Chevrolet Malibu’s Looks are Eye-Catching. Kudos for its competitive features and drivability.

The buzz from the enthusiast community is that the midsize Chevrolet Malibu is the driving equal of the popular Toyota Camry. The Malibu is equal to or better than an equivalently equipped Camry on most other levels, too, from fit and finish, to value, to performance.

When the latest Malibu was introduced, it won the 2008 North American Car of the Year award, and it has consistently made it into the top 20 best-seller list this year.

Critics praise the Malibu, which starts at $22,545 (MSRP) in four-cylinder LS trim. The four-cylinder Malibu LS is the best-selling model in the Malibu lineup and comes with a single drivetrain: A 2.4-liter twin-cam with variable valve timing (VVT) driving the front wheels through a transverse four-speed automatic transmission. You can move up to the Malibu LT model and get a six-speed automatic, which boosts fuel efficiency on the highway with an EPA rating of 30 mpg to 33 mpg.