2008 Motor Trend COTY

[Raghavan]

I think that if the other cars had the Malibu's color scheme, then they'd look equally appeasing IMO.

[Vinsanity]

The ride, quietness, space, fuel economy, and V6 acceleration are definitely bigger draws than interior quality. The latest Camry doesn't have an especially opulent interior.

The Camry I rented had the 4-cylinder, so I can't say if the V6 is any faster than an Altima 3.5, but the fuel efficiency kind of sucked for a 4-banger (23 mpg whereas I got 22 in the TL and 20 in the CTS)

And I also included space when I referred to the interior.

[ifcar]

The Camry I rented had the 4-cylinder, so I can't say if the V6 is any faster than an Altima 3.5, but the fuel efficiency kind of sucked for a 4-banger (23 mpg whereas I got 22 in the TL and 20 in the CTS)

And I also included space when I referred to the interior.

Other tests have shown the difference to be much larger. Maybe you just had a bad one? Or maybe you're used to more power, and were harder on it than most?

[ifcar]

I should have said near the top of the class.

I am just saying that in the past there have been many COTYs that haven't brought anything new to the table yet have still won the award, there is no reason that a conventional family sedan from GM couldn't be the next one to do so.

That's true. The Civic and Camry were poor choices.

But again, I just can't see MT naming the Malibu twice, particularly after what people think about the last one that they named. Once they make a regrettable choice, I imagine they try to avoid any other reference to it.

[Vinsanity]

Other tests have shown the difference to be much larger. Maybe you just had a bad one? Or maybe you're used to more power, and were harder on it than most?

I think I had a bad one

Though everyone else agrees with the latter
I guess that's what happens when you try to pull 250 hp worth of performance out of a 150 hp car

[CALL_911]

I think I had a bad one

Though everyone else agrees with the latter
I guess that's what happens when you try to pull 250 hp worth of performance out of a 150 hp car

Or 267 out of a 250

[Nebtek2002]

23 mpg in a 4-cylinder Camry? I can get 23 in my Aztek in 50/50 highway/city driving.

The 2006 Malibu I rented a while back had a 4-cylinder and got an actual 30.67mpg-- 273 miles on 8.9 gallons.
Iknow. I know. The EPA says I shouldn't have gotten that much, but I average 21 in town and 28 highway in a vehicle rated 19/26 under the EPA's old rules.

I'm not hot on sedans. All my years as minivan driver got me used to headroom. But if I had to have one, the 2006 Malibu wouldn't be a bad one to own.

[CALL_911]

Even my dad's gas-hungry BMW gets anywhere from 20-22. The Audi supposedly gets 27, from what my mom reports.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I got 70MPG in the Audi V8 coasting down a hill

[TheIntrepid]

I got 70MPG in the Audi V8 coasting down a hill

I've gotten 99 coasting down a hill in the Trep, because the EVIC maxes out at 99.

[Vinsanity]

I got 70MPG in the Audi V8 coasting down a hill

hehe the Caddy's real-time MPG display also maxes out at 70 mpg
I'm venturing a guess that it's equivalent to the metric 1.0L/100km measurement

FWIW, the 23 mpg in the Camry (as well as the 22 mpg in the TL and 20 mpg in the CTS) were done with 75% stop-and-go and 25% highway driving

[CALL_911]

Let me go see what the fuel economy computer reads in the BMW.

[TheIntrepid]

FWIW, the 23 mpg in the Camry (as well as the 22 mpg in the TL and 20 mpg in the CTS) were done with 75% stop-and-go and 25% highway driving

I get 19.8 avg on 100% city driving. My car doesn't see the highway on weekdays.

[CALL_911]

I get 19.8 avg on 100% city driving. My car doesn't see the highway on weekdays.

WTF? I thought you consistently hit 160+ on your commutes?

[Eye of the Tiger]

hehe the Caddy's real-time MPG display also maxes out at 70 mpg
I'm venturing a guess that it's equivalent to the metric 1.0L/100km measurement

FWIW, the 23 mpg in the Camry (as well as the 22 mpg in the TL and 20 mpg in the CTS) were done with 75% stop-and-go and 25% highway driving

Fortunately for me, the Audi's minimum is 5MPG when sitting at idle. The technology is simply amazing!

