2009 Chevrolet Malibu

According to its spec sheet measurements, the Chevy Malibu's passenger quarters are tighter than those in the Accord, Sonata and other leading midsize sedans. However, testers don't complain about feeling crowded in the Malibu. "My whole family was comfortable in the Malibu," reports Sara Lacey, who tests the Malibu for MotherProof.com. "Nobody was squished or crammed when all four of us were in attendance--that's a pretty amazing feat, people."

Also of interest to families, the Chevrolet Malibu is supremely car-seat friendly, Lacey says. Booster seats for her four and six year olds lay properly flat against sedan's 60/40 split folding backseat. And unlike many family sedans, the Malibu includes a third set of LATCH anchors in the middle of its back seat -- the safest location for babies. "Yes folks, you can put that child-safety seat in the Malibu's middle seat," Lacey writes. "Can I get a 'hallelujah?'"

Some reviews -- especially the ones that don't consider safety or long-term reliability -- say the Malibu is the best family sedan, period. "More enjoyable to drive than the Toyota Camry [*est. $19,395 to $29,045], better looking than the Honda Accord," declares Automobile Magazine, which names the Malibu to its 2009 Automobile All-Stars list. Some critics find the Malibu just as bland-looking as most other family sedans, but "classic" and "classy" are the most common descriptions. Motor Trend editors say the Malibu looks "sexy," but they say that can't make up for its underpowered four-cylinder base engine.

Several testers say an optional six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles -- available on the Chevy Malibu LT (*est. $22,505) and standard on the Chevy Malibu LTZ (*est. $26,880) -- ekes sufficient power out of the Malibu's fuel-efficient four-cylinder, but Motor Trend tests the six speed, and says the Malibu still feels too heavy for its 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter base engine. Reviews say most families will want the sedan's base engine for its superior fuel economy: 26 mpg in mixed driving with the six-speed automatic (22 city/33 highway) or 25 mpg mixed with the four-speed (22 city/30 highway), the latter of which is the only transmission available on the base Malibu LS (*est. $21,605). The Chevy Malibu lives up to these Environmental Protection Agency estimates in real-world tests. "On a trip that was fairly split between highway driving and Ann Arbor football traffic, I averaged close to 27-28 mpg. Not bad," writes Evan McCausland at Automobile Magazine.

Fuel economy suffers dramatically with the optional 252-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine. The EPA estimates that this engine will deliver just 20 mpg in mixed driving (17 city/26 highway) with the six-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid Malibu (*est $25,555), which uses an electric motor to assist with acceleration (it can't propel the car on its own), is also available. It is covered separately in our report on hybrid cars.

It pays to read a wide variety of reviews on the Chevy Malibu, because most provide only part of the picture. Motor Trend and TheTruthAboutCars.com both include the Malibu in thorough head-to-head tests, but neither source concentrates on safety or long-term dependability. We found safety data at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Consumer Reports is the best overall source for family-sedan ratings, as it takes all of these factors into account. Other reliable sources post helpful single-car reviews for the Malibu, including Edmunds.com, ConsumerGuide.com, Automobile Magazine and MotherProof.com.