Small Success: Cobalt Shines - Test Drive
01-30-2005 | 12:20 PM
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Small Success: Cobalt Shines - Test Drive
<img src="https://www.cobaltss.net/articles/jan30th.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="2"><b>01-30-05</b><b> By Jason Stein</b>
Just a hunch, but I’ll bet there isn’t a picture of the Chevrolet Cavalier hanging in GM Chairman Rick Wagoner’s office in Detroit these days.
But there should be.
The truth is, the Chevy Cobalt, the fresh-out-of-the-box replacement for the Cavalier this year, is a darn good little car.
It is nimble. It is affordable. In the soon-to-be-released SS sporty version, I’ll bet it will be a little blast to drive.
But the fact we are talking Cobalt – and not Cavalier – is exactly what happens when you get too, er, cavalier in the auto business.
GM had a good little thing running in the early 1980s when it released the first Cavalier, a reliable ride that was meant to battle the up-and-coming imports that were pushing their way into the market.
One problem: GM didn’t check its rear-view mirror often enough. When the imports got better and better, and the Cavalier stayed the same, it suddenly wasn’t such a great formula.
Its first major reworking didn’t come for a dozen years – literally – and sales slipped as interest waned.
And the Cobalt was born.
A message to GM: Remember the Cavalier.
A message to the imports: Time to pay attention again.
The Cobalt is a return to what GM once did well, with a twist. The Cobalt, built from the ground up on GM’s small-car platform, is meant to play ball against the Accord and Civics of the world instead of the entry-level crowd it was attracting at the end of the Cavalier’s life cycle.
GM hopes to position the new Chevy Aveo as the small-budget car. The Cobalt is a notch higher.
The Cobalt isn’t the best small car on the market. But, for a change, Chevy can hang there.
Priced at a reasonable $13,625, this is actually a car to be proud of that’s still less than $15,000.
Available in a two-door coupe, four-door sedan and sporty SS version, the Cobalt is meant to offer a flavor for everyone.
It features a conservative exterior (except the racier, spolier-ready SS) and a clean interior that is not filled with the typical GM plastic we have been railing against for years.
And that could be the biggest change. The material quality, simplistic styling and comfort is loads ahead of where the Cavalier left off.
And as if to signal the start of a new direction, the Cobalt also comes available with a load of standard equipment.
All but the base models feature keyless entry, anti-lock brakes and power windows, to name just a few items.
The powertrain is decent. Non-SS versions come with a solid 145-horsepower, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that is about the only remaining piece of the Cavalier puzzle.
In the base model we tested, performance was acceptable. The Cobalt is meant to be an everyday commuter car and, in that respect, it certainly works. It is not lethargic. But it is not a racer.
Those interested in having more fun can get into the SS and its 205-horsepower supercharged engine. But, that won’t be the majority of buyers here.
What’s better on the Cobalt are the little things.
Noise and vibration control are finally under control.
In that way, the Cobalt feels like a Civic and an Accord. It doesn’t shudder over bumps or jiggle over potholes.
Doors finally close with a “thud.” Shifting through the four-speed automatic isn’t jarring.
And interior room is decent for four, especially in a rather spacious rear.
Overall, Cavalier owners might not recognize the family resemblance.
I suppose that’s the point.
Too bad you have to break the mold to get something better.
But something better has finally arrived.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, two- or four-door, four-passenger compact sedan
Key competition: Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla
Base engine: 145 horsepower 2.2-liter four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed automatic or five-speed manual
Standard safety equipment: Anti-lock brakes; dual front air bags
MPG rating: 24 city/32 highway (manual)
Manufactured: Lordstown, Ohio
Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles.
Base price: $13,625
Price as tested (including destination and delivery): $18,195
From: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journal...s/10773554.htm
Just a hunch, but I’ll bet there isn’t a picture of the Chevrolet Cavalier hanging in GM Chairman Rick Wagoner’s office in Detroit these days.
But there should be.
The truth is, the Chevy Cobalt, the fresh-out-of-the-box replacement for the Cavalier this year, is a darn good little car.
It is nimble. It is affordable. In the soon-to-be-released SS sporty version, I’ll bet it will be a little blast to drive.
But the fact we are talking Cobalt – and not Cavalier – is exactly what happens when you get too, er, cavalier in the auto business.
GM had a good little thing running in the early 1980s when it released the first Cavalier, a reliable ride that was meant to battle the up-and-coming imports that were pushing their way into the market.
One problem: GM didn’t check its rear-view mirror often enough. When the imports got better and better, and the Cavalier stayed the same, it suddenly wasn’t such a great formula.
Its first major reworking didn’t come for a dozen years – literally – and sales slipped as interest waned.
And the Cobalt was born.
A message to GM: Remember the Cavalier.
A message to the imports: Time to pay attention again.
The Cobalt is a return to what GM once did well, with a twist. The Cobalt, built from the ground up on GM’s small-car platform, is meant to play ball against the Accord and Civics of the world instead of the entry-level crowd it was attracting at the end of the Cavalier’s life cycle.
GM hopes to position the new Chevy Aveo as the small-budget car. The Cobalt is a notch higher.
The Cobalt isn’t the best small car on the market. But, for a change, Chevy can hang there.
Priced at a reasonable $13,625, this is actually a car to be proud of that’s still less than $15,000.
Available in a two-door coupe, four-door sedan and sporty SS version, the Cobalt is meant to offer a flavor for everyone.
It features a conservative exterior (except the racier, spolier-ready SS) and a clean interior that is not filled with the typical GM plastic we have been railing against for years.
And that could be the biggest change. The material quality, simplistic styling and comfort is loads ahead of where the Cavalier left off.
And as if to signal the start of a new direction, the Cobalt also comes available with a load of standard equipment.
All but the base models feature keyless entry, anti-lock brakes and power windows, to name just a few items.
The powertrain is decent. Non-SS versions come with a solid 145-horsepower, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that is about the only remaining piece of the Cavalier puzzle.
In the base model we tested, performance was acceptable. The Cobalt is meant to be an everyday commuter car and, in that respect, it certainly works. It is not lethargic. But it is not a racer.
Those interested in having more fun can get into the SS and its 205-horsepower supercharged engine. But, that won’t be the majority of buyers here.
What’s better on the Cobalt are the little things.
Noise and vibration control are finally under control.
In that way, the Cobalt feels like a Civic and an Accord. It doesn’t shudder over bumps or jiggle over potholes.
Doors finally close with a “thud.” Shifting through the four-speed automatic isn’t jarring.
And interior room is decent for four, especially in a rather spacious rear.
Overall, Cavalier owners might not recognize the family resemblance.
I suppose that’s the point.
Too bad you have to break the mold to get something better.
But something better has finally arrived.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, two- or four-door, four-passenger compact sedan
Key competition: Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla
Base engine: 145 horsepower 2.2-liter four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed automatic or five-speed manual
Standard safety equipment: Anti-lock brakes; dual front air bags
MPG rating: 24 city/32 highway (manual)
Manufactured: Lordstown, Ohio
Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles.
Base price: $13,625
Price as tested (including destination and delivery): $18,195
From: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journal...s/10773554.htm
01-30-2005 | 02:10 PM
#6
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Joined: 04-11-04
Posts: 2,175
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From: patterson, ca
i think its questionable if the guy actually drove one, he says the interior doesnt ave the typical gm plastic, did he pay attention to the dash did he feel it? looks well put together but feels cheap, to much plastic. other than somewhat good review but it just seems to me he didnt drive it.
01-30-2005 | 09:55 PM
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Joined: 12-13-04
Posts: 841
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From: New Jersey
Come on now guys, what else can really be used on a dash besides plastic? I know the Cavalier has the "padded dash", but its about the only new car to still have it, and it is extremely cheap and poorly put together.
The best dashes are the new ones that are hard plastic, but that have a "soft" feel to them - almost like a thin, textured rubber coating on top. Our '03 Civic is like that, and it can't even be compared to my Cavalier. I personally haven't been in a Cobalt yet, so I can say if the dash is like that or not, but I'm assuming its similar. However, I can tell from the pics that is it very nice looking and well put together
Heres a couple pics:
The best dashes are the new ones that are hard plastic, but that have a "soft" feel to them - almost like a thin, textured rubber coating on top. Our '03 Civic is like that, and it can't even be compared to my Cavalier. I personally haven't been in a Cobalt yet, so I can say if the dash is like that or not, but I'm assuming its similar. However, I can tell from the pics that is it very nice looking and well put together
Heres a couple pics:
01-30-2005 | 10:32 PM
#10
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Joined: 04-17-04
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Originally Posted by wesmanw02
Come on now guys, what else can really be used on a dash besides plastic? I know the Cavalier has the "padded dash", but its about the only new car to still have it, and it is extremely cheap and poorly put together.
The best dashes are the new ones that are hard plastic, but that have a "soft" feel to them - almost like a thin, textured rubber coating on top. Our '03 Civic is like that, and it can't even be compared to my Cavalier. I personally haven't been in a Cobalt yet, so I can say if the dash is like that or not, but I'm assuming its similar. However, I can tell from the pics that is it very nice looking and well put together
The best dashes are the new ones that are hard plastic, but that have a "soft" feel to them - almost like a thin, textured rubber coating on top. Our '03 Civic is like that, and it can't even be compared to my Cavalier. I personally haven't been in a Cobalt yet, so I can say if the dash is like that or not, but I'm assuming its similar. However, I can tell from the pics that is it very nice looking and well put together
So the top part of the dash feels hard and isn't padded. It is glossy and definitely not up to VW or Civic standards, but who touches the upper dash anyways? Look at the rest of the interior, and at all of the touch points. Nice materials and smooth, tactile function.
What I believe the writer (and most people in the auto industry) have been railing on about the Cavaliers interior is the "sea" of monotone, dark, cheap looking plastic that greats you and is on every touch point as you step into the car. I'm not trying to flame on Cavaliers either, because I own one, but I can recognize the easily superior interior execution in the Cobalt.
02-04-2005 | 08:12 PM
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Joined: 03-17-04
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From: NE OH Near Cleveland
02-04-05
Two new newspaper articles from today. I will just post them in this thread since they all say pretty much the same things we read over and over. If you find something interesting please post a quote.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels...tml?source=rss
and
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05035/452503.stm
damn, I post way too many articles and reviews
Two new newspaper articles from today. I will just post them in this thread since they all say pretty much the same things we read over and over. If you find something interesting please post a quote.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels...tml?source=rss
and
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05035/452503.stm
damn, I post way too many articles and reviews
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