Moving forward: the redesigned Malibu scores among the best in its class. It's a bargain, too.(Family Sedans)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Benefiting from a major redesign for 2004, the Chevrolet Malibu has achieved a new high score in our Ratings for midsized American family sedans. It is now a competitive alternative to the top-rated cars in the family sedan class.

The Malibu not only easily outscored the other cars in this month's group, but, within the entire category of V6 family sedans that we have tested, it now ranks fifth behind the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima (see the Ratings chart on the opposite page). This is the first time in recent years that we have seen a relatively inexpensive, domestic V6 model score as well as some of the high-rated import-nameplate cars.

Adding to the Malibu's appeal is its $22,420 price, which is thousands below the higher scoring models when similarly equipped.

Import cars have dominated this segment for years. In our 2003 Ratings, the highest-rated domestic V6 family sedan was the previous version of the Malibu, which ranked ninth and was rated as good. The new version is rated as very good.

The redesigned Malibu is based on the same platform as the very good Saab 9-3. One of its high points is the 200-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine, which makes the car both quick and--at 26 mpg overall--the most fuel efficient V6 we've tested. A hatchback version, called the Malibu Maxx, is due out in early 2004. Because we have no reliability data on the new version, however, we cannot recommend the Malibu. (See CR Quick on the opposite page for our other criteria for recommending models.)

The Kia Optima, Ford Taurus, and Chevrolet Impala also scored well in our tests. But they don't match the Malibu's combination of performance, comfort, quietness, and fuel economy. Introduced for 200i, the Optima is similar to the Hyundai Sonata, its corporate cousin. The aging Taurus was last redesigned in 1996 and was freshened in 2000. It is expected to retain its basic design for several more years, The Impala, which has changed little since its 2000 introduction, is a larger, more-expensive (but not better) brandmate of the Malibu.

Despite its partial redesign for 2004, the Pontiac Grand Prix is a mediocre car. It not only scored the lowest in this group, but is also at the bottom of our Ratings for the V6 family-sedan category.