2005 Chevy Cobalt

After 23 years of producing the familiar Cavalier, Chevrolet opted to replace it this year with the more sophisticated Cobalt.

Hoping to capture the interest of more than one age bracket, Chevrolet is offering the Cobalt as a sedan or coupe in base, LS and LT models. The standard engine in these models is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder that produces 145 horsepower. If that’s a little too mundane, then there’s the SS supercharged coupe that has the ability to hit 60 mph in just six seconds, thanks to its 2.0-liter 205-horsepower four-cylinder engine.

In the highly competitive compact car market, the Cobalt should hold its own for a number of reasons, starting with its quiet ride. The combination of acoustic insulation, hydraulic bushings and laminated steel has resulted in Cobalt being one of the segment’s quietest vehicles. Another reason is that even the base model has lively acceleration, plus it has decent fuel economy — 25 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway for the base engine with the manual gearbox and 24 and 32 with the automatic. Those figures drop to 23 and 29 with the supercharged engine.

The starting price for the base coupe and sedan models is $14,190. The LS coupe and sedan have a base price of $16,485, while the LT sedan begins at $18,760. The MSRP for the SS supercharged is $21,995. Pricing for all models includes standard features, destination and freight charges.

There is also an array of options to tempt even the buyer with a strong resolve. The LT sedan that I tested had an electric sunroof with map lights, $725; Onstar system, $695; side curtain airbags, $395; a rear deck-lid spoiler, $275; upgraded audio system, $150; and XM satellite radio, $325. I quickly grew to love the XM radio, which comes with a $10 monthly subscription fee. I could choose from more than 130 channels that ranged from jazz, classical and rock to ESPN and NASCAR to Discovery and MTV.

However, don’t expect the XM radio to be your constant traveling companion, since the satellite signal is occasionally lost. But never fear, it will return as soon as you get clear of whatever is interrupting the signal.

The safety features that are designed to meet stringent crash performance standards include dual-stage air bags, front safety belt pretensioners and rear center shoulder belts, crumple zones and a roof designed to resist the crushing force of 1.5 times the gross vehicle weight.

The one item that should be considered a safety feature on all vehicles is the method by which they unlock. For example, some remote systems open only the driver’s door with the first click, while others open all doors. Not good. Then there’s the Cobalt whose doors all unlock with one click and also when the transmission is shifted into park, which made me uncomfortable. Most people would prefer to choose their passengers.

Apart from that complaint, I enjoyed the time I spent in the Cobalt. It lived up to the good press it’s been getting and should be a familiar name in the compact market for years to come.

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