Chevrolet recently announced the official fuel economy numbers of the refreshed, 2014 Malibu. Equipped with standard start/stop technology and a 2.5L Ecotec four-cylinder engine, the fuel economy rating for the base model rises to 29 combined miles per gallon, with 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. That’s better than the popular Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion, along with being superior to the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata.
On the same token, the base 2014 Malibu has great potential to cannibalize the eAssist-powered Malibu Eco, which unless something changes here soon, has no improvement in fuel economy. Moreover, the base 2014 Malibu possesses 196 horsepower to the Malibu Eco’s 182 horsepower. What’s more, the refreshed 2014 Malibu starts at $22,965, well under the Malibu Eco’s $26,670 MSRP — even a 2014 Malibu LT comes under, at $24,335. Currently, the Malibu Eco only accounts for roughly 10 percent of all Malibu sales. Without knowing any better, it seems GM is giving up on the model, but we’ll have to wait and see to know for sure.
Comments
Why isn’t GM offering full hybrid systems? The light hybrid Eco models don’t show enough improvement in MPG over the traditional engines. I hope GM is working on a full hybrid system to compete with Ford and Toyota’s hybrids
I’m wondering why the Eco still exists considering the 2.5’s mileage figures. Must be someone at Chevy has an Eco Ego or something.
Remember the Saturn Vue Plug In/2-Mode? It got up to 35mpg on the highway with 2-Mode (with the 3.6L and without stop/start or diesel) and up to 65 mpg with the Plug In for about 60 miles. If GM made a Hybrid with Plug In, 2-Mode, Stop/Start, a 2.2T TDI I4 that had 170HP and 355TQ . That would get at least up to 47 mpg Highway, 34 mpg City and 40 combined (on 2-Mode and Stop/Start) and would get up to 80 mpg HIghway, 67 City and 73 Combined for up to 60 miles (On Plug In, 2-Mode and Stop/Start)
These Eco models are pointless, in my opinion. You have to sacrifice too much for their existence. More expense. Less equipment. Marginal increase in fuel economy. Give us the Malibu diesel and hand them over liberally to Canadian record breakers and watch the free advertisement roll in the dough.
You know, that is the perfect advertising idea that the Malibu needs! “The new 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, up to 29 mpg combined. More than Camry and Fusion! That’s American Ingenuity, Chevrolet Find New Roads.”
I think an eight speed transmission should make it’s way into the Malibu that will only further increase mpg! I think there should be a Heads Up Display and a Panoramic moonroof. As far as engine go:
A 1.1L Twin Turbo I3 iVLC with 176HP and 220LBS-FT. TQ. 28 mpg City / 40 mpg Hwy / 34 Combined
A 2.5L I4 iVLC eAssist with 202HP and 181LBS-FT. TQ 29 mpg City / 44 mpg Hwy / 36 Combined
A 2.0L Turbo I4 iVLC with 259HP and 295LBS-FT. TQ. 24 mpg City / 32 mpg Hwy / 27 Combined
A Hybrid Plug In/2-Mode 2.0L Turbo Diesel I4 151 HP/346 TQ. 35 mpg City / 48 mpg Hwy / 41 Combined