2001ChevroletMalibuChevrolet Malibu2001 Chevrolet Malibu BaseSedanSedanFWDOklahoma City, OKBase models receive black rocker moldings, black molded-in-color outside rearview mirrors and a rear window defogger. LS models get front seatback map pockets. Both models receive auto headlamp on/off, new stereos and new cloth interiors.Comfortable and roomy interior, speedy acceleration, contemporary styling, ultra-low price yet loaded with features.No traction control, soft suspension, refinement is exchanged for low car payments.Chevrolet is trying to claw its way back from mediocrity. Witness the excellent values to be found in the Blazer, Camaro and Cavalier. The Malibu is more of a good thing. In fact, this is one of the best family cars produced by any domestic automaker today. Consumer clinics determined much of the Malibu's design. What consumers have demanded is a tight, solid, roomy, fun-to-drive midsize sedan. Guess what? Chevrolet delivers, and delivers big with this car. The Malibu is all of these things and more, wrapped in unobtrusive yet attractive sheetmetal and sold at a price that undercuts similarly equipped imports and domestics. Two models are available. Both Malibus feature the torquey 3100, 3.1-liter V6 engine, making 170 horsepower and 190 foot-pounds of torque, while meeting low-emission vehicle (LEV) standards. Gears are shifted automatically, and standard equipment includes four-wheel antilock brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, battery rundown protection, theft deterrent system, tachometer, air-conditioning, rear-seat heat ducts, tilt steering wheel and remote trunk release. Step up to LS trim and you leave the showroom in a fully loaded car. The LS includes aluminum wheels, fog lights, remote keyless entry, power driver's seat, power windows and door locks, cruise control, uplevel stereo, and a trunk cargo net. This Chevy goes, slows and turns corners well enough to be entertaining, particularly with last year's boost in power. Interior design elements include a handy, left-handed cupholder (which is really too shallow for drinks and should be relegated to use as a change holder), backlighting for major controls and switches throughout the interior, and heating and air conditioning ducts located on the A-pillar to help direct air flow to rear-seat passengers. Also notable is the retro-style, dash-mounted ignition switch, because the driver doesn't have to crane his neck around to find the key slot. Malibu has safety concerns covered, too. Dual airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes and child-safe rear door locks are standard. According to Chevrolet, side-impact door beams exceed federal standards for protection, though federal side-impact crash tests indicate that occupants may actually be rather vulnerable in this car. Maintaining the Malibu has been made easy with platinum-tipped spark plugs that last up to 100,000 miles, engine coolant designed to last five years or 150,000 miles, and transmission fluid that never has to be changed or checked. Our list of gripes is short. The fake wood in the LS is unnecessary. We also want to find an integrated child safety seat on the options list in the future. And why can buyers get traction control on the Cavalier but not the Malibu? The list of improvements for 2001 doesn't address our concerns, though automatic on/off headlamps have been added and new cloth seats and door panels grace the interiors. Still, the Malibu impresses us. It's one of the few domestic models that can go toe-to-toe with the imports on comfort and features, while beating them on price. Nissan AltimaOldsmobile AleroPontiac Grand AmVolkswagen Jetta336,000336,000336,0006100,000NANANA63.1 litersV6170 hp @ 5200 rpm190 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm190.4 in.69.4 in.56.4 in.3051 lbs.107 in.39.4 in.37.6 in.55.5 in.55.3 in.52 in.52 in.41.9 in.38 in.17.1 cu.ft.StandardStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedAcceptableMarginal14.8 gal.20 mpg / 29 mpg296 mi. / 429 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$15,573$17,0207.35%$585N/A3% of the Total MSRPBASE (4A): 3.1L V6 OHV SMPI 12-valve engine; 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; 600 amp battery with run down protection; 105 amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 3.05 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering; front disc/rear drum brakes with 4-wheel antilock brakes; 14.8 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding rocker panel extensions; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen fully auto headlamps with daytime running lights; driver's and passenger's black folding outside mirrors, driver's manual remote outside mirror, passenger's manual outside mirror; 15" x 6" steel wheels; P215/60SR15 BSW touring A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo radio,clock, seek-scan feature, 4 speakers, fixed antenna; power door locks, child-safety rear door locks, power remote hatch/trunk release; 2 power accessory outlets, front lighter element(s), smoker's package; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, low washer fluid, door ajar; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows, manual front and rear windows; variable intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's and passenger's seat include 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat with fixed headrests; front height adjustable seatbelts; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering; interior lights include dome light with fade, illuminated entry;steering wheel with tilt adjustment; vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, locking glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, instrument panel bin, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; grille with chrome bar, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.
LS (4A) (in addition to or instead of BASE (4A) equipment): Body-colored front and rear mud flaps; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored folding outside mirrors; single-disc CD player, auto equalizer, theft deterrent; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry; ignition disable, panic alarm; power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; driver's seat includes 6-way power adjustment, 8-way adjustment; 60/40 folding rear bench seat with fixed headrests; premium cloth seats, carpeted floor mats; interior lights include front reading lights and passenger's side illuminated vanity mirror.