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Detroit.A city unlike any other city in the world, it calls to me in a way that no other place could. Detroit is the epicenter of car culture in the United States. The Woodward Dream Cruise gives those of us obsessed with everything motoring to get together under a common flag and celebrate the majesty of the automobile for an entire week. What better way than to arrive in one of the quintessential American midsize sedans, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco?

The Malibu Eco has been a hard sell for General Motors lately and I felt a twinge of apprehension as I took posession of the keys for my week long stint. My home town of Bloomington is not where the Malibu is meant to shine. Unlike other hyrids the eAssist system of the Malibu isnt meant to save you fuel in stop and go. Instead its true focus is being as efficient as possible at high speed across hundreds of miles. I logged over a thousand miles in this efficiency cruiser over Indiana and Michigan highways in a dedicated search to find the true purpose for the Malibu Eco. 

My trepidation for the Malibu Eco came from my particular type of driving style. I am an extremely light-footed driver whos main focus is to eak every mile per gallon out of every car I drive - regardless of powertrain. Under certain conditions (such as climbing the hill to my apartment or under very light load acceleration) I expected the 15 horsepower induction motor to kick in and let me accomplish my task with less engine load. This isnt the case. Kevin Kelly, Manager of Hybrid Battery and Technology Communications, explained that engineers wouldnt be able to do that unless they switched to a much larger and more powerful permanent magnet motor similar to full hybrids. I am not going to delve into the technical aspects of the Malibu Eco - thats for another article. Keep your eyes peeled for a full technical review later.

What changed my mind about the Malibu Eco as a car was the first 339 miles between Bloomington and Detroit. The highway is where the Malibu Eco is meant to shine. While the eAssist system isnt strong enough to propel the car, the added 15 horsepower and 79 lb./ft of torque meant I was almost exclusively in sixth gear the entire trip. This is a big help when you need to pass, climb a grade or even when youre pulling onto the highway. Energy that normally would have been turned into waste heat is now on tap whenever you need it to save you a gear or two. This is what efficiency is all about. 

Speaking of efficiency, miles per gallon are extremely important to the midsize segement. Without going into deep technical detail (I will later, I promise) the Malibu uses active aerodynamic radiator shutters, a silky smooth body, and a small electric induction motor to eak out the best mpg possible. In the hands of someone trained in the art of fuel efficiency it can be quite the fuel miser. Sixty to sixty-five miles per hour is the sweet spot of this engine. At that speed over hilly highways here in southern Indiana I averaged 46.1 miles per gallon. That is on par with many of the subcompacts and compacts I have driven. Even at the speed limit of 70 miles per hour in central Michigan the Malibu beat its EPA estimates - a testament to its improved aerodynamics

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Subcompacts and compact cars have long been considered penalty boxes of the automotive world. If you couldnt afford to fuel a midsize sedan you were forced to buy small, uncomfortable yet efficient small cars. Now you can have your fuel economy and be comfortable on long highway trips. Chevrolet has made a very driver-centric car with the Malibu. From features like an easy to use touch screen MyLink radio, leather wrapped steering wheel festooned with easy to reach buttons and three setting heated seats, the Malibu wants to please you. If youre looking for a huge back seat though, this certainly isnt the car for you. Especially if you happen to sit like me with the seat all the way back. Children will fit just fine, but adults may have to find a strange contorted position to properly fit. 

Ride and handling of the Malibu falls into the tight (do not read as sporty) category. The suspension loads up very nice but safe and secure understeer is exactly what you will get if you push it too hard. Steering weight makes it feel very solid on the highway, but there is very little road feel. Progress is coming on slowly in finding a way to make electric power steering feel as confident as the now classic hydraulic system. The suspension does an exceptional and I do mean exceptional job of isolating the passengers from road noise and vibration. While not as quiet as the current generations of Buicks the Malibu is a serene place to be. Add that to the start/stop feature and you hardly hear a thing when stopped at a stop light. 

Start/Stop technology has been a hot button issue when it comes to the refinement and comfort of current vehicles. The Malibus system is quiet, quick and without drama. If youre worried that your car wont stay cool on a hot day with the engine off, think again. In comfort mode the A/C keeps the engine running at idle, but put it in Eco mode and the car will still shut off at stops. The A/C system maintains pressure and you get cold air even stopped for a few minutes. Start/stop systems this smooth will go a long way to convincing consumers that this technology is worth it. Cars today do not need to idle, period.

While there is a lot to like about the Malibi Eco there are a few things that I would change. For starters I need a more powerful version of eAssist. The system has a lot of potential to grow and I hope the system evolves into a direct competitor to Hondas Integrated Motor Assist system. Secondly I would like to see MyLink integrated with navigation. The system looks so great it is a bit of a shame it doesnt come with navigation. Lastly the chrome accents can cause quite a bit of ocular trauma. Chrome around the shifter may add a nice touch, but it is in a perfect location to reflect sun directly into the eye which is tiring especially on the highway. The current Malibu is a step in the right direction, but I believe that Chevrolet has some room to take it to the next level in terms of efficiency and driving dynamics.

As the Malibu heads back into the media fleet I have been reflecting on everything I saw last week. Detroit is a city of vibrant culture and spirit unmatched anywhere in the world. For those of us with Detroit in our heart products like the Malibu Eco make us proud to be a part of the culture. The Woodward Dream Cruise is special to the citizens of Detroit because they can see the fruits of their labor in motion on the historic boulevard. The Malibu Eco has room for improvement, but it is decidely American, extremely efficient, and a car I wouldnt hesitate to recommend to someone who lives life in the fast lane of the American highway.

Disclaimer: Vehicle provided by General Motors Company

Word and Pictures By: Tyler Lipa