2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Base Sedan review from North America

Key refused to release from ignition at 28,000 km. Fixed under warranty by faulty shift-lock in gear shift lever.

Mild clunking noise from front suspension at 30,000km. Fixed under warranty replacing the steering column shaft.

Wheel well lining slightly loose at 30,000km. Fixed under warranty by replacing lost retainer screw.

Slight "crunching" noise from right front suspension in -15C and below weather. Cause undetermined. (Thermal contraction of parts?)

The Cobalt has several strong suits.

The 2.2L Ecotec engine delivers a satisfying amount of low rpm torque and good acceleration and passing power for an entry level compact vehicle.

The 4 speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly.

The lack of interior noise, particularly at highway speeds, is exceptional in its class.

The standard equipment CD stereo provides clear sound quality.

The cruise control maintains a steady speed on the hilliest of roads.

The car has excellent winter traction even with the factory-equipped all season Continental tires. ABS and traction-control combo provide extra security in winter driving.

Fuel economy, while not class leading, is thrifty. I averaged 8.2L/100km in pure city driving (summer), 9.0 L/100 km pure city driving (winter) and 6.2 L/100 km pure highway driving.

The trunk is very generous and will swallow three full-size suit cases.

Forward sightlines are good.

Firm seats prevent fatigue on long-distance drives.

Fit and alignment of interior components is excellent.

However, the Cobalt has several weaknesses.

Perceived quality is low because of the hard plastic surfaces and fabrics used in the interior and particularly the steering wheel.

The suspension is harsh over high frequency road imperfections (e.g. cracks and railway crossing) conveying a sense of structural weakness.

The steering is uncommunicative and therefore feels imprecise. For those who enjoy driving, the Cobalt is likely not a satisfying drive.

The trunk opening is shallow making loading of taller boxes difficult. Also, lift-in height is somewhat high.

The interior could use some additional storage cubbies and pockets.

Rearward visibility is compromised by a slanted speaker shelf.

In conclusion, I don't think the Cobalt is a bad car. It offers excellent value, particularly if purchased pre-owned. It's a perfectly decent runabout for those looking for a comfortable point A to B commuter.

Ultimately, however, I sold the car because I did not have confidence in the long-term reliability of the front suspension components and I did not enjoy driving the car. I wonder if the front-end problems were particular to my car. I drove a later example of the Cobalt's identical sister car, the Pontiac G5, and its suspension felt solid. Perhaps my particular vehicle had first-year production problems.