Equipped with the 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec engine (LTG) making an impressive 295 lb.-ft. of torque, the new 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in “under six seconds.” That torque figure is not only best in class, but it’s also superior to many V6-equipped models — even those outside of the midsize sedan segment.
Take for example the current Ford Mustang and its 3.7L V6 engine rated at 280 lb.-ft. of torque — 15 lb.-ft. lower than the front-wheel-drive Malibu Turbo. That’s even the case when comparing the 2014 Malibu Turbo to the Camaro V6, which has a lesser 278 lb.-ft.. More to the point, the 2014 Malibu Turbo is capable of beating the current Camaro V6 in a zero-to-sixty miles per hour sprint, with its sub-six-second time to the Camaro’s 6.4-second time. That’s pretty impressive for a family sedan.
With these performance figures in mind, does the Malibu still need a V6? We don’t think so. If anything, it’s the Camaro that might need a heart transplant.
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Comments
that’s awesome for a Malibu owner but a slap to the face of v6 camaro owners wtf? Chevy?
Times change. A lot of normal cars are faster than last year’s base model “fun” cars. The new base model Camaro will just have to be that much better!
I have gotten home and broke out the stop watch and did multiple runs in my 2011 RS V6 automatic Camaro with the stock Pirelli’s
My best 0-60 on auto was 5.9 sec and 5.7sec using the paddle shifter with TC on
I suspect a manual V6 Camaro would be faster, and the 2012-13 with the new engine 324hp. would be even faster still! it’s about 74 degrees outside low humidity and I have 8742 miles on her. I don’t know how Chevy managed a 6.4 second time unless my grandfather was driving it. that figure is wrong. I had to test it for my self. Any other V6 Camaro owners try it out safely of course…..
and sound off.
Unless you did this with a an automotive performance measurement tool (something with a built-in accelerometer), the margin of error is too great to draw any conclusions. It is unlikely that your test was accurate, if you were using a stopwatch.
Even Chevy’s website shows the Camaro as 5.9 0-60, this article is whack.
The 5.9 seconds is for the bare-bones LT and 1LS trim levels. I’m guessing that the 6.4-second time mentioned here is for the heavier 2LT trim.
My guess is the next gen camaro gets this as its base engine and after a little diet from going to the alpha base it will be faster than the Malibu
if so it needs more power. if the twin turbo V6 is in the next SS. about the same hp as the current V8.
Malibu Turbo is also expensive, go build one, they’re about $29-33K? Plus, what’s it going to be worth a few years down the line? The improvements/re-fresh are OK , but really I would pass all the way on this Malibu and recommend others do the same. The way to buy one of these is, especially the Turbo, is to pick-up a barely used one for thousands less than new.
Sorry but today nothing is cheap. The average price of a car today is over $35K and with the new health laws and inflation it will only continue to grow.
I agree it is expensive but even a Sonic is now over $20K loaded.
The LTZ carries a pretty good resale value used.
Chevrolet should decrease the price on the Malibu by $2-$4K plus keep the rebates and incentives. I would probably buy another Malibu if that was the case
Ok in the misleading story on this site that had the Impala nose I stated more torque could be on tap for better MPG. Well they did it.
Note that with this engine the torque helps get the car up to speed faster and lets the driver get off the gas sooner. In the new DI engines from GM if you are off throttle they shut the gas off to the engine when coasting off throttle.
My 2.0 Turbo with the GM Turbo Upgrade package added torque up to 315 FT LBS and increased my MPG 1-2 MPG. I confirmed this with the GM Performance engineer that said they found this result by pleasant accident. I expect we may see this put to use in more of their engines.
Note while the engine makes more torque hooking up vehicle is more difficult. My SS will spin the tires now at times up to 50 MPH on concrete freeways that are not grooved. At least with the crummy OE pilots that came on it.
Keep in mind with the FWD when you get on it the nose and front tires unload weight as it transfers to the rear tires.
