Click through to the source for more pictures of the Cobalt SS Sedan
Chevy's Cobalt SS Coupe goes on sale soon, but the door count comes up short for some folks who would otherwise consider the turbo-fed modern-day Z24. Powered by the 2.0 liter turbocharged Ecotec four that does an uncanny impression of a small block V8, the Cobalt SS looks to offer a significant grin coefficient for $22,995. There's only a few options, this being a top-dog model. A limited-slip differential will help hardcore drivers power out of turns and costs $495, and the only other boxes to tick are for a sunroof, metallic paint, and a rear wing – all items we'd gladly omit to save weight and cost. In contrast to the equally-priced HHR SS, the Cobalt SS wears summer-only Continental tires and also carries a beefier brake package from Brembo. The porting of the hot rod powertrain to the four door bodyshell is another beacon of hope for those who find a two door impractical (ever tried to wrangle a baby seat into a coupe?) but still want to have some fun, and the reasonable price of entry makes the SS and its quick, competent performance an attainable domestic entry in the economy missile segment.
[Source: MotiveMag]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
AJB @ Mar 9th 2008 8:13AM
It's too bad the engine can't help the car's looks. Thank goodness the HHR SS has some style to save this platform.
Franz @ Mar 9th 2008 11:18AM
True, but I think the sedan looks better than the coupe.
PiCASSO @ Mar 9th 2008 11:26AM
Agreed... sedan looks MUCH better than the Cavalier looking coupe.
MoonRover @ Mar 9th 2008 8:32AM
WoW! that candy apple red SS is as sharp as a tack.....I Loooove it.
Seanross @ Mar 9th 2008 8:47AM
Indeed the sedan looks like crap with its ackward lump near the rear passenger windows... but the HHR isnt much better either... Damn near might as well be the Chevy PT Cruiser.
Moe @ Mar 9th 2008 9:45AM
I actually like the sedan. It has a squat, squared-off stance reminiscent of higher-priced German sports sedans.
zamafir @ Mar 9th 2008 3:26PM
fresh from a weekend with RS4s. S5s. S4s. and the new M3 and 335i I'm not quite sure where any commonalities occure between those higher priced german sports sedans and this car, anywhere.
Justin @ Mar 9th 2008 3:56PM
I agree with moe. The lower looking stance improves the look of the car greatly and makes it look more upscale IMO.
Aki @ Mar 9th 2008 10:20PM
Comparing a Cobalt to a European sport sedan... wow. Only on autoblog.
joeg @ Mar 9th 2008 9:53AM
For that much money I'll take the much nicer appointed Mazdaspeed 3 with its new leather and alcantara(spelling?) seats. Its fit and finish is far superior to anything from chevy too!
mr.ed @ Mar 9th 2008 10:29AM
Absof*ckinlutely!
Pokey @ Mar 9th 2008 1:26PM
Have you even been near a Chevy in the past 10 years? I'm not a huge fan of Chevy either, but, I'm not gonna deny the fact that the Malibu has much better fit and finish than anything Mazda makes.
Now, if you would have said, "better fit and finish than any Cobalt", then maybe the world would take you seriously. Instead, you just come off as a biased fanboy.
Agent47 @ Mar 9th 2008 1:47PM
The only problem with this car is that it competes in an almost exclusive import fanboy segment. This car could indeed have better performance, superior fit and finish, and cost half as much, and would still be seen as inferior because of the rabid fanboy-ism. GM is now building quality vehicles at an affordable price, and it's not going to take long for people to step up and take notice. I like the MS3, I think it's a nice car, but I can't understand the facination with the SI. Compared to even the Cobalt SS/SC it sucks balls. The cobalt handles significantly better, and is more powerful.
naggs @ Mar 9th 2008 1:59PM
the cobalt interior is not competitive with other cars in its class, it is the glaring weakness in what is otherwise an outstanding vehicle, you get a ridiculous amount of performance for the money
the civic costs less, its a deal at 20k
joeg @ Mar 9th 2008 8:24PM
Pokey have you even sat, let alone driven the Speed3? Cuz I have driven it, the SRT-4,and rode in the new STI and the interior quality and features for the price point are far superior to anything else out there for the money(granted the STI is more $$$ but the interior isn;t as nice).
Seriously I am about to buy one possibly, based on these test drives recently. It's has so much pull at 60-80(3.5 seconds!!!!!) that nothing for 23k even remotely touches it. The only thing holding me back is selling the current whip!
Mattias @ Mar 9th 2008 10:05AM
No, thanks, I'd take the OPC Astra instead.
Random Task @ Mar 9th 2008 10:21AM
Civic SI. VW GTI?
naggs @ Mar 9th 2008 12:58PM
it is much faster than either of those
Thedevil @ Mar 9th 2008 10:21AM
Maybe if i grew up on a farm CHEVY would be appealing to me,but i'll be damn im i ever own anything from GM ,all their vehicles in my opinion ,looks like unfinished clay work,no kind of refinement at all! UGLY
John R @ Mar 9th 2008 11:06AM
From what I've read about the powertrain and the suspension, its solid. However, it is housed in a Cobalt.
The exterior needs a total redesign.