Looking for best-in-class fuel-efficiency in the sedan segment? Then you’ll want to buy the 2017 Chevy Malibu. Best-in-class fuel-efficiency is only one of the great things this car is able to provide the consumer. Now, it’s important to note that the Chevy Malibu is only able to achieve best-in-class fuel-efficiency when the Hybrid model is selected. This best-in-class fuel-efficiency rating is actually provided by Consumer Reports, courtesy of the tests they decided to give the Malibu Hybrid.
I’ll also go over some other highlights that Consumer Reports found in their testing, as well as take a look at competing models’ fuel-efficiency. That way, you can see just how good the Malibu Hybrid does.
Test Findings
For their testing, Consumer Reports actually ended up buying a Hybrid model to supplement their Malibu LT test since the Malibu LT and Hybrid version share similar features. But, the Malibu Hybrid actually adds a couple of features – like automatic climate control and a standard electronic parking brake.
Overall, Consumer Reports discovered the Hybrid is able to achieve 41 mpg overall. Which is actually a dozen more miles-per-gallon than the 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine found in most other Malibu models. Even more impressive is the fact that the Hybrid model was able to return up to 49 mpg on the highway. How is this possible? Because with a light touch on the throttle, the testers discovered that it can cover plenty of ground on just electric power. Furthermore, they also noticed that because of immediate torque that can only be delivered by an electric engine, the Hybrid version was actually able to accelerate quicker than the conventional Malibu they previously tested.
Best-in-class fuel-efficiency, along with acceleration that’s actually better than a gas-powered LT trim level Malibu. What more could you ask for from the Malibu Hybrid?
How the Competition Fares?
Of course, best-in-class fuel-efficiency means that it’s beating the competition. So, let’s take a look at how the competition fares, shall we?
A 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid gets 43 mpg city/41 mpg highway. Pretty good, but not good enough.
A 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid is able to return 42 mpg city/38 mpg highway, which is over 10 less than the Malibu Hybrid’s highway mpg rating.
The 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid generates up to 39 mpg city/45 mpg highway. Close, but no cigar.As you can see, it’s not only beating other popular models on the market but also beats all the other models in the class.
Other Highlights From Consumer Reports Testing
Some other highlights from the Consumer Reports testing includes:
- Uncluttered interior with straightforward controls
- Bump-absorbing, composed ride
- Good ride quality
- Shapely styling
- Quiet cabin
- Ergonomic controls
As you can see, the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid offers much more than just good fuel-efficiency for the consumer. Overall, it’s a great car. The best part is, you don’t have to sacrifice fun performance for efficiency. After all, it does accelerate faster than the gas-powered LT trim level as proven directly by Consumer Reports.
