the oval and infield road course. The SSR had tons of power (300 horsepower and 332 lb-feet of torque) so it was able to get up and move quickly. It also handled extremely well, and exhibited almost zero lean, even during hard cornering.

That power can get the fairly heafty SSR from 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds.  It also can tow 2,500 pounds. Ah, but the true test of a vehicle is a week behind the wheel. That's the best way to discover the bugs that can make some of the best vehicles annoying. The SSR didn't have any bugs, other than a tendency for the body to rattle more than it should. The odd two-seater convertible truck with the huge fenders covering huge tires passed the test with flying colors.

The most distinguishing feature of the SSR is its retractable hard-top. This top doesn't fold, as do many retractable hard-tops, but it stacks, almost like shuffled cards, into a well just behind the passenger compartment. Almost no cargo area is sacrificed for the stowed top. With the top down, there's some wind inside the cockpit, but it's enough to add charm to the truck that has suddenly become a sports car. The second most distinguishing feature is the covered cargo area. A hard tonneau cover is hinged at the back of the passenger compartment and lifts to provide access. The cover doesn't lift that high, so you can't carry a refrigerator or motorcycle, for example, but there was certainly enough room back there for all my grass clippings, and the person who had the SSR before I did, carried firewood in it. Chevrolet quotes 22.5 cubic feet of cargo volume.

My only complaint about the cargo bed was that the lid couldn't be lowered with the tailgate up. Also, the tailgate was carpeted, so you'd have to be careful about the degree of dirtiness that you're carrying. The third most distinguishing feature about the SSR is the huge fenders and aerodynamic hood. The fenders cover 20-inch rear tires and 19-inch front tires, so they're needed. I felt a running board connecting the fenders might be a neat touch, and I understand an optional `board is in the works for the `05 model year.  I'd also like to see a boattail design to the cargo bed, but I'm not the designer. Design is everything with the SSR. I spoke with chief designer Ed Wellburn (after he was named vice president of design for all of GM) and he pointed out such neat features as the drawer just to the right of the steering column for holding small items, the matching cupholder (when closed) on the passenger side, and the brushed aluminum door handles that take the form of a circle with a slash through it.  In addition, there is brushed aluminum trim on the dash, on the shifter and on the center console.

A neat feature is a fold-down cupholder that attaches to either the passenger or driver side of the transmission hump. Wellburn also added outside rear-view mirrors that resemble those of a race car. The classic, white-on-black instruments are located in three brushed aluminum nacelles in front of the driver. Included in the pods are a speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, water temperature and oil pressure gauges. When the SSR was delivered, there were teenagers coming home from the high school down the road from my house. Brakes screeched and two cars stopped across the street. Four kids got out and began reciting all the details of the SSR. I was impressed with how knowledgeable they were about this niche vehicle.

 

    5.3L V8 engine
    Automatic Transmission
    Limited slip differential
    Leather Seating Areas
    Trailer wiring
    Painted alloy rims
    Power retractable hard top
    4-wheel disc brakes with ABS
    Traction control
    Leather upholstery
    6-way power driver seat and 2-way power passenger seat
    AM/FM in-dash single CD player stereo with 6 speakers

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2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible

Muscle cars have never coped well with having their tops clipped. Losing the roof rarely does a vehicle any favors in the rigidity department, but the high-horsepower, high-torque coupes of the last four decades took fiendish delight in twisting themselves into pretzels after a few enthusiastic throttle plunges. To make matters worse, frumpy, awkward-looking soft tops were never as attractive as the original tin. When it came time to design the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro, the engineers at General Motors specifically aimed to avoid those pitfalls by drafting the chassis to field both coupe and convertible duties.



Long before the first test mule ever turned a tire, this coupe was designed to go topless, and the result is one of the more stable convertible platforms out there. With a little help from the minds behind the Chevrolet Corvette soft top, the retractable lid even offers the same sleek profile as the Camaro Coupe. That's not to say all is right in this cruising kingdom, though. Tough top-up visibility, a bulging waistline and an overly extroverted interior all work against the drop head. Even so, this is still a vehicle soaked in summertime. And whatdayaknow? The sun's out.

Part of the appeal of the fifth generation Camaro is the vehicle's concept-car aesthetics. With a low-slung roof line, high hip and plenty of sharp creases, it should be lounging under auto show lights instead of sulking in the Costco parking lot. The designers at Chevrolet managed to retain most of the coupe's presence thanks to the fact that both vehicles wear identical sheetmetal from the window sills down. Up above, a long, arching soft top still holds true to the profile of the coupe when in in place. The piece can be had in black or tan cloth as the buyer sees fit, and for the most part, the design is free of any odd bulges from protruding bows.







