Goes by unnoticed
There are so many Cobalts and G5s on the road that they have become part of the landscape, so if you're looking for a car that draws attention, shop for something else. The same can be said for the other big guns in the compact category, namely the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, but the Cobalt's styling is much more conservative.
Still, the car looks reasonably modern, but the lack a mid-cycle facelift means it looks just like the 2005 model, so buying a 2009 might not give you the impression that you're in a brand-new car if you've created a habit of changing every four or five years.
Pension-fund cockpit
Inside the Cobalt is where you'll mainly realize how high the proportion of the car's retail price is reserved for the retired workforce. Cost-cutting measures are found everywhere, such as the industrial quality of the seat fabric and the coarse feel of the dashboard and door plastics.
There is nothing wrong with the car's ergonomics, and the instrument panel's layout is simple and straightforward. A fuel economy average display is standard, which is a nice feature for a basic car. The CD player doesn't read MP3 files, though; an extra $290 for a sound system upgrade solves this, but it should be standard-issue.
The front seats are acceptable for short trips, but after a while, our lower backs start getting sore. Back-seat space and comfort is good for two adults, but three can be a squeeze. Trunk space is among the most spacious among compact sedans.
Competition
The Cobalt XFE starts out at $15,325, and our test car is equipped with A/C ($1,150), side-curtain airbags ($395), OnStar ($395) and ABS brakes ($600), for an affordable total of $17,865. We suggest adding the dealer-installed front armrest, which costs $195. But we're wonder why in the base Cobalt, you can't get air conditioning with the automatic transmission.
There are so many Cobalts and G5s on the road that they have become part of the landscape, so if you're looking for a car that draws attention, shop for something else. The same can be said for the other big guns in the compact category, namely the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, but the Cobalt's styling is much more conservative.
 |
| If you're looking for a car that draws attention, shop for something else. |
Still, the car looks reasonably modern, but the lack a mid-cycle facelift means it looks just like the 2005 model, so buying a 2009 might not give you the impression that you're in a brand-new car if you've created a habit of changing every four or five years.
Pension-fund cockpit
Inside the Cobalt is where you'll mainly realize how high the proportion of the car's retail price is reserved for the retired workforce. Cost-cutting measures are found everywhere, such as the industrial quality of the seat fabric and the coarse feel of the dashboard and door plastics.
There is nothing wrong with the car's ergonomics, and the instrument panel's layout is simple and straightforward. A fuel economy average display is standard, which is a nice feature for a basic car. The CD player doesn't read MP3 files, though; an extra $290 for a sound system upgrade solves this, but it should be standard-issue.
The front seats are acceptable for short trips, but after a while, our lower backs start getting sore. Back-seat space and comfort is good for two adults, but three can be a squeeze. Trunk space is among the most spacious among compact sedans.
Competition
The Cobalt XFE starts out at $15,325, and our test car is equipped with A/C ($1,150), side-curtain airbags ($395), OnStar ($395) and ABS brakes ($600), for an affordable total of $17,865. We suggest adding the dealer-installed front armrest, which costs $195. But we're wonder why in the base Cobalt, you can't get air conditioning with the automatic transmission.
 |
| Inside the Cobalt is where you'll mainly realize the cost-cutting measures. |