The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have crash tested the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco and give the mid-sized sedan their highest ratings.
The federal NHTSA awarded five stars to the Chevy Malibu Eco in its front and side crash tests, and overall score. The Chevrolet Malibu Eco only received four stars in the rollover test, with the federal agency recommending electronic stability control for the vehicle, odd, since it comes standard.
Under the non-profit IIHS, the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco received a “Good” rating in all four of its major tests: front, side, and rear crash tests; roof strength, and head restraint. This makes the Malibu Eco a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Says Gay Kent, executive director of Vehicle Safety at GM, “We are now seeing the results from our commitment to design the highest-rated vehicles in the world in safety performance. Earning these top safety ratings demonstrates the strength of the Malibu’s advanced structure, overall crashworthiness and effectiveness of the vehicle’s state-of-the-art safety technologies.”
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco went on sale earlier this year. The Chevy Malibu Eco is powered by what is called a “mild hybrid powertrain” which utilizes a secondary electric motor to support the main engine to increase fuel economy by as much as 12-percent. Starting price of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco starts just under $26,000 (which includes destination and handling) which GM says makes it more competitive against full-hybrid mid-sized sedans like the 2012 Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion. We did a quick comparison, though, and while the Chevy Malibu Eco gets a decent 25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, the 2012 Toyota Camry LE hybrid gets 43 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 41 mpg combined. The Camry LE hybrid is also priced at $26,660, including destination and handling.
Via Automotive