AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

Sibling Rivalry - Round 1
2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT vs. 2008 Chevrolet Impala LT 3.9

The Chevrolet Impala is General Motors' best selling passenger car in the United States, with about 270,000 sold this year. That's about double what the outgoing Chevrolet Malibu sold.

The Impala has a lot going for it. It's roomy, comfortable, quiet, has a huge trunk, and it returns better than average fuel economy for its size, especially on the highway. These attributes make it a fleet and company car darling. At the insurance company where my sister works, the field adjusters screamed bloody murder when their Impalas were replaced by Dodge Stratuses (Stratii?), and I can't blame them.

On the other hand, the Impala's little brother, the Malibu, was known as a "get 'r done" mass transportation appliance, at least until this fall. That's when the 2008 redesigned Malibu arrived to great acclaim. The new Malibu actually has a longer wheelbase than the Impala, and comparably equipped, they weigh about the same. When equipped with V-6 engines at the LT level, the Malibu has slightly higher horsepower, but gets slightly lower fuel economy.

Which is the better deal? Take a look at Michael Karesh's excellent comparison site, truedelta.com. I ran a comparison that suggests that the $1500 rebate offered on the Impala gives the old workhorse a slight edge, but the two are close enough that intangibles could, and probably should control any buyer's decision.