Malibu Hybrid drives on the green side

Performance today is as much about the distance between fill-ups as it is 0-60 acceleration.

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid does a good job balancing power and economy.

This mild hybrid has EPA fuel mile-age ratings of 24 mpg city and 32 high-way, on 87 octane. In a recent weeklong test, I was getting combined city/highway mileage of 24.3 to 24.6, and a long drive on the highway boosted the average to 26.2 mpg and would have gone higher had my trip been longer.

And while that's good, the 2009 model will do better. Fuel economy goes up 2 mpg in city and highway because of improved control of the battery charge and discharge system and new low-rolling-resistance tires.

Malibu Hybrid had a slow start this year because of a lack of batteries. And then there was a $1,105 price increase at the end of May. The supply of 2008 models is still lean, but the good news is that the '09 model went into production June 23 and cars will be heading to deal-ers in four to six weeks.

The bad news is that the 2009 Malibu Hybrid will have an $800 price increase, pushing the starting price to $25,345. Also new for '09 will be standard 17-inch ultra-bright aluminum wheels and touring tires (up from 16-inch tires on the '08) and five exterior colors.

Malibu is a midsize sedan, but mileage ratings of 32 mpg and higher are usually for subcompacts, such as the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris. The compact Toyota Corolla is rated 27/32 mpg. Even the nonhybrid Malibu LTZ with four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmis-sion is thrifty, with ratings of 22/32.It takes dedication to get maximum fuel economy. I used the cruise control on the interstate set to 1 mile per hour below the legal limit. I was light on the accelerator and tried to anticipate my need for power so I was consistent in applying brakes and power.

The mild hybrid, or one-mode hybrid, is less expensive and less complex than a two-mode system, such as that used by Toyota. This General Motors system does not have a big battery pack that allows driving on battery power alone. But its smaller battery pack and electric motor assist acceleration, the engine shuts off at stops and regenerative braking helps re-charge the battery.

The Malibu Hybrid has a little less horsepower than the standard four-cylinder Malibu, but the trade-off will be worth it to most users. Performance is tuned to maximize fuel economy, but the harder you press the pedal, the quicker the acceleration - and the use of fuel. Its curb weight of 3,537 is just 1 pound more than the nonhybrid Malibu LT.

Low-rolling-resistance tires add to the economy, and a special gauge cluster gives feedback about how efficiently the driver is saving fuel. A charging meter and an Eco light let drivers know when they are in the sweet spot of operation.

The 2008's new price of $23,895, including the $650 freight charge, in-cludes midlevel features, such as remote locking, automatic air conditioning, power mirrors and windows, 16-inch al-loy wheels and touring tires. There are four factory options, which include a sun-roof for $800 and Black Granite paint for $95.But all makers have raised prices lately, and with the cost of oil still unset-tled, it's certain there will be another price "adjustment."

Safety features include head curtain side-impact air bags and four-wheel-disc brakes with stability and traction controls.

The advanced nickel metal hydride battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty. And the power train is covered for five years or 100,000 miles.

Malibu is a right-size package for a midsize four-door. There is good back-seat room and adequate trunk space. The car is attractive, comfortable and easy to drive. Chevrolet will phase in its new six-speed automatic over the next several years. And while that could extend mile-age by an additional 2 mpg, there's noth-ing wrong with the four-speed except that it seems dated in a $24,000 hybrid.

These one-mode hybrid vehicles by General Motors should be a good long-term purchase. They don't have the so-phisticated electronics of a two-mode hybrid. And the concern for electronic glitches or battery replacement after eight years should be less, too.

Environmentalists are less impressed with mild hybrids because they aren't doing all they could to reduce emissions. The EPA's Green Vehicle Guide (epa.gov/greenvehicle) gives the Malibu a score of six out of 10 for air pollution and eight for greenhouse-gas emissions. The standard Malibu four-cylinder is rated 6/7, which still earns it the EPA Smart-Way recommendation. But the two-mode Toyota Camry Hybrid scores a 9.5 for air pollution and 9 for greenhouse gas.

Maybe the mild hybrid can't be waved about as a flag of green, but it is a good balance for consumers seeking fuel econ-omy who like the bonus of doing some-thing positive for the environment.

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