2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS Review

Brian Chee’s Advice about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS:
If you like the Chevy Malibu Maxx, skip the LTZ trim and buy the SS model. For about the same amount of money, you’ll get the Malibu Maxx’s utility with a spunky 240-horsepower V6 engine, nice leather sport seats and even a rear spoiler. Whoo-hoo! Just ignore the four-speed automatic transmission, the fact that there’s no manual transmission, the not-quite-ready-for-SS performance level, the poor fuel economy, the bad plastics, and the lousy quality of construction. Ignore the fact that you can buy a 2006 Mazda MazdaSpeed 6 for about $3,000 more, or a Subaru WRX for more than a thousand less, or the fact that General Motors is basically slapping an SS badge on anything that moves. Ignorance is, after all, bliss – with two S’s and a cool looking spoiler.

Yukon Chow’s Advice about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS:
If you’re in the market for a stylish, roomy, semi-sporty and responsive car with the added utility of a wagon, the Malibu Maxx SS might be able to squeak itself in along with a broad swath of similarly packaged cars. On paper, it’ll run with the likes of a Dodge Magnum, Chrysler PT Cruiser, or other traditional wagons and new offerings that defy segment names. Reserve your impressions until after a test drive though, because you should never judge a book by its cover alone.

Ron Perry’s Advice about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS:
If you’re a die-hard buy-American car shopper and you’re looking in this price range, consider the Malibu Maxx. But do get the SS version and not the standard model. The small amount of additional cost is worth it. I wouldn’t, however, put the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS at the top of my “best buy” list.

Christian Wardlaw’s Advice about the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS:
I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much I like the Malibu Maxx SS. In terms of functionality, comfort, user-friendliness, and daily-drivability, I have no qualms recommending this car. Even the styling, with the enhancements of the SS package, is palatable. And the price, especially figuring the usual rebates and dealer discounts, makes this car a worthy consideration. But I’d still choose the Malibu SS sedan over the oddly-proportioned Maxx for my own personal set of wheels, and only if I could get out the door for less than $21,000. I do, after all, need to justify my purchase to my neighbors, who will judge my intelligence on the wisdom of my automotive purchase whether I like it or not.