Note: This is not a comprehensive review of the Malibu. Rather, a few observations I did not see noted in other reviews.

I am writing as a long-time Mazda Protege owner and fan who may not appreciate all the Malibu has to offer, because it is not the kind of car I would normally buy, but rather one I had to take as an emergency rental.

On the whole, it's a perfectly nice car, with a spacious interior for its class, and we have no trouble driving it. However, the sight lines are terrible -- too many obstructions from the frame and the head rests mostly, but also to some extent from the height of the trunk.

At intersections where checking traffic from the right in the Mazda involved just a quick turn of the head, in the Malibu, I have to lean far forward to get around the obstruction provided by the door frame and the passenger head rest. Backing up in a parking lot is a nightmare, as you have to keep flipping back and forth to get around the headrest and the rear frame.

When we test drive our new car, sight lines are going to be a top priority.

Also, why can you unlock the car ONLY from the driver's side? Extremely inconvenient in a family car.
Amount Paid (US$): rented
Model Year: 2004