Put the top down, and the Camaro Convertible takes on a much more swept look than its fixed-roof kin. The steeply angled windshield becomes more prominent without the burden of anchoring the top and the muscular hips over the rear fender arches define the vehicle's profile. It looks good, even if it is the size of a small river barge. At 190.4 inches long and 75.5 inches wide, the 'vert matches its coupe twin for length and girth, resulting in a vehicle that feels larger than life, even at a glance.



That theme continues on indoors. Thanks to a surprisingly wide cabin and a tall dash, it's hard not to feel like you're 12 years old sitting behind the wheel of your uncle's new car. That high hip line translates into a window sill that isn't made for resting your elbow, at least not without losing blood flow to your arm. Our 2011 tester also came with the highly-stylized but not overly comfortable steering wheel of the 2011 Coupe. General Motors has fixed that issue with a parts-bin piece on 2012 models, however.

The rest of the cabin feels much like the Camaro we know, with the notable exception that the rear seats are now significantly easier to access. With the top down, two adults had no problem sinking into the rear buckets, though the tight seating made for bruised hips on the side of the seatbelt buckle. Though legroom is cramped for rear passengers, there's enough space for young people and flexible adults. Our cabin came awash in some impressively obnoxious orange plastic trim and leather seating surfaces, though we do appreciate the attractive orange contrast stitching on the door panels.



Unlike the Corvette Convertible, which relies on a button tucked well below and to the left of the steering wheel to operate the retractable soft top, the Camaro Convertible leaves its button out in the open and right beside the large center latch. Undo the mechanism, press the button and listen to the whir of electronic and pneumatic wizardry as it pulls the top into the trunk cavity. The whole process takes around 20 seconds, which sounds brief enough until the skies open up on all that orange leather. Once the top is stowed, an optional toneau cover can be folded in place for a clean, finished look, though the piece is an aggravation to install. Check out the Short Cut below for a look at the top in action.

Those who thought rearward visibility of the coupe couldn't get any worse need only to throw the convertible into Reverse with the top up to see just how wrong they were. The infamously lengthy C pillars of the hard top have somehow swollen in the convertible, and while the back glass looks large enough, its angle and height make for a narrow field of view.



GM equipped this particular SS-branded beast with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine with 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The duo is the most desirable engine and gearbox combination available and is borrowed straight from the coupe. There are some mechanical differences between the two, however. Engineers added additional bracing in four key areas to give the Convertible as much of the rigid feel of the coupe as possible. A sturdy aluminum strut tower brace, a transmission support reinforcement brace, an underbody tunnel brace and front and rear underbody V braces are all tacked in place to combat torsional flex. The company says that all of the work helps give the Camaro Convertible the same stiffness as the BMW 3 Series convertible.







While we didn't have the pleasure of putting a 335i Convertible through its paces against the big Bow Tie (probably a good thing), we will say that the engineering work paid off. Typically, wrenching the roof off a coupe leads to dreaded cowl and column shake as the chassis contorts over rough road surfaces. The typical engineering response is to soften the springs and dampers to the point that the effects are less pronounced. GM is proud to remind us that the Camaro Convertible uses the exact same spring and damper rates as the hard top, which results in an incredibly similar driving experience. Under most normal circumstances, there's little telling the two apart. Only under some serious thrashing did we notice even a hint of column shake during a deeply-cambered downhill right � a situation that the vast majority of Camaro Convertible buyers will never find themselves in.



While the standard Camaro is no great pantheon of handling, the fact that its large, topless sibling can come close to matching pace is pretty impressive. Unfortunately, the convertible is lugging around a substantially larger curb weight, which colors the driving experience accordingly. According to GM, the Camaro SS Convertible tips the scales at 4,116 pounds in our tester's spec. That's a full 267 pounds heavier than the SS Coupe, with most of that weight lodged over the rear axle. As a result, acceleration feels somewhat dulled even though GM claims that the vehicle can get to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds � two-tenths of a seconds slower than the hard top. The convertible simply feels heavy to drive, with braking, cornering and straight-line grunt all taking a hit.

But the Camaro Convertible does well as a comfortable cruiser and there's no denying how good it looks cruising through town or rolling down a deserted highway at dusk. The optional high-intensity discharge headlights of the RS package on our tester are appropriately threatening with their halo ring and the long, lunging hood is unmistakably Muscle. With an as-tested MSRP of $42,995 including the $850 destination fee, the exterior was covered in a black vinyl stripe package, while the loud orange interior accent package rang up an additional $500, with another $1,200 for the RS package.



GM doesn't seem to be trying to convince anyone that the figure is a small price. In fact, the company calls the BMW 3 Series convertible its chief competitor instead of the Ford Mustang GT Convertible. The latter will cost you $38,310 plus destination for a GT Premium Convertible while the German commands a lofty $46,450 plus destination for the significantly less powerful 328i Convertible.



