2008 North American Car of the Year – Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu was named 2008 North American Car of the Year by a panel of nearly 50 automotive journalists.

The award is particularly prestigious because the journalists work completely independent of one another, representing all types of media and nearly 50 different media outlets, eliminating any chance of collusion or outside influence.

All-new for 2008, the Chevy Malibu was hailed by the journalists as a stylish family sedan with a smooth drivetrain that delivers value, comfort, and fuel economy.

Among the media represented: Car and Driver, Road & Track, Playboy, USA Today, the Chicago Sun Times, the Detroit News, the Chicago Tribune, Fortune magazine, AutoWeek, Edmunds.com, Consumer Guide, the Car Connection, and New Car Test Drive.

“A lot of automotive awards are given out each year,” noted New Car Test Drive editor Mitch McCullough. “But the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards are different. Rather than coming from a single media organization, these two awards are decided by 49 independent automotive journalists. They represent the best automotive journalists from print, radio, television, and the internet.”

New Car Test Drive found the Malibu smooth and comfortable for long commutes with plenty of power for responsive performance in traffic. The seats are comfortable and the stereo and climate controls are easy to operate, minimizing driver distraction (and annoyance).

The $19,995 LS four-cylinder gets an EPA-rated 22/30 mpg; the $20,995 LT V6 is rated 17/26 mpg; the $22,140 Hybrid gets 24/32 mpg.

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