Chevrolet Malibu

Malibu aims at the biggest segment in the States, that is one Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are dominating. Although it does not deliver the ultimate refinement and build quality matching the Japanese rivals, it is boosted by GM's traditional bargain price, and of course a roomier-than-average cabin. In size, it stands between a big Taurus and a Camry, so interior space is benefited. Both head room and leg room are marginally larger than its smaller competitors, so is trunk space. 

But most American want, as shown in sales chart, is not just space. Build quality and refinement drive them queuing to buy the more expensive Japanese cars. Curiously, 15 years ago American bought Japanese cars because of low price. Unquestionably, they gradually realised the superior reliability of Japanese cars (no matter built in Japan or in USA) thus today they are willing to pay the premium price. In this respect, the Malibu still can't match its rivals. 

It tries to simulate the Japanese success formula, such placing all the controls and switches ergonomically around the driver, but there are numerous signs of lacking solid assemble. However, this is not really a mistake for a car so cheap. The same goes for cabin trimming. Volkswagen Passat-kind of classy packaging is, of course, out of reach, but it is not far away from the dull-looking Camry. 

The power plants are rather modest - the base engine is the familiar Quad 4, that is, 150hp 2.4-litre 16-valve four pot. It's noisy at high rev and is not as smooth as imported opponents all the time. That makes the 3.1-litre V6, despite of old push-rod design, more attractive. The unit now pumps out 170 hp and a useful 190 lbft of torque. While smoother and quieter than the four-pot, it couldn't match any modern 24-valve V6s from Japan in terms of outright power, eagerness at high speed and smoothness. It is still reluctant and noisy at push. The 4-speed automatic, on the other hand, shift seamlessly. 

Driving fun is not a strong area for Malibu, although everybody says it is already vastly improved from any previous Chevy sedans. The steering is too light for those who love driving but may right in the taste of women. Steering feel is not bad, though. Firmer suspensions setting - by GM's standard - provides reasonably crisp handling nearly matching the Camry - that boring car to me - but not quite Accord and Passat. 

Overall speaking, the Malibu refreshes our memory of what an American bread-and-butter sedan is. Ultimately, it is still not the cleverest choice. 
 

Pontiac Grand Am

The cabin would have been quieter if the engines were as refined as the suspensions. The entry-level 150 hp Quad 4 scream under full throttle. The 3.4-litre pushrod V6 also makes more noise than the multi-valve V6s found in competitors. Both of them can't be said as sporty either. Although the V6 has 200 lbft of torque in standard form or 5 more with the help of ram air device, their peak power of 170 or 175 hp in a leisure manner can't provide the urgency that the styling of the car suggest. 

Some would regard the aggressive exterior design as overdone, me too. The horizontal strakes running from the front bumper to the sides look rather exaggerate and untidy. Inside, the twin-dial dashboard looks no less aggressive to the extent that it lost some mature feeling that the mechanism of the car delivers. Taste aside, the instruments works well and there is room for four six-footers. As usual, fit & finish aren't quite up to world standard.  

Grand Am doesn't handle as exciting as its styling too. Over-assisted steering does not offers more feedback than many average sedans. Even worse is the presence of torque steer in the V6 version. The MacPherson struts front suspension seems fail to handle the 200 lbft of torque and resist to steer the way as desired. 

In short, the Grand Am is neither prestigious nor exciting to drive. 
 

Oldsmobile Alero

Alero looks quite handsome, if not very distinctive, no wonder some 64% buyers are female. Considering it is not intended to be exciting to drive, the Alero makes better use the platform than Grand Am. Ultimately, it might have problems to face the Volkswagen Passat, which is well-built and feels far classier.