The EFTM Garage – Holden Malibu CDX

This week in the EFTM Garage we’ve got the new nameplate in the Holden family.  The Malibu.  Originally we thought this was the “new Epica” but after a short drive it’s clear to us that it’s far from it – in fact this is a great car.  Full review soon!

Make: Holden

Model: Malibu

Variant: CDX , 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder common rail turbo diesel engine, 6-speed automatic with Active Select as standard.

Standard Features: Electric Park Brake, 18” Alloy wheels, Front fog lights, Led brake tail lamps, Bluetooth with streaming, USB port with iPod compatibility, dusk sensing headlamps, rain sensing wipers, leather wrapped steering wheel, leather wrapped gear shifter, leather appointed seat trim, 8-way power adjusted seats, heated front seats, MyLink infotainment system with 7 inch colour touch-screen, premium 9-speaker system, dual zone electronic climate control, keyless entry with smart start.

Price: $35,990

Wow Factor: Impressive fuel economy, possible 1000km range. We are averaging 6.3L/100km better than claimed 6.4L.

Most Impressive: Great looking car from all angles, plenty of space. Only marginally smaller than VF Commodore, with a bigger boot!

Not so impressive: Dull diesel engine (117Kw/350 Nm), steering a little too light. Interior not a match for VF. Back seat would be cramped for taller passengers. Manual mode shift button is on top of the gear shifter.