The midsize car segment offers the best balance of interior space, versatility and efficiency with moderately reasonable sticker prices. Each year this segment gets better as automakers improve their models and add even more standard equipment.
This buyer’s guide is a compiled list of the top-performing midsize cars from J.D. Power and Associates three key automotive studies. The studies include the 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and the 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS). In addition, we have also noted any models in the guide that have earned “5-star” crash test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), or have been chosen as “Top Safety Picks” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). All models are listed alphabetically by manufacturer.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu traces its lineage back to the 1960s, but it hasn’t been in production continuously since then. The current Malibu was all-new for 2008. The front-wheel-drive sedan seats 5 and offers a choice of 4- or 6-cylinder power and a hybrid powertrain option. With the standard 4-cylinder 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission, the Malibu earned EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway (26 mpg city/34 mpg highway for the hybrid). In our 2008 Initial Quality Study, measuring owner-reported problems during the first 90 days of ownership, the Chevrolet Malibu ranked highest in its segment. In addition, the Malibu ranked among the top three models in its segment in our 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, which measures owner delight with the performance and design of their new vehicles. In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing, the midsize Malibu earned 5 stars in frontal crash tests. For the 2009 model year, the Malibu receives a new 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
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Other 2009 Midsize Car models:
