2009 Chevrolet Cobalt - Review

Most of you will remember the demise of the long-running Chevy Cavalier a couple of years ago. The Cavalier was Chevrolet’s answer to the economy car market for a period spanning from the 1980s through the new millennium. In 2005 the Cavalier was replaced by the Chevrolet Cobalt which was supposed to be Chevy’s fresh take on an economy car.

The Cobalt didn't come a moment too late. But like the Cavalier, it's past due for a replacement.

Now the Cobalt is in its fourth year and according to the new-car experts over at our flagship site, TheCarConnection.com, it's in desperate need of a redesign. The biggest offender? The interior.  It is criticized for its poor fit and finish, not to mention its plebeian styling. That being said the quality and comfort of the Cobalt is still rated by TCC as a 7 out of 10, which by most standards is still average or acceptable.

Performance? The general consensus around the TCC parking garage is that the entry-level 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt achieves good performance for the money with the base model’s MSRP coming in at $15,660. The price will stretch to $23,435 for the SS model and will net you an additional 105 hp, not to mention other goodies. That brings the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to 260 hp, which is nothing to sneeze at. Other standard additions for the SS package include a lower ride height, rear wing spoiler, eye-shocking color choices and a ground effects package. With the addition of the SS and the general performance of the base model, the TCC rated the Cobalt a 7 out of 10 in performance, again an average grade. In this case it's easy to see how the lackluster base car dragged down the dragstrip performance of the SS edition.

In the safety arena the base 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt seems to lack some standard safety equipment that can be found on other cars in its class like antilock brakes. However, it does offer “decent” crash-test ratings and additional safety equipment like side-curtain airbags and anti-skid control in the upper echelons. The combination brought the safety reviews down to a 6 out of 10.   

To wrap up, the Cobalt is a decent economy car, with good interior room, trunk space and gas mileage. It comes in at a good price for the class, but for most consumers they will find better value and style among the competition.

For more information, read TheCarConnection.com’s full review on the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt here. Looking for more focused news, reviews and insight into the Chevy brand? Visit our partners over at the ChevroletReports.com for all things Chevrolet. And stay tuned to allsmallcars.com for the latest in reviews, news, pricing and photos for anything and everything small cars.