First impression: The Malibu is a diminutive cousin of the upscale Buick LaCrosse and carries with it some of the amenities of the larger car. The dashboard curves around the front passengers, and an ambient light strip gives nighttime driving a touch of elegance.
Still, I wouldn't call the dashboard memorable. Though I spent only a short time with the car and am concentrating on other things, I had to go back to photographs on GM's website to jog my memory.
The speedometer and tachometer are clear and easy to read, and the infotainment interface is fairly easy to use.
On the street: We took the vehicle only a few blocks, but North 11th Street can tell you a lot about a car's suspension. The Malibu glided over the potholes and trolley tracks. Steering was still fairly responsive, in a large-sedan kind of way.
It also was extremely quiet, keeping the outside noises from intruding.
Seamless? I never noticed the engine in the Malibu shut off or restart. But a longer test I had in a Buick LaCrosse eAssist did not prove so smooth. It's not the tap-dancing elephant of GM's mid-'80s 8-6-4 cylinder shutdown, but neither is it entirely seamless.
Friends and stuff: The CD screen pops open to reveal a storage cubby perfect for ... CDs! A coin tray to the left of the steering wheel offers another small storage bin.
Legroom in the back is average for its class, and not as generous as the LaCrosse.
Fuel economy: EPA estimated 25 in the city and 37 on the highway.
2012 Buick Verano
Price: $23,470.
Arrival date: At dealers now.
What's special about it: Luxury nameplate Buick gets a smaller vehicle.
First impression: I expected a Chevrolet Cruze clone, but that is not what I experienced. About the only similarity was the speedometer and tachometer, which are actually well-done in the Cruze and worthy of any car.
Friends and stuff: Even small Buicks cloak their passengers in luxury. Dashboard stitching and comfortable seats add to the feeling of elegance.
On the street: The Verano still masked the holey 11th Street terrain, but felt more sporty, even more so than I recall the Cruze's handling.
Under the hood: The General's 2.4-liter DuraTec four-cylinder.
Fuel economy: 21 in the city and 32 on the highway.
In the end, given the proximity in price, I'd probably spring for the Malibu Eco. It's bigger and gets better mileage.
Driver's Seat:
Watch me test-drive the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco at www.philly.com/autoshow
Contact staff writer Scott Sturgis at ssturgis@phillynews.com or 215-854-2558.
