How does the 2005 Malibu compare to the previous year's model.

How did the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu do compared to its predecessor the 2004 model?  Prior to me giving you my opinion, please recall that the Quality Survey by J.D. Powers rated the 2004 Malibu tops in its class. The Powers Group said in addition that the 2004 was a well engineered and confident family sedan that fulfilled all the expectations they had for such a car. With that in mind I'll proceed with my thoughts on the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu.

By systematically building on all their good results from the previous year, Chevrolet was able to not only preserve the Malibu's superior reputation but also to up the ante on the design.  From the shift knob with a unique leather wrap, to the mildly jacked-up rear end, the 2005 is once again a high quality Chevrolet offering that can be appreciated by Malibu devotees across America.

Although many feel that it comes up a little short in the looks department, the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu really does what it set out to do.  It takes only a couple minutes behind the wheel to begin to enjoy its road-hugging abilities as you move along, while at slower speeds the steering loses little of the surprisingly light feel. Obviously, for those of us living in an area where there is a lot of traffic, this is an important consideration.

The optional six-cylinder engine provides surprising power. Malibu lovers know that if you close your eyes and visualize a Malibu, acceleration and power are a bit down the list of things that come to mind, but the v6 (3.5 litre overhead valve) was aggressive from a standing position, and felt stable and crisp at highways speeds.  The 2005 Malibu has the then new Epsilon platform that is also found in several popular European cars and it performed well and provided a ride that compares well with that of the Camry.

For a family car, the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu manages to excite.  What do you know?