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The Chevrolet Malibu LS for 1998: Improving on 1997

The 1998 Malibu is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sedan market segment. The LS is a member of a series of two trim levels for the Malibu which include LS and Base. The four-door car with its front-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Chevrolet. There is strong competition from vehicles from Infiniti.

Performance

The Malibu LS is equipped with a General Motors 3.1 liter six-cylinder engine that utilizes 12 valves. The Chevrolet engine is mated to a General Motors 4-speed Transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.

The fuel system for the 1998 Malibu is a traditional SFI, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 15.00 gallons.

Steering control is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Malibu has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. The car uses coil front springs and coil in the rear.

Malibu LS Statistics

The Malibu is 190.40 inches long, 69.40 inches wide, and 56.40 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 107.00 inches. It is able to seat 5 comfortably.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $15,670 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $14,338. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sedan.

A powertrain warranty is provided (50,000* miles/36* months), and a 50,000* mile, 60* month guarantee also comes with the Chevrolet Malibu.

Fuel Efficiency

The Malibu LS received a miles-per-gallon rating of 20 - 23 in-city driving and 29 - 32 when it came to long-distance. Being a gas-powered non-green car, this was subpar.

Conclusion

The 1998 model year was unsuccessful for the Chevrolet Malibu. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the LS version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..