Malibu rental - ugh...actually not!

So my truck is in the body shop on someone else's insurance dime. I don't need a truck for the next week or so, so I agreed to a sedan rental, as I have some traveling to do for work and figured I would save some fuel/$$. So I got what I figure is a 2016 Malibu. Maybe 2017 but it has 33,000 km on it so likely 2016. No difference for my purposes.

I was kind of dreading it, as I have not been in a recent Malibu. Well...they have come a bloody long way. It's a really nice car. Extremely solid feel, nice well damped suspension tuning, and the tiny little 1.5 turbo/6 spd auto is a really nice combo.

Cruises very quietly. Corners better than I figure it should. Lots of room. Drivers seat is very adjustable and very supportive/comfortable. Bluetooth audio sounds pretty nice. All in all, a very competent comfy commuter.

Sport sedan? No, but mildly entertaining? Yes. I think with a Trifecta tune, and some proper sporting tires, it might even be somewhat fun!

Downsides? The auto-shutoff is annoying, and I can't find a way to defeat it. I can't even really figure out how it decides when it is appropriate or not to shut down. I know there are several times I figured it should, but it didn't, and a few times (like a stop sign with the required full stop, then go - no waiting) that it shuts down and causes an annoying stumble when you try to get going again.

When left in auto mode, it upshifts at about 5300 rpm WOT, even though the tach indicates a 6500 rpm redline. I'm sure the Trifecta tune would take care of this though.

Overall - Well done GM. It's a truly decent family sedan that I would actually consider purchasing if it fit my long term needs, which it doesn't. I do need a truck more than occasionally...

I rented one in Los Angeles recently. I found that by slightly lifting my foot off the brake, but not enough to make to the car start rolling again, the engine would restart and stay running. Had to do this at each red light if I wanted the AC to keep me cool.

I enjoyed the the engine, handling, and ride, but I hated the transmission in that thing. Damn thing had a mind of its own, with a weird and inconsistent hesitancy between upshifts, like it might one day get around to it. Bad enough to turn me off wanting one to own.

in the Cruze you can defeat the auto shut off by shifting into low, then use the button to the shifter to upshift back up 6th. Now drive normally.

It's auto right, so how about one foot on the brake and one on the gas? I do this in the crown Vic at work, don't have to wait for the transmission to spin up at green lights.

It works well when the guy in the next lane over saw that "lane closed" sign ahead and just barreled passed the long string of cars (that signaled and merged in a courteous manner)... Expecting he could just cut the lead car off at the red light... (Yeah I have some road rage here and there )

I also hated that auto stop. I Googled and appearently there's no way to override it on a Malibu (2016). I found that shifting into neutral just before coming to a stop will defeat it.