First post, thinking about getting a ....

[Baggage Handler #2]

Question:
I know the Malibu/Aura hybrids get a bad rap because of their mildness, but if they'd marketed them as "XFE" models with auto-stop (TAS, isn't it?) would there still be the angst? I was reading up on them, and it sure looks like if driven carefully they ought to do much much better then the EPA numbers - 'specially with the '08 revision.

One of our cars is a 2.0L with a stick, rated at 20/30 city/hwy, and I find it very possible to see 10-20% better than rated with 4-up. I do note, however, that idle time is the killer in city traffic, which is why the mild system intrigues me - it actually seems like a reasonable level of tech.

So... Question, does anybody know what is actually possible with the Malibu or Aura mild hybrids? I'm not expecting Fusion or Prius numbers, but surely with a little effort, 40 ought to be possible at 55, and upper 20's in town. I'd be pretty satisfied with that.


Thanks.

[Unforgiven]

A while back I posted somewhere else about running into (the owner, not the car ) a Malibu Hybrid and talked with the driver a little. He showed me the gauges inside and ran thru the computer display. At 3/4 of a tank it was showing his average MPG of 46.x and an estimated range to empty of a touch over 600 miles.... this suggests to me that if driven carefully, that "mild" hybrid just might be a real winner.

... now if they could just do the new 6 speed auto with that hybrid instead of forcing things back into the old 4 speed...hmmmm