- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.4i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
123kW, 225Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Holden Malibu CDX new car review
Holden's Commodore has long been the weapon of choice for Aussie families. The combination of space, features and value has made it a winner, albeit one whose sales have dropped sharply during the past decade.
While SUVs have stolen the lion's share of those sales, a hotter market for mid-sizers has also played its hand in the traditional large car's demise.
Little wonder, then, that Holden is looking to up its presence in a class with plenty of competition. Which is where the Malibu comes in.
Importantly, the Malibu brings a four-cylinder petrol and diesel option for fuel-conscious buyers - be they fleets or private owners.
The new-to-Australia nameplate is the latest in a string of mid-size Holdens, dating back to the Torana and Camira, and more recently the Apollo, Vectra and Epica.
What do you get?
The Malibu comes with equipment that would make more expensive cars blush, which isn't bad considering the $28,490 (plus on-road and dealer costs) asking price for the CD model. As well as the to-be-expected Bluetooth, cruise control, trip computer, rear parking sensors and six airbags, all Malibu models come with a reversing camera, electric handbrake and a suite of inbuilt apps for the touchscreen (it relies on the data connection of your phone).
There's also sensor-key technology that allows you to keep the key in your pocket and press a button on any of the door handles to unlock it.
The CDX is an extra $3500 ($31,990) and brings rain-sensing wipers, leather seats, heated and electric front seats and dual-zone climate-control airconditioning.
Both models can be had with a diesel engine, which comes at a sizeable $4000 premium.
A space-saver spare is optional or you can make do with the tyre-repair kit.
There's also capped-price servicing for up to three years or 60,000 kilometres ($185 every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres).
What's inside?
Anyone who has been in the new VF Commodore will notice similarities, from the starter button and steering-wheel controls to the handbrake and the stalks on the steering column. But it all works well enough and teams with the silver-look finishes and blue illumination to add modernity to the cabin; the Knight Rider-style blue strip that zaps across the dash is a bit 1980s, though. There's also the occasional Chevrolet touch, such as the square surrounds of the instrument cluster.
Space is reasonable up front, although the front seats lack side support and the steering wheel doesn't quite extend far enough towards the driver. There are plenty of storage areas, including a novel one behind the touchscreen: press a button and it flips up, revealing a handy hole.
The rear seats aren't as spacious for adults, with headroom and legroom only just acceptable for taller people. There are also no rear air vents, which is an oversight in this category, especially considering the potential family appeal.
The middle seat has the usual higher position, but limit the rear to two and there's a broad central armrest with storage within. Those rear seats also split-fold for larger items; the boot has a wide, flat floor and, while it's not as deep as some, is generally large.
In some ways, though, the Malibu is an example of how much extra thought has gone into the Commodore. The electronic handbrake, for example, has a prominent electronic noise when you apply it, something Commodore engineers worked hard to eliminate. And the gear-selector buttons on top of the gearstick aren't in a logical or easy-to-use location.
Under the bonnet
A 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine doesn't look particularly special on paper and it's similar in practice. There's 123kW to play with, but only once you rev the engine hard, at which point it can get quite vocal.
It's backed up by 225Nm of torque, which is almost on par with class leaders, but the Malibu never feels particularly flush with grunt. Initial throttle response is above average but it's only adequate once under way.
The six-speed automatic is basic but honest enough, responding faithfully to driver inputs and adjusting accordingly. It can occasionally be caught in the wrong gear on sudden reapplications of the accelerator as it fumbles for a lower gear.
It equates to an engine-transmission combination that gets the job done without exciting or excelling in any way.
Fuel use is also nothing spectacular, claimed at 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres. In our week with the car, confined mainly to the suburbs, we found it used closer to 11L/100km.
On the road
Driven gently, the Malibu is expectedly uneventful and calm, with reasonable noise suppression and comfort levels. The suspension is supple enough, only upset by sharp-edged bumps that aren't absorbed as well by the 18-inch tyres.
Grip from those Bridgestones is OK and the car is capable enough when pushed through a bend. It also recovers well from larger bumps, asserting itself well for B-grade country roads.
But it feels a fraction nose-heavy, something that makes itself known on quick direction changes, where it lacks alacrity.
Verdict
The Malibu doesn't stand out but doesn't offend, which is vaguely in line with many of Holden's previous medium cars. There's a scent of vanilla to what is a competent, if not convincing, mid-size proposition. High equipment levels, though, cement it as a solid-value option.