My HHR SS is fast but hooking it up is difficult. I have launch control that helps but it removes some performance so it is a balancing act between Launch control and using your foot.
So If anyone wants to run a Camaro I would recommend you get your launch down well and watch the road surface as you may be faster but it will have to be under the right conditions.
For the record I hated 4 cylinders and Turbo engines and today nearly 5 years after buying one I love it to death. I just wish my car was RWD.
Note the same tune in the Solstice with a 5 speed will give you 340 FT LBS as the drive line will take it so much better.
GM has more of these tuner kits coming and we should see them soon. I expect to see one for the Bu, Regal and ATS.
Scott — are you referring to this rendering?
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/05/rendered-updated-2014-chevrolet-malibu/
If so, I’m perplexed as to what it is that you find “misleading” about it, as it clearly states it is a rendering.
So then will it run about in the high 5 sec like the Camry V6 or the Accord V6?
If it can hook up it should dip into the high 5 second range. I still expect many road test may show low 6 seconds possibly due to the weight.
My SS will do low 5 seconds with a auto and 315 FT LBS at 3200 pounds. The BU is heavier but does have a better transmission and gearing. We may just have to wait and see.
*Mind blown*
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I do want to know whatever happened to the Malibu Eco?
Malibu Turbo beats a Camaro. Cool, is this what they would call a stoplight sleeper? Still don’t like those taillights the Camaro will be seeing though.
I wouldn’t be too quick to come to that conclusion…..GM’s numbers for the camaro are wrong…..See my above post.
No, GM make a mistake? HA HA HA. Thanks for the heads up.
Hmmm, funny how C&D reports 6.3 time for Malibu? Could this be a BS story, with writer falling for GM claims without trying to verify them? There seems to be plenty of V6 Camaros hitting 0-60 in 6.1 and 6 flat… Considering Malibu is FWD, no matter how fat Camaro is, it still should be more fun to test than Malibu.
With regards to V6 Mustang, even though there is less torque, it is readily available at wider range of RPM, unlike Malibu. Apparently the author forgot to mention that Mustang V6 hits 0-60 in 5.3-considerably faster than either Camaro or Malibu. Great piece of journalism, LMAO.
The Bu could do this time easily if it can get the traction. Not all conditions can do this nor every driver.
My HHR SS will dip well into the 5 second range can out run many V8 models but only if I can get the traction to get a good launch. On a surface with a lot of grip it is no issue but I have spun the tires on worn concrete freeways at 50 MPH and had the traction control kick in.
RWD or FWD matters little if tuned properly as with my SS. Now I do not expect the handling in the Bu to be up the my GM Performance tuned SS as it is just a passenger sedan with no claims to being a performance car.
It just happens to be a good sedan with very good power and makes no claims to being a sports sedan.
I think the performance claims are just to give a better impression that the Turbo 4 is more than up to the task of replacing the 3.6 V6,
I own two 3.6 and on in a Malibu and neither are up to what my 2.0 Turbo can do.
Note my HHR SS does have the GM tune at 290 HP and 315 FT LBS along with the major changes the GM performance division did to the suspension. The SS did not get the same things as the LT.
Note too that cars like the new BU and the other cars that have recently come out have all been tuned from the start by the folks who did the GM Performance division cars. The same people who did the V series cars and other SS models are now integrated into the system at the development level. They are now designing these systems vs. just fixing them. This is why cars like the new Impala may give a great ride but still will take a corner even though it is not claimed to be a performance car.
Has for your the Mustang it is so much lighter than the Camaro even with a V6. Weight is one performance factor that is more important than HP. Less weight not only makes things faster but handle better and stop faster. We will see that soon in more and more cars. The Alpha is only the first step.
Anyways I am sure GM can reproduce these times a the Warren proving grounds if needed. They have a conditions there to meet any traction challenge.
