Chevrolet Cobalt takes charge

SS coupe propelled by spunky 205-hp, supercharged engine

By RUSS DEVAULT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

April 29, 2005

ATLANTA — The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt may not solve the financial and sales problems General Motors is dealing with, but it does cure one weakness: It is a glorious replacement for the Cavalier.

The test Cobalt SS established that fact even before its supercharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine was cranked. Some may find the exterior styling bland ("ho-hum," says Car and Driver), but optional trim, Recaro seats, leather, whiteface instrumentation, a seven-speaker CD stereo with optional XM satellite radio and OnStar service justify calling the Cobalt a small luxury car.

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Start the Cobalt's muscular engine (205 hp, 200 pounds-feet of torque), and it needs only a few miles to convince you it's also a performance car. It's indebted to the Saturn Ion for some underpinnings — upgraded, of course — and the Ion Redline for its supercharged motor.

Like some other manufacturers, Chevy wants to pick up sales from "The Fast and the Furious" crowd while taking sales away from the aftermarket. The Cobalt SS's instrumentation is augmented by a boost gauge, which displays the pressure at the intake manifold, cleverly mounted on the front left or "A" pillar. But who's going to be reading it when the Cobalt is zipping from zero to 60 mph in about 8 seconds.

There is quite a bit of noise when the engine is pushed, including the performance-oriented exhaust, wind and road sounds. But the Cobalt distracts its driver from those sounds with a slick five-speed shifter, an electric power steering system that gets heavier as speed increases and an engine that doesn't hesitate when asked for more power until it redlines at 6,500 rpm. It averaged 25.3 mpg during intown, suburban and expressway driving.

Now for the facts some may find discouraging. The line-topping Cobalt SS came with a base price of $21,430 plus $565 for delivery and enough options to make the total $24,910.

If performance is not the goal, the Cobalt coupes and sedans carry a 145-hp, 2.2-liter four-banger used in the Cavalier. Cobalts are available in base, LS, LT and SS trim with the base sedan listing for about $15,000 (note that all but the base model have standard keyless entry and power windows). The pricing makes it clear the Cobalt wants to compete with the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Scion.

A Cobalt LT tested briefly showed that the midrange version is a capable contender in the small-car market. It, too, drove easily, provided good visibility and seemed shy of cheapo parts and pieces.

Neither model, though, provided much room or comfort for rear seat occupants. The Cobalt, after all, is a small car with an overall length of about 15 feet and enough mass to total about 3,000 pounds. Even so, it's slightly larger overall than the Cavalier, which was introduced in 1981 and seldom revised. The Cobalt has a useful 14 cubic feet of cargo room.

The Cobalt arrives as a strong and overdue replacement for the Cavalier. As Car and Driver concluded, what it does is "prove that when GM decides to build an accomplished small car, it can."

SPECS:

•  Test vehicle: The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS front-drive coupe

•  Price as tested: $24,910 (base price: $21,430 plus $565 delivery)

•  Drivetrain: 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine (205 hp); SS-specific five-speed manual transmission

• Safety features: dual front air bags, side air bags, power anti-lock disc brakes; optional head-protective side-curtain air bags ($395); optional OnStar system for obtaining information, roadside assistance and emergency services ($695 with one-year service, fee thereafter)

•  Other standard features include: leather interior, 60/40 split folding rear seats; air conditioning; automatic halogen headlamps; halogen fog lamps; power mirrors, windows and locks with keyless entry system; electric power steering, titanium analog instrumentation with 160-mph speedometer, tachometer and A-pillar-mounted boost gauge; driver information readouts; CD/MP3 stereo with Pioneer seven-speaker sound system with tweeters and rear subwoofer speakers; tilt steering wheel with cruise and stereo controls; carpeted floor mats; body-color exterior trim; performance suspension; 18-inch painted alloy wheels with 215/45 performance tires and temporary spare; rear spoiler

•  Options on test vehicle: XM satellite radio with three-month subscription (fee thereafter), $325; package with limited-slip differential and Recaro front bucket seats, $1,500

•  EPA figures: 23 mpg premium unleaded (recommended) city, 29 mpg highway