The Chevrolet Cobalt started out as one of the most reputable fuel-efficient sedans in competition with brands like Subaru, Hyundai, and Ford. Available in three trims, including the standard coupe or sedan and the SS sports upgrade, the Cobalt continues to remain a popular choice long after its production has been halted. You can still shop for the 2-door or 4-door version on sale with certified pre-owned vehicle shops. Read on to know more.
Engine and performance
The Chevrolet Cobalt may be a small compact vehicle, but even in its glory days, its engine was one of the highlight features of the affordable everyday standard sedan. For starters, you get the efficient ECOTEC 2.2 liter inline four-cylinder gas engine that was known for its fuel efficiency. The engine came with a variable valve timing chip that fired pistons with precise tuning to generate 150 lbs. of torque. By today’s auto standards, it may not seem like much, so don’t expect to be launched from 0-60 supercar style in two seconds flat. But the Cobalt did manage to save fuel and still deliver a sports sedan driving experience with the small engine setup. The Cobalt SS, one of Chevy’s advanced upgrades, featured an engine that could churn out a massive 260 lbs. of torque but at the cost of fuel efficiency. On average, you could squeeze out 37 miles on the gallon with the Cobalt. The base trims came with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the SS Turbo had a five-speed manual transmission for the more seasoned drivers. Note that fuel economy will vary depending on the vehicle configuration.
Design and interior
The compact sedan featured a decent interior for the price tag and included all the necessary amenities you’d want from an economy sedan. So, most of the dashboard and panel work was basic molded plastic that was functional but not necessarily an eye-popping feature. The leather seats and leather-covered steering accents are also decent for the economy sedan. But Chevrolet did include a few good additions like the Driver Information Center, the MYLINK Technology package, XM Satellite radio, and the OnStar System for emergency response. With the Cobalt SS trim, you get a package that upgrades the existing seats, accents, and everything within the interior with premium quality materials.
Ride comfort and safety
The Chevrolet Cobalt doesn’t boast the biggest engine or transmission system, so it goes without saying, this compact sedan is not the best car to do some serious burnouts or tear the asphalt at top speeds. However, for normal city and interstate driving, the front-wheel drive distributes power adequately to maintain good traction control and give you a smooth driving experience. For the SS trim, the brakes get the Brembo upgrade to handle all that additional torque. In addition, the SS variant also gets a sport-tuned suspension that responds well to your throttle and braking adjustments. Chevrolet has always focused on safety, so no doubt the Chevy Cobalt trims also get some worthwhile driver assists to make the car safe to drive. All standard trims come with active tire pressure monitoring, antilock brakes, and full-length airbags to cushion collision impact from all sides.
Popular trims
The Chevrolet Cobalt standard trim is the economy sedan version that boasts superior fuel economy and a decent driving experience for a very affordable price tag. The Base 2-door coupe has an inventory price of $14,990, while the 4-door sedan is listed at $14,990 across dealers. The LS and LT trims are priced at $15,670 and $16,470 approximately. However, Chevrolet Cobalt’s featured trim is the SS sports variant that comes with a faster engine, enhanced interiors, and better driver assistance features. The Chevrolet Cobalt SS is priced at $24,535 approximately across dealerships and certified pre-owned car shops. The Cobalt SS is also one of the more spacious trims with seating available for four additional passengers, excluding the driver, and is available in six stunning color choices.