Yes, of course FWD or RWD do not really matter in 0-60 times, this is why I specifically mentioned FUN while testing, not the actual numbers. My Mini Cooper S is plenty quick as well but front wheel burn outs are just not as cool, not to mention the torque steer and front wheel hop when encountering irregularities on the road while accelerating hard.
Mustang V6 is actually not that light, about 110 less than Malibu-about the same number that separates Malibu from Camaro. If Malibu was AWD at the same weight as FWD, then GM could brag about something. As it is, Malibu is nothing else than a heavy compact sedan with enough power to keep the driver busy, should the driver be foolish enough to push it.
On the contrary, the Malibu is entirely a mid size contender, not compact. the Sonic is GM’s compact contender. The Cruze is the next up at sub- compact. You are asking the Malibu to drop two weight classes?? That is like asking Evander Holyfield to cut down and fight Floyd Maywether. In other news, does anyone else see any of the code 130r concept in the grille and fot that matter, the whole fascia besides the headlights? I certainly do.
I have the 14 bu. This car is a beast ( if you can get it to hook up). I test drove the 14 Camaro too. The power is there but the bu just seems to be a little quicker and all the changes in the handling for the bu are amazing when cutting corners and through traffic. if you are considering buying a new car in this class, I would 100% recommend taking a test drove. you will be really surprised by the handling and the power this car has. I got the 3LT and it does not have the duel exhaust so when someone comes up it looks like a slow base model and then I blow them off the line and laugh the whole time. I have to say overall this car is really nice and really fun to drive.
@archangel: Times derived with a handheld stopwatch have absolutely no validity when we are talking sub-second performance differences.
Yes, it still needs a V6, or even better would be a well engineered flat 6. This 2.0t engine gets worse gas mileage than competitors v6’s. Those v6’s are normally aspirated which means you don’t have to worry about replacing the turbo at 100K miles. Also, the turbo recommends premium fuel whereas the six banger would run on regular. So what exactly is the point of this powertrain? Chevy needs to take one of their good v6’s and do a “skyactiv” type treatment to it and leave the turbo ecotechs on the shelf until they bring something to the party besides just being different.
Actually, my Malibu is getting a constant 25 City and 34 Highway! That is much better than any V6 and it has best-in-class torque! It’s at 18K miles and is doing great so far! We’ll have to see how far it will go without needing a new turbo, but I have faith that GM tested these very well! The 3.6, although a great engine, could never see 25/34 and will never get 295FT-LBS (stock). Stop judging on preconceived notions until you own one for yourself. .
Calling shenanigans on this. Unless you have some weird, one off eco model or all the stars align for you everyday or perhaps have had the ecu re-tuned ( bye bye factory warranty ) there’s no chance you’re seeing CLOSE to those numbers. Face it, not everyone wants a car just because it’s turbocharged.
I’ll buy one in a Cruze all day, everyday but NOT a mid size Malibu.
Where I can get the turbo upgrade package for the Malibu? Thank you
These seem cool on paper and then you drive them and it’s a totally flaccid experience. Plus they suck for tuning and reliability is that of a typical Domestic. I might lease one for my wife, but never would I ever buy this type of vehicle.
Iit sounds like to me that all these die hard camaro lovers are jealous!! GM finally put horse power elsewhere then camaro, and corvette. People need variety in having something fast. I personally must give GM 2 thumbs way up for exploring. Also, why must everyone get so upset over this article?!?! It doesn’t matter if the camaro is faster or not. The thing is… We are just talking about a few tenths of a second difference. Which to me, a sedan being that close is amazing! I think your a idiot for buying something that had no trunkor backseat when the sedan is as fast as the sports car. I remember when a sports car could only get 8 seconds a 60mph, and that was a muscle car! Todays car is actually faster, handles wayyy better, and is more comfortable… Not to mention the new cars last easliy for 250,000 miles when the old ones needed rebuilt at 100,000!!! You haters need to be happy for general motors. We are all GM fans here, dont get mad just because the (B) team just kicked the (A) teams ass!!!!