Chevrolet estimates its 2016 Malibu Hybrid will return a rather impressive fuel economy rating of 48 mpg city and 45 mpg highway. As the automaker pointed out yesterday upon the car’s reveal, the fuel economy rating outclasses hybrid variants of the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata.
General Motors President Dan Amman revealed the Malibu Hybrid’s MPG estimates this morning during the media breakfast at the New York International Auto Show. The impressive returns are made possible thanks to a direct-injection 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a two-motor electric drive unit borrowed from the 2016 Chevrolet Volt.
The Malibu Hybrid gets better fuel economy in the city due to its electric drive system and 1.5 kWh lithium-ion based battery, which drives the wheels from a stop and at low speeds. The gasoline engine won’t kick on until speeds reach 55 miles per hour, or when the car is under high loads.
“Fuel efficiency is important to our customers, especially in the midsize segment and with an estimated 48 mpg city rating, the Malibu Hybrid delivers,” Ammann said in a statement.
The 2016 Malibu Hybrid will go on sale in Spring 2016, while the standard gasoline only model will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing and EPA-certified fuel economy ratings have yet to be announced.
Comments
Wait but then what will the transmission be?
It is a beautiful automobile .
Is Spring 2016 the right release time for the standard model? Won’t that go on sale in Fall of 2015? By “standard” I assume the author means non-hybrid?
You’re right, i’ve made the correction, sorry about that. The gasoline version will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year, while the Hybrid wont be available until Spring 2016. Thanks for the heads up.
I’m looking forward to more information on the battery “system”. Maybe some capacitors?