Holden Malibu Diesel 2013: Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $32,490
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Prestige Paint $550
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.4
CO2 emissions (g/km): 170
Also consider: Ford Mondeo (from $31,490); Honda Accord (from $30,340); Hyundai i40 (from $29,990); Mazda Mazda6 (from $33,460); Toyota Camry (from $30,490)

It’s fair to say mid-sized sedans aren’t the most popular choice among Australian car buyers, accounting for around one in every 16 vehicles sold Down Under.

Despite this, the sub-$60,000 medium sedan segment is one of the most competitive, with more than 20 options to choose from, though Toyota’s four-cylinder Camry accounts for almost half of all sales.

Adding to the clutter was the recent arrival of Holden’s front-wheel-drive Malibu, which fills the gap left by the departure a couple of years ago of the Korean-sourced Epica.

Like its predecessor, Holden’s latest mid-sizer has been sourced overseas from the General Motors’ ‘car pool’, badged in the US as the Chevrolet Malibu.

However, the Malibu sold here is a slightly different beast, benefitting from local suspension tuning and Commodore-style frontal styling to make it a better proposition for Australian buyers.

Like other ‘Chevrolet/Daewoo’ Holdens, it also entices with keen pricing. Starting at $28,490, the Malibu is one of the most affordable medium sedans on the market. It’s also among the best value, with the entry-level, diesel Malibu CD tested here, at $32,490, fitted with climate control, reversing camera and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry/starting among other goodies.

While another $3500 will afford you the top-spec CDX version, with its bigger 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, and leather trim, those on tight budgets shouldn’t feel hard done by. Our test car featured good-looking cloth and vinyl upholstery, backed up by other styling highlights such as Camaro-inspired instrument shrouds (to go with exterior tail-lights also stolen from the GM muscle coupe) and blue, ambient strip lighting to accentuate the curved dash at night.

Perhaps the best interior feature, though, is Holden’s excellent MyLink multimedia touchscreen system, as found in the more expensive VF-series Commodore range.

In this price bracket, it’s one of the best, most user-friendly systems on the market, with an easy to navigate menu and all the features you need plus some you didn’t think you did, like internet-based radio and music apps Stitcher and Pandora that runs via Bluetooth off your smart phone.

Aimed at the family buyer, the Malibu does a decent job of swallowing people and their things, with a good-sized boot and numerous storage nooks in the cabin, though most are tiny. One of the best spots is behind the infotainment screen, which folds up at the push of a button to reveal a sizable cubby hole.

However, a couple of ergonomic issues took away the sheen. For example, while the sweeping dash adds some interior pizzazz, the curved glovebox does cut into valuable knee room for taller passengers.

While not quite Commodore size, rear passenger space should suffice for families with teenage children, with adequate head and legroom for outboard passengers. However, the middle rear seat like on many cars is hard and elevated, and best utilized for its fold-down arm rest.

The Malibu’s diesel engine isn’t the most refined or quietest, but in tandem with the six-speed auto gets the 1653kg sedan hustling along nicely in traffic or on the freeway.

The 2.0-litre oiler develops similar power (117kW) as the 2.4-litre petrol option but substantially more torque (350Nm), which makes it a more relaxed performer when accelerating and overtaking. Revs are mostly contained below 2000rpm, which also helps keep the constant diesel ‘thrum’ to a minimum.

However, I found the transmission’s ‘Manual’ mode option, with its shift buttons on top of the gear knob, fiddly and awkward to use.

The Malibu also falls behind the latest Commodore in on-road dynamics. It grips well but tends to lean and wallow in corners, and lacks the Aussie built sedan’s body control and responsiveness.

Those who don’t like braking for speed humps will appreciate the Malibu’s softly sprung suspension, however. Like an SUV with less ground clearance, the Malibu effortlessly soaks up big bumps in its stride. The smaller 17-inch wheels fitted to the Malibu CD, with higher profile 225/55 tyres, also help cushion the ride.

The brake pedal felt a bit mushy, requiring a firm stomp during emergency braking. And the hydraulic assisted steering on the diesel Malibu is not the sharpest in the segment either, so if you’re looking to carve up the corners, the sportier Ford Mondeo or Mazda Mazda6 might be more to taste.

Over a week of driving, which included plenty of freeway kilometres, the diesel Malibu recorded 7.5L/100km on the trip computer; slightly higher than the official figure. That’s still a lot better than recorded in a petrol Malibu at launch, so combined with its relaxed performance, the oiler remains the pick of the bunch.

Fitted with six airbags, the Malibu also ticks the box with its five-star ANCAP safety rating.

It may not be a game changer, but as an overall package the Malibu adds up. Holden sedan fans may still opt for the roomier and more refined Commodore, but with the cheapest Commodore costing $6500 more than the cheapest Malibu, for price conscious buyers the marginally smaller sedan makes a lot of sense.

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