The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu's competition is great rather than very good, and midsize sedan shoppers buy as much for brand prestige as they do safety, reliability, style, and value. It's not enough to simply stack up against the competition – the Malibu needs to drill a right hook upside the jaws of Honda, Nissan and Toyota, and then get the media and Malibu owners to overwhelmingly praise the car. A test drive, preferably not behind the wheel of a thrashed rental while on vacation, will determine whether this redesigned Chevy really does have "the goods to assert a leadership position in the segment."

Photos courtesy of General Motors