Chevrolet Malibu LT

Third Place: Chevrolet Malibu LT
From the outside, the new Malibu has all the style and panache of Bob Vila. And at the track, it posted numbers near or at the back of the group in almost every test. Yet Chevy's new midsizer is a likeable machine, a roomy, well-crafted four-door loaded with satisfying features. Best of all, it wears a sticker price that screams "value" like an all-you-can-eat buffet at the International House of Filet Mignon.

The body's shape drew mixed reviews. "Homely," notes one logbook entry. "I thought it was ho-hum at first," writes another, "but the more I look at it the more I like it." It's fair to say the Malibu has a clean, unfussy chunkiness to its lines, but this probably wouldn't be your top choice for a first date with Tyra Banks.

The cabin is considerably more dapper. There's a bit of the same "sea of gray" malaise that affects the Camry, but the Malibu offsets it with interesting shapes and bright metallic-look accents. It's easy to get comfortable at the helm, thanks to a six-way power driver's seat (which we wish included a power backrest control), pedals that glide fore and aft at the touch of a button, and a steering wheel that's infinitely adjustable for both tilt and telescope (hats off to Chevy for incorporating this long-overdue feature). Despite having the group's shortest wheelbase and being the shortest in overall length, the Malibu tops the field in rear-seat legroom and boasts the second-largest trunk. The Malibu's LATCH child-safety-seat anchors are well-positioned, making them by far the easiest in the group to use.

The 3.5-liter V-6, rated at 200 horsepower, can sound a bit thrashy at high rpm and it won't pin you to your seat (0 to 60 mph takes a group-high 7.6 seconds). Yet peak torque (220 pound-feet) is available at a low 3200 rpm, so the Malibu feels gutsy in urban cut-and-thrust driving. Fuel economy (23/32 mpg, city/highway) leads the group. The standard four-speed automatic shifts crisply and also is equipped with a manumatic feature that, instead of a clunky shift gate, uses a small button mounted under your thumb on the gear lever to summon quick upshifts and downshifts. Slick.

The Malibu's all-independent suspension filters out road imperfections nearly as well as the Camry's, and the rigid platform is free of vibrations and rattles. The doors close with a "thunk" every bit as solid as those of the Japanese brands. The electronically boosted steering earned generally good marks on the road, but test-driver Chris Walton reports that it felt strangely disconnected while circling the skidpad at maximum g. Later, Walton felt strangely connected when, as he hurled the Malibu through the slalom cones, the car's optional OnStar system activated and a voice came on the speakers asking, "Have you just been in an accident?"

"I'm fine," replied Walton. "Just track-testing one of your cars. In fact, I'm about to make another run." Sure enough, as he swung the Malibu through the cones for a second pass, another OnStar operator called in concern. It's reassuring to know the OnStar system is so protective, but the Malibu probably isn't the car you'd want to use for a remake of "Ronin."

The Malibu trumps the field in value. Base price (with destination) for the top-line LT model is just $23,495. That figure includes all the standard equipment mentioned in our overview, plus heated leather seats, aluminum wheels, heated power mirrors, side-curtain airbags, and an innovative remote-control starter that allows you to preheat (or precool) the Malibu's cabin by firing up the engine from as far as 200 feet away. Our test car also carried the optional XM Satellite Radio ($325), which is neatly integrated into the standard audio system.

After years of producing also-rans, Chevrolet has turned out a family sedan that's competitive with the best in its segment. Families especially mindful of the bottom line need look no further.

"The Malibu's sticker price screams "value" like an all-you-can-eat buffet at the International House of Filet Mignon."

The Malibu's spare design and sensible demeanor won't arouse much passion, but a generous standard- features list and low price make it a smart buy.