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Coming from Baltimore, I can relate to the Chevy Malibu. The Malibu started out as the top-of-the-line model in the old Chevelle series, and Baltimore was Chevelle Central. For years, GM's huge Broening Highway plant built most of the Chevelles for the entire country, and this was back when the Chevelle was one of the most popular Chevy lines of all time. (Today, GM's full-size vans are built there.)

The modern Malibu and its Malibu Maxx stable-mate are the first North American applications of General Motors' Epsilon global platform. Epsilon also provides the foundation for the new Saab 9-3 and Opel Vectra, and it was developed by GM's Opel subsidiary in Germany. The new 2004 Malibu is manufactured at GM's Kansas City, Kansas, assembly plant.

This is the Great American Family Sedan for the 21st Century, and the keynote is versatility. Almost everybody can find a perfect fit in the 2004 Malibu's driver's seat while getting an overall package that adapts to needs that may change from day to day.

With a 60/40 split/folding rear seat and a fold-flat front passenger seat, the Malibu can be a cavernous cargo carrier by day and a refined, comfortable people-hauler by night, or the other way around.

Every Malibu sedan features standard and optional equipment allowing drivers to customize the ergonomics for personal preference. A power driver's seat height adjuster, tilt/telescoping steering column, power windows, door locks and mirrors are standard on all Malibus. Power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals and manual lumbar support are standard on the Malibu LS and LT and available on the base Malibu sedan. Many of these features cannot be found in other cars in the Malibu's class. The Malibu sedan is also the first car in its class to offer an optional factory-installed remote vehicle starter system, allowing the driver to get a head start on the car's interior heating and cooling from a range of about 200 feet.

The versatility theme extends to engine compartment. The base model delivers 145 horsepower from its Ecotec 2.2-liter, dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine. The Malibu LS and LT models get a 200-hp, 3.5-liter overhead-valve V6. All Malibus come with the Hydra-Matic 4T45-E four-speed electronic automatic transmission.

The new Malibu is spacious and quiet, with 101 cubic feet of space for passengers. In addition to the vibration-reducing properties of the Epsilon architecture itself, the car features a host of noise-elimination features, including a cast foam-rubber barrier covering the dash panel; a modular noise-dampening plate in the dash panel; a compression-molded fiberglass-composite hood insulator; and front and rear "glove-fit" carpet floor modules.

The Epsilon body structure gives the Malibu a high degree of structural stiffness, greatly enhancing both vehicle handling and interior acoustics. A fully isolated powertrain cradle with tuned bushings further contributes to the Malibu's quiet ride. Rounding out the package is an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and a four-link independent rear suspension.

GM describes the styling as featuring "crisp, clean lines that highlight a space-efficient and aerodynamic exterior." Styling is always a personal thing. The Malibu's design didn't set my heart racing but I wasn't put off by it, either.

Sound systems have become very important in this market and the new Malibu and four levels of radios are available, starting with the base model with AM/FM stereo and CD player up to an uplevel radio with an in-dash, six-CD changer, six speakers, automatic volume and tone controls, and XM Satellite Radio compatibility. XM Satellite Radio provides 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month.

All Malibu models are equipped with electric power steering (EPS) with variable assist for low- and high-speed steering maneuvers and power brakes. Other standard features include a driver information center integrated into the radio display that enables personalization of electrical features and provides more than 15 warning messages including low key-fob battery life, the possibility of ice forming on the road and an oil life monitor. Options include heated front seats and OnStar.

We tested the LS sedan that carries a base price of $20,370, plus a destination charge of $625, which, truth to tell, isn't very much for a car these days. Of course, two thousand dollars in options had been loaded onto that, but half of this consisted of XM Satellite Radio ($325) and OnStar ($695). Especially if you do much traveling, OnStar can be a lifesaver. I was a skeptic at first, but have come around after seeing it in operation with a series of GM vehicles over the years. XM Radio, on the other hand, strikes me as a frivolous expenditure. (Who listens to that much radio?)

The Malibu is a solid car and a solid value for the money. If it isn't exciting, it still does just about everything well and that's saying a lot. Recommended for anyone seeking a versatile, mid-size family sedan. R&D