The Cobalt replaced both the Cavalier and the Prizm as Chevrolet's compact car. Ultimately it's the consumers who will decide, but from our brief time with the cars, the Cobalt has the refinement, features and performance to make a decent show of it.The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car initially introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. Whether it's the base sedan or the hopped-up SS, the Cobalt accomplishes Chevrolet's mission of producing a vehicle that can take the compact car fight to imports and domestics alike. Pricing for the range-topping SS starts at $21,995, right in the neighborhood of other hot compacts like the, and. Performance pack or not, the SS makes for an entertaining companion, one that responds well to driver inputs and remains poised as speeds begin to climb. wheels complete the package that delivers sure-footed handling to complement the additional power.Īnd if the standard SS isn't enough, serious apex strafers can go for the optional SS performance package that adds Recaro seats and a Quaife limited-slip differential. Bigger ABS-supported disc brakes and 18-in. The chassis has also been upgraded, employing track-tuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars as well as recalibrated electric power-assisted steering. Mated to a more positive-shifting FGP 5-speed manual, the SS enjoys a flat, torquey power curve that makes quick work of holes in traffic. The Cobalt SS bumps up the fun factor considerably, sporting a supercharged 2.0-liter engine that increases output to 205 bhp and 200 lb.-ft. Supercharged power and a racy interior, above, turn the Cobalt SS into a sporty contender. The standard 5-speed Getrag manual transmission could do with a more precise linkage, but it's still not bad, while the optional 4-speed automatic does all that it's asked without complaint. of torque, it's got more than enough punch for typical everyday use. Underhood, a smooth-revving 2.2-liter Ecotec inline-4 powers the base, LS and LT models. The sedan's exterior is uncluttered with a slightly Ion-esque profile, while the coupe adopts a more sporting stance that comes across as fresh without straying too terribly far from the Cavalier's overall shape and dimensions. Styling-wise, the Cobalt draws some inspiration from both the Ion and the Cavalier. The ride is comfortable and muted, yet the chassis still communicates most of what's happening under the tires.
The difference is evident within the first mile of driving, where the Cobalt rolls along with little outside intrusion and a refreshing degree of feedback. Utilizing the same basic MacPherson strut/twist-beam chassis as the Saturn Ion, the Cobalt goes a step further, employing extensive acoustic insulation and laminated Quiet Steel to isolate sound from the cabin and deliver a slightly more up-market feel than its corporate cousin. They were instructed to make it compete on equal terms with class leaders like the, and, not just sell in the same vehicle class.Īdditional credit goes to GM's global Delta platform on which the Cobalt is based. The new Cobalt is quiet, balanced and for a car that starts at $14,190 in base trim, surprisingly refined.Ĭredit for these improvements goes to a development team that was given virtually free rein to engineer a compact car largely unconstrained by typical GM cost-containment measures. One trip around the block quickly erases all thoughts of the outgoing Cavalier. In their place are impressive levels of comfort and, dare we say, performance. Gone are the booming cabin and spongy chassis, the generic plastics and characterless interior. With the Cobalt, has built a thoroughly modern, class-challenging contender that eclipses its forerunner in every major way. So for 2005, the Cavalier has been succeeded by two separate model lines, the sub-$10,000 Aveo at one end of the compact segment and the all-new Cobalt at the other. Much of that has to do with the Cavalier being stretched so thin, having to address both entry-level buyers as well as higher-end compact customers. But for consumers wanting something more in refinement, quality and driver involvement, GM's 20-year veteran has often come up wanting. For first-time buyers or families on a budget, the Cavalier has been a perennial favorite. A few may have rented one during a business trip or while on vacation, but that's really about it. Ask a bunch of car enthusiasts if they've spent much time in a Chevrolet Cavalier and most will probably shake their heads.
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