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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