So where does that put the Camaro SS Convertible? Buyers seeking the near irresistible nostalgia of the coupe combined with the joy of being able to put the top down will find exactly what they're looking for. It easily trades its performance credentials for cruising machismo, and in a machine like this, that's no slight.

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu

As the short-lived career of many celebrities who call Malibu (place) at home, the history of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (the car) is a lesson in how quickly things can change. It was four years ago when the new seventh-generation midsize sedan won the prestigious North American Car of the Year. And while the Malibu is still a good car, the landscape in the category of midsize sedans have changed dramatically in recent years, once the darling of the media are not very competitive.



With honors, in Malibu is still the strengths, like the attractive design, well-balanced ride and handling characteristics and rapid acceleration, the V6 engine. But these merits are overshadowed by the tight back seat, use the paragraph on the quality of interior materials and the lack of well-known features of comfort and safety of the competitors.







Above all, however, the Malibu has been improved by an avalanche of competing models. The sleek Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima related engines offer an excellent style, attractive and a lot of value for money. The Volkswagen Passat is now cheaper and bigger than before, while the popular Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima sport are two very strong candidates. Complicating matters further is the fact that a new eighth-generation Malibu will debut as 2013 model in early 2012, and is very impressive. Put it all together and we have difficulty recommending the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.



Body styles, trim levels and options

2012 Chevrolet Malibu comes in three basic trim levels - LS, LT and LTZ - which is then divided into several sub-models.



Standard on entry-level Malibu LS includes 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, cloth upholstery, power driver's seat, in part, the 60/40 split folding rear seats, keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, full power, tilt and telescopic steering, OnStar and six speaker CD/MP3 stereo with satellite radio and an additional audio.



The next step is to LT, which is divided into 1LT, 2LT and 3LT models. The highlights here include alloy wheels 17 inches, body-color outside mirrors and side moldings, steering wheel mounted audio controls and a USB audio input. The 2LT and 3LT comes with everything, plus upgraded upholstery, remote ignition, power seat adjustment additional driver, heated front seats, Bluetooth and a rear 110-volt household-style outlet.







Spring Area-topping LTZ and get 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, sunroof, rear LED lights, automatic climate control, leather interior, updated tools, auto-dimming rearview mirror and eight speaker system Bose audio. Many of these functions are grouped into packages of options that can be added to trim the lower levels. In addition, sunroof is available on all models except the LS.



Engines and performance

The standard engine for 2012 Malibu is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that puts out 169 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control manual. Estimated fuel economy for this powertrain is 22 mpg highway mpg and 26 mpg city/33 combined. In performance testing Edmunds, reached a four-cylinder Malibu 60 mph in 9.1 seconds, which is about average for the four-cylinder powered sedans in this class.







A 3.6-liter V6 good for 252 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque is available on LT and LTZ. The six-speed automatic transmission is standard here. Fuel economy is estimated at 17/26/20 mpg. Our test of a Malibu V6 resulted in a 00 to 60 km / h in just 6.7 seconds, making it one of the fastest V6 sedans in its class.



Safety

2012 Chevy Malibu comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, semi-curtain airbags and OnStar telematics system.



Down government testing the Malibu deserves an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for protection against frontal impacts and five stars for overall protection against side impacts in general. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety received the highest rating of Malibu "good" in frontal offset and side impact tests. In the brake test Edmunds, a V6 Malibu has impressed us by the decision of 60 km / h on a short 122 feet with no fade.



Interior Design and Special Features

While inside the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu looks great, the overall effect somewhat impaired by the use of low-grade material in some places. The design of the gauges and controls are refreshingly simple, however, and the use of sound insulation give the room a comfortable silence.



In front, the seats are comfortable and supported, but people can find a large mattress pronounced side make it difficult to get resolved. The rear seat is passable for a few adults, but it is a skin-tight for three people, or even a couple of people larger than some other mid-size sedan.



At the rear, the trunk offers a healthy 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space that has been made more flexible by 60/40-split-folding file back. However, the space here is shallow, and the opening is on the small side, making loading and unloading of large objects a little difficult.



Driving Impressions

Behind the wheel 2012 Chevrolet Malibu impresses with its smooth, quiet ride and confident handling. Steering feel is generally good for a sedan general public, but several of our editors still prefer the power-assisted steering is used to help increase energy efficiency four-cylinder models of the more conventional hydraulic servo that comes with the V6 engine.







What powertrain is good for you depends on your driving style and expectations, but most buyers should be satisfied through a combination of four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Not surprisingly, the V6 is a better choice for those looking for greater acceleration, provided they can live with the fuel economy significantly lower that comes with it.

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