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Not Your Father’s Malibu - The 2002 Chevrolet Malibu Base

The 2002 Malibu is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sedan market segment. The Base 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 Toyota.

Engine Performance

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

Malibu Base Statistics

The dimensions of the Malibu Base are 69.40 inches wide by 190.40 inches long. It sits a comfortable 56.40 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 107.00 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $17,760 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $16,250. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sedan.

Fuel Efficiency

For the 2002 Malibu, the fuel delivery system is a electronic SFI, using gasoline for fuel. A fuel-injected MFI configuration. The gas tank holds 14.30 gallons.

The 2002 Malibu gets 29 miles/gallon on the highway and only 20 in the city. This is average for a sedan car.

In Summary

The 2001 model began the promise of the Chevrolet Malibu. The 2002 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Chevrolet hopes that the Malibu Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.