The answer apparently proved elusive, because year
after year Chevrolet kept coming to the game with its Cavalier,
a sedan that was made attractive only by the thousands of dollars
in cash incentives and zero-percent financing packed into every
one.
It wasn't that the Cavalier was a bad sedan. It was
just mediocre when compared to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla,
or even the Ford Focus.
So it's a revelation that for 2005 Chevrolet has finally
found the formula and produced a compact sedan -- the Cobalt --
that buyers who want a top-notch vehicle should consider.
The Cobalt is built on a front-wheel-drive chassis
powered by a four-cylinder engine, the same configuration of the
old Cavalier. But the Cobalt uses all-new engineering from GM's
Delta platform, which also is used on the Saturn Ion.
Where the Cavalier delivered
a spongy ride and offered little road feel to the driver, the
Cobalt's ride is comfortable yet firm and a driver can feel what's
happening on the road at all times. For anyone who has driven
a Cavalier, the difference with the Cobalt can be felt almost
immediately after pulling away from the curb.
Using more acoustical insulation and special steel,
the Cobalt has a quiet, more substantial feel than any other GM
compact, and brings it into line with its major competitors.
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Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe
Click image for larger view
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The Cobalt is available in coupe or sedan form and
four trim levels, each with a high level of standard equipment.
The base model comes with a compact disc stereo,
air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat and a split
rear bench seat.
The LS, which is the best value in the lineup, adds
power windows, locks and exterior mirrors, cruise control, alloy
wheels, upgraded seats, anti-lock brakes and remote keyless entry.
In sedans, the top-of-the-line model is the LT,
which gets an automatic transmission as standard equipment, as
well as leather seats, Pioneer stereo, larger wheels and tires
and other trim upgrades.
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Interior, Cobalt SS
Click image for larger view
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In coupes, the flagship resurrects the old Chevrolet
performance designation of SS, which used to stand for Super Sport,
but now simply goes by the initials. The Cobalt SS coupe gets
leather seats and a range of sport and performance equipment,
including 18-inch wheels.
Power for all Cobalts except for the SS comes from
a 2.2-liter four-cylinder that makes 140 horsepower. It is notably
smooth -- something not always said about small engines developed
in Detroit -- and gets 25 to 34 miles per gallon, though our observed
mileage was about 29 mpg.
The five-speed manual transmission that's standard
in the base and LS models is not as smooth as the engine. Buyers
should consider opting for the four-speed automatic.
The SS gets a supercharged two-liter four-cylinder
that makes 205 horsepower, which is designed to compete with the
Dodge Neon SRT-4 and the Honda Civic Si. The base price of $21,995
and the fact that it's only available with a five-speed manual
transmission -- a different and much improved unit from what's
in the other Cobalts -- make the SS something that likely will
only appeal to drivers interested in a true sports coupe.
Styling of the Cobalt sedan and coupe is a pleasant
evolution from the last Cavalier. It is sleek and without body
add-ons that have been a low point in recent GM styling. The coupe
ranks as one of the best-looking in its class and the SS model
has an appropriately racy stance.
Inside, there are a few places where the cost-cutting
plastic necessary to make the Cobalt competitive becomes apparent.
But overall the interior is of a higher grade than might be expected
in a compact sedan that on average costs well under $20,000. Seating
is comfortable for four adults, but back-seat room gets a little
tight in the coupe.
With current factory rebates available of up to
$1,500 to certain buyers, as well as cut-rate financing and special
lease offers, the Cobalt becomes even more attractive and well
worth a test drive.
Specifications:
| Base list price, including delivery charge: |
$16,485 |
| Engine: |
2.2-liter inline four |
| Horsepower: |
145 @ 5600 rpm |
| Transmission: |
4-speed automatic |
| Chassis: |
Front-wheel-drive |
| Basic warranty: |
3 years/36,000 miles |
| Fuel economy: |
24/32 mpg EPA est., 29 mpg observed |
| Special factory lease/finance: |
Zero to 3.9 percent financing, depending on term
3.5 percent lease rate
Factory rebates/dealer incentives rebates up to $1,500 |
-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005
