Chevrolet aims to take on the dominant Japanese with the all-new 2013 Malibu.

With a slew of new models heading for the showrooms, the midsize passenger car segment has turned into the auto industry’s most fiercely contested battlegroud. Nobody’s knocked off the Camry yet but gone are the days when all Toyota – or rival Honda — had to do to win the contest for customers was show up with something new every few years.

Once dominant in the midsize market, General Motors has spent years several decades trying to crack the code without really scoring. But after driving the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu with a 2-liter turbocharged engine, capable of producing 259 horsepower and 260 foot pounds of torque, it’s pretty clear GM’s persistence is finally paying dividends.

For those who might be confused about Chevrolet’s strategy, the GM brand introduced an “Eco” version of the completely redesigned Malibu at the beginning of the year, adapting the eAssist mild hybrid technology first used on the Buick line, as well as aerodynamic tricks such as active grille shutters, to maximize mileage. As we get into the more traditional new model-year, Chevy is rolling out the rest of the Malibu line-up.

The 2013 Malibu Eco made an early debut and introduced Chevy's first version of the hybrid eAssist.

The turbocharged Chevy Malibu I drove was quick and responsive and handled nicely out on the highway. The engine itself is so refined the notion of dreaded turbo lag was never an issue. Nor was noise an issue as GM’s engineers and designers have found ways of neutralizing the buzzing sound common in small engines without resorting to the noise cancellation technology found on some competitors, such the new 2013 Fusion.

Instead the Malibu created a distinct impression you were driving a competent, quiet, nicely equipped car with plenty of power that was actually fun to drive and offered a solid level of comfort that will be welcome by weary commuters trapped on the nation’s freeways.

Like the earlier Eco, the rest of the Malibu line-up shows lots of attention to detail and underscores Chevy’s effort to surprise-and-delight the customer.  One example is the pop-up infotainment screen that conceals a readily accessible storage compartment where you can hide valuables, such as your smartphone.

The 2013 Malibu features such niceties as this hidden storage compartment.

Chevy has meanwhile widened the new Malibu by nearly 3 inches, yielding a lot more hip and shoulder space – though the new model loses a wee bit of legroom.

The same drive to get it right can be seen in the basic Malibu mechanicals. The new sedan features four-wheel-independent suspension system, hydraulic ride bushings, premium electric steering gear that combined to enhance the ride and handling and certainly separates the new Malibu from previous generations of midsize GM sedans.

Chevy claims the Malibu’s body structure is as stiff as any in the midsize segment — which enhances the performance of the front and rear suspensions, while an isolated engine cradle reduces noise transmission to the cabin.

The Chevrolet people claim the Malibu turbo can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155 mph. The one place where the Malibu could be criticized is on fuel economy since competitors such as Nissan are offering midsize models that are capable of delivering mileage numbers in the high 30s.

The overall interior of the new Malibu is larger and wider, though rear headroom is a bit compromised.

The Malibu turbo has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 city and 30 mpg highway, which is respectable, but the game is changing fast. But for those that want better mileage, that’s where the Malibu Eco comes in.  The downside with that model is the roughly $1,000 premium you’ll pay for the eAssist-equipped model over the base Malibu.

That new 2.5-liter inline-four is, incidentally, the reason for the delay in the launch of the full Malibu line-up.  But this new powertrain was worth the wait, especially compared to the old 2.4-liter workhorse that served the previous-generation Chevy sedan. The new direct-injection I-4 makes 197 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque.  At 22 city and 34 highway, it doesn’t quite match the Malibu Eco’s mileage but it’s within a nudge of the midsize segment average.

You may notice, by the way, that Chevy has gone with an all-four-cylinder line-up with the 2013 Malibu, a strategy first seen at Hyundai and now proliferating through the midsize segment.  But the new Chevy Malibu Turbo shows that for those who want more performance, you may not need a six.

The top-line Chevy Malibu LTZ adds features such as these LED taillights.

The 2-liter turbo charged engine is something of a work of art and underscores how much effort GM and other carmakers are putting into the segment to win over customers. It comes with the twin-scroll turbocharger that was designed to eliminates turbo lag and generates maximum boost, an air-to-air intercooler that reduces the pressurized air charge’s temperature for optimal performance, an aluminum cylinder head cast using the Rotocast process – similar to the heads in the Corvette ZR1 – for greater strength and improved airflow and aluminum pistons with jet spray cooling, which enhances performance and longevity and specially tuned exhaust for reduced backpressure and improved sound quality.

Standard equipment on turbo LT models includes 18-inch aluminum wheels, the Chevy MyLink infotainment system with a seven-inch color touch-screen radio, Bluetooth, and a USB port, dual-zone automatic climate control as well as features once found on more expensive cars such as remote start and an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar.

The 2013 Malibu goes with an all four-cylinder line-up delivering good, though not best-in-class, mileage.

In addition, there is also a tilting and telescoping steering column with steering wheel controls for audio and cruise control and ice-blue ambient lighting. The Malibu turbo LTZ models also adds up-market features like LED taillamps, leather-appointed seats, heated front seats and optional 19-inch aluminum wheels.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu turbocharged version reaches showrooms this fall and is available as both a mid-level LT model, with a suggested retail price of $27,710, and as a more luxurious LTZ model with a suggested retail price of $30,925. Both prices include a $995 dealer freight charge.