So what's the big news at Chevy during this auto show season?

Are you kidding? Haven't you heard? One word: Malibu.

This all-new family intermediate is a watershed not only for Chevrolet and General Motors, but for the domestic automobile industry as a whole. This is the very first time in my memory that the American car industry has actually produced a family sedan that is nothing short of the best of its class.

Yes, it's better than Toyota's Camry. The Camry is still certainly a good car, and it has a ride second to none, if you're looking for that old-time American car road feel.

But the quality issue is now bugging the Camry, a car that up until now was beyond reproach on that issue. Even Consumer Reports has dropped it from its recommended list.

Moreover, the interior of the Camry is rather plain and lifeless, particularly in its base version, and the road performance, ride and power of the Camry does not favorably compare with the Malibu.

And what about the other "big gun" in the family car field, Honda's Accord?

Honda scores better than the Camry with me, and is in just about a dead heat with the Malibu -- except for two areas that make a difference with many buyers.

The Accord's dashboard comes off more confusing with lots of buttons and controls, and the exterior of the Accord, while attractive, has a few too many elements that aren't coherent.

The Malibu is one class act on that score, looking like a car that costs thousands more. And you get a longer warranty and OnStar, an important safety tool, to boot with the Chevy. Advantage Malibu.

Nissan's Altima is another top notch family car. It's got the best acceleration and the sportiest feel in the class. But its rocket looks and interior materials that are a bit short of the class standard could put buyers off.

The other family cars -- Ford's Fusion, Chrysler's Sebring, Dodge's Avenger and all the others -- fall well short of the class leaders -- Malibu, Accord, Altima and Camry, in that order.

Inside, Malibu sports two-toned materials, a dual cove dashboard that will remind some of Corvettes and Chevys of the '50s' and '60s.

Contrasting piping around headrests and set bolsters, along with substantial looking leather seats, was beautiful enough to challenge Audi, an undisputed leader in interior design.

If you're a parent, you'll definitely want to take a look at Malibu. The hooks for attaching baby seats are clearly in view, and there are three sets across the seat, too. That means there's no more groping under cushions trying to find hooks.

Standard equipment includes a five year/100,000 mile warranty, cloth seats, sheer suede and leather interior material choices, gauges with blue LED backlighting, ambient lighting in door pull pockets and the overhead console, four-wheel independent suspension, laminated "quiet glass," and a tire pressure monitoring system. But that's not all.

You also get OnStar with turn-by-turn navigation, ABS brakes, traction control, XM satellite radio and StabiliTrak stability control with panic break assist on LT, LTZ and Hybrid models.

Driving the Malibu is an eye-opening experience. It corners flat, handles beautifully and glides over rough roads. Power comes from four- and six-cylinder engines.

There is a 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine rated at 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway, and an available 252-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 rated at 17/26. The hybrid model, powered by a hybrid version of the 2.4-liter four engine, is rated at 24/32.

The new Malibu's base LS starts at $19,995 with an automatic transmission; the 1LT starts at $20,955; the 2LT, at $22,635; the LTZ, at $26,995; and the Hybrid, at $22,790.

The other big news for Chevy is the all-new 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.

We all have known that up until now the word "gas mileage" and the word "SUV" don't mix well.

But if you need of lots of room for passengers, just as much room for cargo, and you want decent gas mileage, look no further than the Tahoe.

I was surprised how smooth the all-new hybrid drove, given some jerking and hesitation that I've experienced on other hybrids.

If anything, thanks to the hybrid system, the new Tahoe seems quieter than the conventionally powered Tahoe. And in the styling department, they've even smoothed out some of Tahoe's already good looks. The monochrome effect results in a product that is even more elegant than the companion gasoline-powered Tahoe.

Like the GMC Yukon Hybrid, the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid gets about 25 percent better fuel economy in combined city-highway driving, and about 40 percent better mileage in city driving. Although figures have not been set by the EPA, GM said the pair could get about 20 mpg in the city, about 22 on the highway, and about 21 overall.

You'll also be able to tow a pretty hefty boat or other items. It can handle seven passengers with all their cargo and tow 6,000- 6,200 pounds.

The two-mode hybrid system is an interesting one. The SUV can run on electric power only, engine power only (a 6-liter, 332-horsepower V-8) or a combination of engine and electric power. In lightning-quick calculations, the SUV automatically decides what is needed.

The active fuel-management system allows the engine to shut down some cylinders when strong acceleration is not needed. The system also has electric power steering instead of a belt-driven system that uses more gas.

Other steps intended to lighten the weight of these SUVs include changes to the seat design and lighting fixtures, aluminum hoods and liftgates, lightweight wheels and low rolling-resistance tires.

As you drive, a gauge helps you obtain the best mileage if you keep the arrow indicator in the noon to 2 p.m. position. If you're curious what the truck's hybrid system is doing, there's an easy-to-understand graph on the navigation screen that illustrates which parts of the system are working and under what conditions. That's better than the bewildering bar graphs and charts used in other hybrids.

As you might expect, this is a mighty pricey set of wheels. Hybrids often cost thousands more than conventional models, and it's up to you to determine if the gas savings justify the price. The base price range is $49,500 to $52,395, depending on model.