With Cobalt, Chevy finally gets a small car right
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From: NE OH Near Cleveland
With Cobalt, Chevy finally gets a small car right
It may be hard to believe, but Chevrolet has finally built a small car you should consider buying.
You doubt me? It's no wonder.
Chevrolet doesn't have a great track record when it comes to small cars. Its first small car was never built. Called the Cadet, it was killed in the late 1940s when the market it was built for never materialized. Chevy then offered the Corvair in the 1960s, when it won Motor Trend Car of the Year. Next came the Vega, which won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1971. Chevy tried again with the Monza, which won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1975. Having been burned before, Motor Trend never endowed the Chevette or Cavalier with awards.
And the Cobalt? Zilch.
But who really cares? This car is as solid as its name.
The Cobalt is available as a sedan (in Base, LS and LT trim levels) and a coupe (Base, LS and SS trim levels).
Power comes from a dual-overhead-cam 2.2-liter four-cylinder that produces a more-than-respectable 145-horsepower while returning 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Road test mileage came in at 26.7 mpg. The test car had fewer than 300 miles on it, so mileage should improve as the mileage increases.
If you'd rather have more power, opt for the SS coupe with its 2-liter, 205-horsepower, supercharged 4-cylinder. Later this year, a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower supercharged four-cylinder will become available on the sedan.
Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Brakes are front disc/rear drums. The SS coupe gets four-wheel-disc brakes. Anti-lock is standard on all models except Base. Side-curtain air bags are standard; traction control is standard when an automatic transmission is ordered.
The refined four-cylinder motor has plenty of pep, even though its power is geared for fuel efficiency. It has a pleasantly subdued moan, and gear changes are smooth. There's minimal body lean, with a well-controlled ride. The suspension communicates plenty of road feel. The electric power steering is quick, although lacking in feel. Traction is quite good, thanks to tires that are considerably larger than any the Cavalier offered. Overall, the car's handling stakes a middle ground. It's not as luxurious as Corolla, not as sporty as a Ford Focus or Mazda 3, yet every bit as much fun to drive.
The cabin is quiet for a small car. Fit and finish are as good as the best in class. The test LT sedan was very well equipped, including standard heated leather seats, power windows, locks and mirrors, AM/FM stereo with CD player and optional OnStar and XM Satellite radio.
Room in the front seat is good, although rear-seat leg room is tight. Trunk space is generous and the rear seats fold down via a trunk-mounted release. Wood-grain trim, leather seats and careful assembly give the car a well-built feel that the Cavalier never seemed to have.
The only downside was the front-seat cushion, which I could never adjust correctly for true comfort. Otherwise, the car performed flawlessly.
The Cobalt starts at $14,190 for the Base sedan. The Cobalt LT that I drove starts at $18,195, with the test-vehicle price at just over $21,000. That's a couple grand less than the last Jetta I drove, and this car is just as nice to drive.
Overall, the Cobalt is an appealing, sophisticated, well-built small Chevrolet that's truly enjoyable.
And when was the last time you could say that without laughing?
lprintz@mcall.com
610-820-6713
from: mcall.com
You doubt me? It's no wonder.
Chevrolet doesn't have a great track record when it comes to small cars. Its first small car was never built. Called the Cadet, it was killed in the late 1940s when the market it was built for never materialized. Chevy then offered the Corvair in the 1960s, when it won Motor Trend Car of the Year. Next came the Vega, which won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1971. Chevy tried again with the Monza, which won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1975. Having been burned before, Motor Trend never endowed the Chevette or Cavalier with awards.
And the Cobalt? Zilch.
But who really cares? This car is as solid as its name.
The Cobalt is available as a sedan (in Base, LS and LT trim levels) and a coupe (Base, LS and SS trim levels).
Power comes from a dual-overhead-cam 2.2-liter four-cylinder that produces a more-than-respectable 145-horsepower while returning 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Road test mileage came in at 26.7 mpg. The test car had fewer than 300 miles on it, so mileage should improve as the mileage increases.
If you'd rather have more power, opt for the SS coupe with its 2-liter, 205-horsepower, supercharged 4-cylinder. Later this year, a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower supercharged four-cylinder will become available on the sedan.
Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Brakes are front disc/rear drums. The SS coupe gets four-wheel-disc brakes. Anti-lock is standard on all models except Base. Side-curtain air bags are standard; traction control is standard when an automatic transmission is ordered.
The refined four-cylinder motor has plenty of pep, even though its power is geared for fuel efficiency. It has a pleasantly subdued moan, and gear changes are smooth. There's minimal body lean, with a well-controlled ride. The suspension communicates plenty of road feel. The electric power steering is quick, although lacking in feel. Traction is quite good, thanks to tires that are considerably larger than any the Cavalier offered. Overall, the car's handling stakes a middle ground. It's not as luxurious as Corolla, not as sporty as a Ford Focus or Mazda 3, yet every bit as much fun to drive.
The cabin is quiet for a small car. Fit and finish are as good as the best in class. The test LT sedan was very well equipped, including standard heated leather seats, power windows, locks and mirrors, AM/FM stereo with CD player and optional OnStar and XM Satellite radio.
Room in the front seat is good, although rear-seat leg room is tight. Trunk space is generous and the rear seats fold down via a trunk-mounted release. Wood-grain trim, leather seats and careful assembly give the car a well-built feel that the Cavalier never seemed to have.
The only downside was the front-seat cushion, which I could never adjust correctly for true comfort. Otherwise, the car performed flawlessly.
The Cobalt starts at $14,190 for the Base sedan. The Cobalt LT that I drove starts at $18,195, with the test-vehicle price at just over $21,000. That's a couple grand less than the last Jetta I drove, and this car is just as nice to drive.
Overall, the Cobalt is an appealing, sophisticated, well-built small Chevrolet that's truly enjoyable.
And when was the last time you could say that without laughing?
lprintz@mcall.com
610-820-6713
from: mcall.com
New Member
Joined: 12-20-04
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Toronto, On., Canada
Originally Posted by JonelZ
. Later this year, a 2.4-liter 170-horsepower supercharged four-cylinder will become available on the sedan.
Side curtain air bags aren't standard either.
New Member
Joined: 12-20-04
Posts: 143
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From: Kansas, USA
I don't really think it's fair to lump the Cavalier -- at least the 1995-2005 model -- in with its predecessors. The Cavalier wouldn't have lasted 23 years (perhaps more than the Corvair through Chevette combined) if no one wanted one, and I must say that driving rental 2003-2005 Cavaliers in the last few months influenced my decision to get a Cobalt. Those Cavaliers were fun to drive, as is the Cobalt. 
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