14th Place: Chevrolet Cobalt

Overview:

The Cobalt is inexpensive by this group's standards, even when well-equipped. That's a good start. The strong engine and smooth ride are nice, too, as is the trunk that's big for this class. But that's about as far as the Cobalt gets. The seats are hard and uncomfortable, and there is very little rear seat space even by economy car standards. Gas mileage suffers from the car's relatively large engine and heavy weight.  The steering is numb. The engine roars under acceleration. And the interior is sloppily assembled. The Cobalt's strengths can be found in competitors that don't share its weaknesses.

Driving the Cobalt:

The Cobalt has a very smooth, stable, absorbent, and overall comfortable ride. The car handles well, feeling reasonably agile and controlling body roll quite well, but the steering feels numb and should be more responsive. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder provides prompt acceleration, never feeling taxed in passing or even fully loaded, impressive for a small car. The car is very quiet except under acceleration, where harsh engine noise instantly appears. Fuel economy is mediocre by this group's standards. Manual-transmission Cobalts are available in a fuel-sipping "XFE" version; the more popular automatic versions are not.

Inside the Cobalt:

The Cobalt's front and rear seats are the least comfortable in the group. The front seats are roomy but too hard and thinly-padded, and not well-shaped. The very cramped rear lacks leg and foot space, the cushion is too low and hard, and the seatback is too upright. The interior uses mostly good quality materials, trim pieces do not all fit well. The gauges are clear, but some instruments are mounted too low. Drivers sit too low, but have good visibility and more fore-aft seat travel than most competitors. Wide door openings can’t compensate for the low seats or small rear footwells to sufficiently ease entry/exit. The trunk is roomy and well-shaped, but it would benefit from a larger opening.

Cobalt pricing:

The Cobalt is very well-equipped at only $15,381, just a few hundred dollars from Chevrolet's smaller and less-equipped Aveo. The Cobalt doesn't offer torso-protecting side airbags, but includes the OnStar driver assistance system, XM satellite radio, automatic headlights, traction control, and a remote-starting system.

Conclusion:

Despite a few key strong points and excellent pricing, the Cobalt is not competitive in its class, thanks in no small part to a lack of rear seat space, uncomfortable seats, and mediocre gas mileage. Look for other inexpensive, peppy, and smooth-riding economy cars if those strengths are important to you, as you can find such cars without the Cobalt's shortcomings.

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