2007 Chevy Malibu SS There’s chips and salsa and then there’s chips, salsa and habanero sauce. If you are not familiar with the last item on this recipe, you should try the potent habanero sauce next time you go by a Latin store. It has a kick to it; or better, a kick, a punch and a few jabs.

By now you may be wondering how that relates with the ’07 Mailbu SS at all. Well, unlike the regular (and weakest) 2.2L four-cylinder Malibu available, this week’s test drive made me remember of the first time I tried habanero sauce. Considering that I don’t handle spicy food very well—now that I look back, it wasn’t a very wise decision—this is not the culinary section of this blog. As for the spiced up SS, I can take a 3.9L V-6 with variable valve timing rated at 240 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque any day.

According to Chevrolet, the SS models’ 3.9L V-6 is the first production variant of GM Powertrain’s sophisticated 60-degree V-6 OHV engine family, which is designed to deliver smoothness and quality while balancing strong performance and economy. The problem with the last statement hangs around the word economy. The Malibu SS didn’t prove to follow its EPA guide recommendation of 19 mpg for city. It stayed around 16.5 mpg. Sure I had to use up the spice available in its engine for that rocket-launch feel off the line—which is definitely not the most economical approach for in city driving—but let’s also keep in mind that Chevy Tahoe also hovers around 17 mpg for in city driving.

While Chevy has accomplished a “great job” rating with the SS powerplant, its interior still lacks refinement. Our test drive came equipped with leather seats, but a disappointing plastic-filled interior dash and components. As for the outside, the new front fascias incorporate the large and low grille opening, with a black crosshatch grille pattern with gold center Chevy bowtie emblem, projector beam fog lamps, and a prominent “chin” spoiler.