[CALL_911]

Fortunately for me, the Audi's minimum is 5MPG when sitting at idle. The technology is simply amazing!

Our Audi doesn't have one of those.

But in dad's car, the gauge just goes to the maximum position.

[TheIntrepid]

On the Trep or the Camry?

Trep.

WTF? I thought you consistently hit 160+ on your commutes?

I do, whenever I use the highway. Campus and back is never on the highway. I could probably hit the 403 for one exit, but it would be about 1.5km. No point getting on the highway for that. I use the highway exclusively during weekends because all the highways go east-west in Mississauga. My school is 12-14km directly south of my house. I use it VERY RARELY on weekdays to go out with friends and whatnot, but not recently.

[Vinsanity]

Fortunately for me, the Audi's minimum is 5MPG when sitting at idle. The technology is simply amazing!

Ah, you must have the Tornado Fuel Saver? installed, then

[Raghavan]

Fortunately for me, the Audi's minimum is 5MPG when sitting at idle. The technology is simply amazing!

So you still go 5 miles on a gallon of gas while still standing still?
AMAZING!

[cawimmer430]

CTS for sure.

[USA_Idol]

But the Malibu still doesn't hold a candle to any of its competitors.  It is so far behind everyone in interior quality, it's not even funny.  The interior quality is a joke.

I haven't been in the new Malibu, but I can't imagine it is that terrible.

[Champ]

What is the criteria for COTY?

The new XWD Saab is getting has a lot of potential to be very powerful.  It's too bad they aren't offering it sooner and in all the models (will be eventually but should have been from the 2008 launch).

[deesea]

Hmmmmmmmm....

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9821142-1.html

So it looks like the Caddilac CTS wins COTY.


"Don't say we didn't tell you so. The 2008 Cadillac CTS, which we awarded an Editors' Choice barely three weeks ago, has won Motor Trend's Car of the Year award for 2007. The redesigned Caddy beat out competition from the 2008 Audi TT, the Volvo C30, the Scion xD, and the new Honda Accord to take the laurels.

In the press release that brought us the news today (heaven forbid that subscribers of the magazine actually have to wait to get their January issue of the mag to find out) Motor Trend's editor made special mention of the CTS's interior, describing it "avant-garde and innovative without being difficult to operate." See what he means in our video and full review right here."

[Vinsanity]

ok so I just got back from the L.A. auto show, and here are a few impressions of the contenders in a nutshell:

Cadillac CTS: quite impressive interior...even if it drives exactly like my 04, it's definitely a winner. This was actually my favorite interior until I sat in the...

Audi TT: Audi and BMW interiors seem to look better in real life than in pics. Though I can see why MT says that the new TT has lost some of the original's charm, this is definitely a car I can see myself owning someday

Honda Accord: probably the reason it didn't win COTY was because the new gen didn't take enough risks. Honda basically built their version of the Impala, using a "mainstreamer" version of the TL's interior to complete the package. They'll sell as many as they can churn out, but nothing exciting. But you already knew that.

Chevy Malibu: this car has a really nice interior! But of course, the two that were on display were fully loaded models stickering for $28k. So for that money, you better get a nice interior...funny they didn't have any base models on display...hmm...

Mercedes C-class: pretty disappointing interior after sitting in Audis and BMWs. Heck, the IS350 and G35 had more lively interiors. But maybe this is because I sat in the S-class immediately before...

Volvo C30: test drove it last month. fun ride! plain but handsome high-quality interior.

Ford Taurus: test drove it last month. not so fun, but quite powerful. very spacious inoffensive interior.

Mini Cooper: it's taken me 5 years, but I finally fell in love with the car. Specifically, I fell in love with the Clubman's clever packaging and the metallic bronze exterior/chocolate leather interior combo. It feels so snazzy! I think this is the car that won my heart this year

[Raza]

Fortunately for me, the Audi's minimum is 5MPG when sitting at idle. The technology is simply amazing!

My display gives me 5mpg under full throttle, and a "---" at idle, on the instantaneous MPG meter.  I've gotten 140 something on a coast before.