Just wait. That's what General Motors has been saying to critics, pointing out over and over for more than a decade that the No.1 automaker's passenger cars just don't measure up to those made by the Japanese and the Europeans. During the '90s, GM admits, it neglected its mainstream cars while focusing on SUVs. Then the Cadillac luxury division got all the attention. The next step GM has been touting: Rolling out a stable of coupes and sedans able to chase pacesetters like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

Judging by the '04 Malibu, the wait may be ending. While not flashy, the Malibu has the solid feel and just-right tuning that has been out of synch in GM cars for years. GM does some things very well, like build crisp engines and smooth transmissions. But too often those attributes are overshadowed by sloppy handling or dated, flimsy interiors. In the Malibu, it all comes together. On the road the Malibu is sure-footed and confident, with tight handling on curves (for a family sedan) and taut steering that is a vast improvement over the wiggly, jiggly feel of other GM sedans. The optional 200-horsepower V-6 engine is spry and smooth and capable of hustling you through just about any driving situation. (The base engine is a more modest 145-hp inline-four-cylinder.) Overall, the Malibu's mechanicals produce a driving experience that is pleasant and effortless. It's simply an enjoyable car to drive.

An even bigger story may be the interior. Armrests and cupholders are all in the right place, and they have a solid feel that suggests you'd hold up well on a long trip in this car. In place of traditionally cheap-feeling dials and controls, there is a well-designed dash centered around a digital display showing radio, climate, and vehicle information. Cool touches like the little tabs on the A/C vents that allow you to flip them closed make the interior more interesting than the efficient but bland layouts on competitors like the Camry. There's even an option for sensuous perforated-suede seats, about the last thing you'd expect to find on a Chevy sedan. That's an extravagance few buyers of a middle-market car would ever order, but the fact that it's available shows that GM is raising its standards.

So is the Malibu an Accord- or Camry slayer? It's certainly worth a look, and maybe more given that GM is pricing the Malibu $2,000 or more below its more proven competitors, when similarly equipped. The unanswerable question at the moment is whether the Malibu will hold up as well as the Camry and Accord, benchmarks for quality that are among the most reliable cars on the road. That's an elusive standard to meet, and it could take years for GM's quality to edge up to where Honda and Toyota are today. But the Malibu feels like it could be the first step or two on that climb.