2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT Exterior & Interior

The Maxx's interior is awash in plastics of just-average quality, but they withstood our abuse well--except for a broken seatback. The leather/fake-suede seating surfaces are comfortable and grippy. Most everyone liked the simple radio and climate-control knobs and buttons, although resetting the trip odometer (done through the radio, of all places) was a hassle. One parental staffer gave the LATCH car seatbelt mounts double thumbs up for ease of use.

A few editors complained that the radio reception wasn't so good in mountainous areas, but the unit spent so much time set to XM that it mattered little. The staff was split on the glass roof panels: Some liked the airiness and light they brought to the cabin, others asked, "If they don't open, why bother?" Drop the rear seatbacks, and the Maxx offers up cargo room comparable with several sport/utility vehicles. Still, GM needs to invest in the interiors of its midlevel offerings if it has any hopes of making inroads with the best from Japan and Korea.

One area of vehicle ownership where boring is a good thing is service, and we're pleased to report our Malibu was a snoozer in this regard. It has an oil-life sensor system that monitors oil condition and advises when service is required. The Maxx visited the dealer at 7483 miles for an oil and filter change, tire rotation, and inspection for a slight pull to the left that had been present since delivery. The report was "torque steer." We didn't buy that, but the car tracked straight and true after the service, so perhaps the tire rotation cured this minor ill, too. The dealer also replaced a burned-out bulb. Cost in and out was $41.76. This service was required just once again, prior to our turn in at nearly 20,000 miles.

Other than that, we had no problems with this machine. Tire wear was good, too; the rubber was showing some age by the end of our long-term test, but probably had another few thousand safe miles left.

Make no mistake: This is a utilitarian piece. If you're about style and/or driving excitement, shop elsewhere. GM can't yet match the Japanese-brand titans in terms of materials quality or powertrain performance and refinement, but compensates, with some success, by offering more creature features and a slightly lower price. Although it's hardly an emotion stirrer, we did get a solid, reliable, useful experience out of our Maxx. If it suits their needs, most buyers will as well.