Chevrolet Malibu Turbo Priced From $26,950
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If you can wait until the end of the year, Chevrolet will begin offering its new Malibu with a 2.0L turbocharged 259-horsepower engine. The price for the boosted ‘Bu starts at $26,950 plus a $760 destination charge, bringing the total to $27,710. Comparatively, that’s a decent bump over the starting price of a Hyundai Sonata Turbo ($25,670), which also offers a more potent 274 horsepower. Boo.
Regardless, the 2.0T will be available for the LT and LTZ trim levels of the 2013 Malibu line. Go all-out, and a loaded Malibu LTZ turbo will ask for $30,925 including destination.
It’s a few grand more than the currently available Malibu Eco, and almost another $5,000 more than the $23,150 base Malibu with a 2.5L Ecotec, but it will serve 259 horsepower in the most subtle of packages. And having driven the Eco model, we know that the chassis dynamics are right for a performance-oriented Malibu, should it come equipped with the right set of tires and not the low-friction Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires that are found on the Malibu Eco. We just can’t call the Malibu Turbo a “sport sedan” until we actually drive it.
For the sake of our wallets, GM notes that premium fuel is not required for the turbo, though it is recommended. But more to the point, what are your thoughts on the ‘Bu Turbo’s pricing? Sound off in the comments below, or wage internet war in our cool forum. Which is scientifically proven to be the best GM enthusiast forum out there.
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ECOboost a CRUZE …………….. or no wait, how about a turbo CRUZE?
Or put that engine from the Astra GTC diesel in the Cruze!!
Price $27,710 that’s before negotiations. Hyundai sonata with 274 hp that’s not certified they just make up a number. Tires my guess Goodyear Eagle RSA 235 50 18. Governed at 155 miles an hour in fourth gear and fifth. Atlantis blue metallic.
The Sonata (and its turbo-charged variant) don’t hold a candle to this car. The steering, handling, and overall vehicle “feel” is about a decade behind that of the Malibu. In other words, the Sonata seems like a nice car, until you drive one.
Quote from Jalopnik today which I think is appropriate “If you own a 2012-13 Hyundai Sonata your airbags might suddenly explode. If so, it’ll be the most exciting thing to ever happen in a Sonata.”
As for the pricing, I’m going to be lazy and instead of check just ask, when compared option for option, which turbo car, Malibu or Sonata, is better equipped. And having driven neither, if the Malibu is a much better drive then I think the price is justified.
Buying a Malibu turbo against a Hyundai turbo is like deciding to eat an American steak versus some Korean fried fish. There is more “meat” in the Malibu and you will enjoy it longer!
I take your word Alex.
I’ll take one if they offer an RS version like on the Sonic Turbo
definitely worth it especially if you opt everything out on the Ford Fusion is about $40k.
The 7th Gen is about the same price as the 8th LTZ variant, then. Right? A newer, nice, and somewhat better looking car for the same price and with a turbo 4 cyl making more power than its predecessor (3.6). Yeah, I think it’s worth it.
$26,950 – $23,150 = $3,800, not quite five grand difference, still significant, but that does include the price increase from LS to LT. And as someone else mentioned, Hyundai doesn’t use SAE HP ratings. It’s unfortunate that many sales are made or lost based on these inaccurate comparisons of numbers.
And based on real-world MPG vs EPA #’s on other GM and Hyundai vehicles, I would expect much better fuel economy with the Malibu. Just check Fuelly and compare what people are getting on the Elantra (~30 mpg ave 2011-2012) and the “lower EPA rated” Cruze (~33 mpg ave 2011-2012)..
you missed the $760 destination that was mentioned in the first paragraph. Making the difference $4560
I saw that, but there is no mention that being included in the base price. However, searching elsewhere, I found that it is included.
First of all I think Akerson made a huge mistake pushing the 2013 Malibu Eco into production early? If the current car was a couple generations old (like the Impala) then OK, need the fresh design ASAP, but current Malibu was all new in 2008? When you see the car in person in ECO trim, with the smallish wheel/tire package, the front/rear overhangs are too large? In other words the car has a poor stance, by comparison the Cruze Eco has a terrific stance.
Secondly, still little hope for the budget minded enhusiast. It’s well documented that the “SS” moniker is not going to be widely used on Chevy vehicles any longer, that’s fine, but how about a performance package for the new turbo? Ungraded brakes and suspension, wheels and tires, more agressive software for the trans? Something?
Maybe the RS is coming next year, just to get some new attention, like they are doing with the Sonic.
The SS label will no longer be used as a model designation because it will shortly become its own model, as in the Chevy SS – a RWD sedan available with a (don’t faint) manual transmission. This will be an interesting new model.
Chevrolet meat and potatoes of vehicles!
OH I’d rather buy this than that new Fusion coming out…. With Ford running almost at $40k I think this car is a better deal!!! Really the need of massage chairs on the mainstream cars is the worst idea ever
If memory serves, the (outgoing) V6 Accord and the V6 Camry are priced around the same, give or take a few hundred dollars.