Competitively priced,
well equipped.
Ahh, the Cavalier — it was a good
little car when Chevrolet first brought it to the
market in 1981. But after a more than a decade
without a major redesign, and yet another with
only minor tweaks, Chevy’s small car moved
out of the showrooms only when accompanied by large
rebates. Meanwhile, the competition caught up and
outclassed it.
And so goes the Cavalier into retirement, replaced
by the vastly improved up-class small sedan,
the Cobalt. Although still conservative in style,
the Cobalt features an abundance of standard
amenities, with keyless entry, antilock brakes
and power features on all but the base models.
Both interior and exterior are vastly improved
from its predecessor.
Available as a sedan or coupe in base ($14,190)
and LS ($16,485) trim levels, as an LT sedan
($18,760) with a 145-horsepower engine and an
SS Supercharged coupe ($21,995) with 205-horsepower,
the Cobalt is a solid performer and a good choice
at just-above entry level. The Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety gave the Cobalt its best rating
of “good” in all tests.
My tester was the LT sedan with optional airbag
package ($395), satellite radio ($325), OnStar
($695), rear deck spoiler ($275) and upgraded
stereo with CD/MP3 ($150). The LT is exceptionally
equipped with leather, heated seats, tilt steering,
cruise control, dual stage airbags, speed-sensitive
steering and traction control.
The standard engine paired with the four-speed
automatic transmission performs remarkably well,
while steering and handling are responsive and
well mannered for a car in this class. Road noise
is minimal, and Cobalt is easily the quietest
car under $20,000 that I have driven. Upgrading
to the SS Supercharged changes the driving experience
significantly, offering better handling response
and a noticeable boost in power, without compromising
ride quality.
Chevy is looking for consumers with upscale
tastes and small-car budgets. Competitively priced,
well equipped, and solidly built, Cobalt fits
the bill.
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