2004
Chevrolet Cavalier

Starts at:
$10,135
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New 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Base Cpe w/1SV
    Starts at
    $10,135
    26 City / 33 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Base Cpe
    Starts at
    $14,235
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Base Sdn
    Starts at
    $14,435
    23 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe LS
    Starts at
    $15,905
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn LS
    Starts at
    $16,105
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe LS Sport
    Starts at
    $17,410
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn LS Sport
    Starts at
    $17,610
    24 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Notable features

Three model choices
140-hp four-cylinder
FWD layout
Manual or automatic
Coupe and sedan body styles

The good & the bad

The good

Performance
Proven powertrain
Familiar design
Price

The bad

Antiquated design
Final year of production
Resale value
Side-impact crash-test rating
See all specifications

Safety review

Based on the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
4/5
Frontal passenger
4/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
1/5
Side rear passenger
2/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 model years or newer / up to 75,000 miles
Basic
12 months / 12,000 miles bumper-to-bumper original warranty, then may continue to 6 years / 100,000 miles limited (depending on variables)
Dealer certification
172-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Consumer reviews

93% of drivers recommend this car
4.3 / 5
Based on 47 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.8
Performance 4.2
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.1
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

  • By JJ from Catskill NY
    Owns this car
    October 22, 2022

    Love it

    I love this car so much I’ve had for a year and it was totaled a month after I bought it and it’s still going strong. I put struts and brakes on it and it’s a beast! Best $2300 purchase I’ve ever made.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Chip from Nanaimo BC
    Used to own this car
    May 8, 2022

    Love it.

    Honestly the best car I have ever owned. The only thing it cost me was, oil changes, tires and a battery. I had it for 16 years. When I sold it, my wife said she'd miss the car more than she'd miss me.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    8 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By G11354 from Flint, Michigan
    Owns this car
    January 19, 2021

    Reliable Beast

    The 2004 Cavalier has been my primary vehicle for over 15 years and I cannot recommend it enough!!! In 15 years it has only left me stranded once, only 1 time and that was a few weeks ago when a break line burst. Handles snow and ice extremely well for a vehicle of its size and weight. Gas mileage is good and basic maintenance is simple so no need to take to a specialist for an oil change or to replace a battery. Phenomenal vehicle for the price and outstandingly reliable.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    11 people out of 12 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Jay from Nashville, TN
    Owns this car
    December 14, 2020

    Most reliable car I owned

    Me and my wife own a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier with 401,000 miles and counting. Car keeps going and doesn’t quit. Something about that 2.2 motor that just keeps starting. We drive it out of town a lot still pretty smooth ride and low gas mileage.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    11 people out of 12 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Minter66 from Keller, TX
    Owns this car
    December 27, 2019

    It's the Toyota of Chevrolet

    The only Chevrolet to ever be sold as a Toyota (look it up) was the Toyota Cavalier in Japan. This is a very reliable car. Very inexpensive to repair/maintain. I've owned two. a 1996 that went to 266,000 miles and then sold for $1000 and now my 2004 that is at 200,000 miles. They are not pretty, they are not comfortable, they are not cool, the plastic dash falls apart on every one of them, but they just go and do not die. Excellent first car for student. Get the manual, they do not break. 34 MPG is hard to beat when gas goes nuclear on price.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    4 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Miguel Olivarez from Alice texas
    Owns this car
    July 23, 2019

    Best car that you should buy

    I’ve had this car for 14 years and got it brand new as soon as it reached Chevy dealership. I haven’t had any bad problems with this car, the only things that have happened is that the A/C has gone out but I’ve fixed that and replaced the spark plugs. When I was in a wreck the whole back of the car was bashed and it was put as total lost but that didn’t make me give up on it so I fixed it for 2,000 dollars. I use this car every day and go everywhere. The car currently has 67,854 miles on it. If you want a really reliable car get this one it will be the best pushes you have made even if used. (I now have a Nissan Frontier but still rather use the car).
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Simply the best from Marion,OH.
    Used to own this car
    July 21, 2019

    Most Unreliable Car I Have Ever Owned

    This car broke down on me several times.Spent a lot of money repairing it.It rusted so badly that There was a hole in the floorboard on the driver's side.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 1.0
    Reliability 1.0
    2 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Sandstorm from Youngstown, Ohio
    Owns this car
    June 3, 2019

    Great if taken care of

    I bought a coup from a private buyer and I’ve had my car for about three years. The previous owner took incredible care of the car but there a lot of issues. Some are my fault but others are just cavaliers in general (that’s what I’ll get into). On every cavalier that I’ve seen, including mine, the body tends to rust on the corner of the doors and towards the front. Frame can rust pretty easily, especially if you live in Ohio or other places where there’s a lot of snow/ice and the roads are frequently salted in the winter. The paint also peels on the hood and I’ve never seen a cavalier where this didn’t happen. Other than those main issues anyone purchasing this vehicle might face, this car is extremely reliable. It’s well built and for an older car it will most certainly last if you keep it well maintained. The seats are very comfortable although the back seat isn’t very spacious if you seat three people (which mine is a coup so not exactly uncommon). There’s not a lot of blind spots, either, but the main thing to watch out for is the length of the hood. It’s a little harder than many other cars to squeeze into tight spaces as it’s very long. Cavaliers also have great gas mileage so that’s something to keep in mind. As for a sound system, the stock radios and speakers are horrible, I won’t lie about that. However, they are fairly easy to replace (back speakers are visible when the trunk is open and the back seats can be pushed down. Front speakers are a little more difficult as you have to remove the door first). I absolutely love my car but as with a lot of older cars, there may be a lot of pros but you should still be careful and make sure it’s in good condition before you buy.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 3.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By EgyptianMAU from Omaha, NE
    Used to own this car
    March 19, 2019

    Was a great car.

    Potholes in Omaha are insane and unfortunately, I lost her. She was a great little first car. I named her Dorthy. She got me everywhere I needed to go. I got a flat tire once, and power steering did need repair at 180k (?) Miles. About 700 to fix. Her and I went to Missouri and back in one day! I'm hoping to buy another very soon.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Annie and Roger B. from San Antonio, TX
    Owns this car
    February 8, 2019

    Great mechanics special and a good fixer upper!

    This car has met all of our needs while we needed it. It pretty much was used in running small errands to visiting family occasionally. Was never driven long distances, but mostly driven in town or the longest drive was 60 miles sometimes. We loved this car, but it's time to move on to something newer eventually.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By billyholloway01Okla from Moore, Oklahoma
    Owns this car
    February 2, 2019

    Best used car I ever bought.

    This car met all my needs and comforts. It has plenty of leg room in the front and back. The heater and airconditioner work excellent. I've owned this car for 12/13 years and never done anything other routine maintence to it at this time 2/1/19
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Joseph from North Vernon
    Owns this car
    December 7, 2018

    Nice car great value

    Good car. No complaints. Good on gas low maintenance cost. My son drove the car to college and now I drive it to work. It is a shame GM no longer makes this car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Chevrolet dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?

The 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier is available in 4 trim levels:

  • Base (2 styles)
  • LS (2 styles)
  • LS Sport (2 styles)
  • w/1SV (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?

The 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier offers up to 26 MPG in city driving and 33 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?

The 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier owners.

Is the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. 93.6% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.3 / 5
Based on 47 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.8
  • Performance: 4.2
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.1
  • Reliability: 4.5
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