Following a redesign in 2008, the Chevrolet Malibu changes little for 2009. The Malibu still competes against a fearsome foursome of midsize cars, including the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, the Nissan Altima, and the Ford Fusion. But in its favor, the Malibu rolls into 2009 with a lot of momentum, thanks to a long list of awards and acclaim garnered in 2008. It was named the North American Car of the Year, for instance, and one of Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars for 2008. It also received J.D. Power's highest quality rating for a midsize car, and excelled in frontal and side-impact crash tests. What's more, critics and drivers gave it high marks overall.

Small wonder, then, that Chevy hasn't made many changes to the Malibu for '09. Expect to see wide availability of the Malibu Hybrid, introduced in '08 and powered by an Ecotec four-cylinder, 2.4-liter Hybrid engine with a four-speed automatic Hybrid transmission. You can also expect to see Chevy pushing the non-hybrid but still fuel-efficient Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which links to a four-speed automatic transmission. Available on both the LS and LT trims, the Ecotec four-cylinder manages 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway, which nears the Hybrid engine's 24 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway.

For those who prefer a bit more power, the top-of-the-line Malibu LTZ again comes with a 3.6-liter V6 that links to a six-speed automatic transmission. Naturally, fuel efficiency suffers just a bit, clocking in at 17 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.

The 2009 Malibu rides on the same platform as the Pontiac G6 and the new Saturn Aura, among other GM cars. Chevy has upgraded the platform to improve the Malibu's crash performance, and added insulation to make the Malibu quieter. According to drivers and reviewers, the Malibu rides and handles well, and features such as StabiliTrak with traction control and panic brake assist help ensure a safer driving experience.

The Malibu's interior swirls and curves around the driver and passengers. Features for the entry-level LS trim are sparse (remote keyless entry comes standard), but the LT2 trim adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a remote vehicle starter, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. Ultralux heated front bucket seats also come standard with the LT2.