Those who might have criticized General Motors this past year for "not building cars that people want to buy" obviously never drove a Malibu. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generates an adequate 169 hp with good fuel economy (22 mpg city/33 mpg highway). Although the base Malibu has an inferior four-speed automatic transmission, a more pleasing six-speed gearbox is included in other models. A stronger but less-efficient (17 mpg city/26 mpg highway) 252-hp, 3.6-liter V6 is optional on LT and LTZ models. We found the Malibu's ride and handling characteristics to reside firmly in the middle of the road—it's not as sporty to us as the Mazda6, but it's neither as soft nor as imprecise as what we have found behind the wheel of the Toyota Camry. Stability control is standard. The five-passenger interior includes good attention to detail and quality materials.