CHEVY MALIBU DEBUTS NEAR HEAD OF ITS CLASS : TEST DRIVE.

Byline: Terry Jackson The Miami Herald

After enduring years of being something of a doormat in terms of car sales, particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chevrolet is rolling out gem after gem.

So far this year, the Cavalier is nipping at the heels of Ford's Taurus, Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord in the sales race; the Corvette has vaulted to the head of the elite sports car field; and the Venture is winning over people who would have otherwise gone to Chrysler for their mini-vans.

But the best new Chevrolet is one that only now is starting to appear in great numbers in dealer showrooms: the Malibu.

In terms of price, features and design, the Malibu may well be the most significant new Chevrolet of the decade.

It embodies the image that the company has been trying to create with its ``Genuine Chevrolet'' ad campaign: affordable, well-engineered cars that offer a laundry list of features.

Classified as a midsize car, the Malibu - it revives a name not seen on a Chevy since 1982 - has the look and feel of a larger sedan. One unexpected impact of the Malibu may be that it will draw sales from Chevy's full-size Lumina.

The four-door Malibu has an almost Japanese look, from its rounded fenders to the front grille, that should go over well with most buyers in this category. It's less stylish than the Ford Contour, but more distinctive than a Honda Accord.

A front-wheel-drive sedan, it's powered by either a 2.4-liter twin-cam four that produces 150 horsepower or a 3.1-liter V-6 that's rated at 155 horsepower but provides significantly more torque than the four.

A floor-mounted four-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox that's available.

Four-wheel independent suspension gives the Malibu a smooth ride, and the design of the front frame member, combined with power rack-and-pinion steering, imparts a good road feel. There is body roll in tight turns that could be better handled with a slightly stiffer suspension, but most drivers will find the Malibu's handling to be quite capable.

Where the Malibu excels is in its long list of features, at a bargain starting price of less than $16,000.

Air conditioning, power steering, power anti-lock brakes, a tilt steering wheel and dual front air bags are standard on the base Malibu Sedan. Move up to the Malibu LS (base price $18,190), and these features are added: the 3.1-liter V-6, power door locks and power windows, remote keyless entry system and upgraded cloth bucket seats.

Aside from these major items, the Malibu has a lot of small, thoughtful design features.

For instance, it makes a concession to lefties by mounting a cup holder on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.

For rear-seat passengers, Chevrolet has provided floor ducts that direct ventilation to the back. In the front, two large air-conditioning vents have been set into the windshield pillars, increasing the effectiveness of the system, especially in the Florida heat.

Chevrolet has managed to put all these pieces together in a unit that feels tight and, on an early production model, had nearly flawless fit and finish.

The instrument panel features big white-on-black gauges; running the width of the dashboard is a strip of fake walnut that, while not quite like the real thing, manages to add a touch of warmth and class.

So far, dealers have been clamoring to put Malibus on their lots, sending in initial orders for more than 50,000 cars. Delivery has been slowed somewhat by painstaking efforts to make sure the assembly line is running smoothly.

Buyer demand should also be strong, helped by Malibu winning Motor Trend magazine's coveted Car of the Year award. Although that award sometimes misses the mark - it went to the horrible Plymouth Volare one year - the raves from Motor Trend's editors seem right on.

Ordered in base trim, with the four-cylinder engine, the Malibu is a great value that is difficult to top. And for those who want the extras of the V-6 LS model, the new Chevy is a worthy competitor to the sales-leading Ford Taurus.

All in all, the Malibu should serve as a warning to Ford, Toyota and Honda that Chevrolet, once the top dog in the U.S. market, is back.

CHEVY MALIBU

Base list price: $18,190.

Price as tested: $18,551.

Major options: AM/FM stereo with cassette player, $200.

Engine: 3.1-liter V-6.

Horsepower: 155.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic.

Weight: 3,100 pounds.

0-to-60 mph: 9 seconds.

Mileage: 20-29 mpg.

Safety: Dual air bags, Competition: Ford Contour, Toyota Camry, Dodge Stratus, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord.

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Box: CHEVY MALIBU (See text)