Entering the vehicle is usually no problem, but we were occasionally unhappy with the spring hinge in the driver's side door. When opening the door to put dry cleaning or a purse inside, the door tends to swing back in too far, leaving only a small opening for the driver to squeeze through. We were also annoyed by the jerky automatic left side mirror, which did not rotate properly when the car was cold. Once inside, the Malibu is all about ease. We liked the left-handed cupholders, nifty little map lights on the bottom of the rearview mirror, and the safety feature that automatically illuminates the inside of the car after turning off the ignition at night.
Few options are available.
Those that are include upgraded seating surfaces, stereos with CD players, and sunroofs. Now if only Chevrolet would add a traction control option, there would be nothing left to wish for. Negatives are limited to a squeak when opening and closing the left rear door, too much static on certain radio stations, a slight, intermittent creaking noise coming from the dash, imprecise steering, and a loose-feeling electronic driver's seat adjuster. We highly recommend taking a gander at the Malibu if you're in the market for an affordable family car. And before you dismiss it based on boring looks alone, remember what you learned in kindergarten.