Chevy’s Cobalt SS sedan is the quintessential sleeper. It looks like an economy sedan, but its turbocharged engine gives it strong performance, and the sports suspension delivers excellent handling. It is proof that looks can be deceiving.
The SS is available as a sedan or a coupe, and both have a base price of $23,435 including delivery charges.
GM has announced a Total Confidence plan for vehicles purchased in April. If the buyer loses his or her job during the first two years of ownership, GM will make payments of up to $500 per month for nine months. Check www.
chevyconfidence.com for details.
Exterior tweaks that identify the SS are subtle and consist of a deeper front spoiler and a small wing on the trunk. The handsome 18-inch wheels were shod with performance tires.
The intercooled turbo helps the 2.0-liter engine deliver 260 horsepower. The engine can be revved hard and driven fast, but it is also enjoyable for its linear powerband. It accelerates smoothly from low speeds without frequent downshifts. Chevy says the SS can hit 60 miles per hour in an impressive 5.7 seconds. Surprisingly, the highway mileage is rated at 30 miles per gallon.
Squeezing a lot of power from a small engine often sacrifices low-speed drivability, but Chevy engineers have succeeded in avoiding that.
Handling is a strong point, yet the car’s agility is accomplished without creating a rough ride. In daily driving, the SS suspension kept the car flat in turns, yet the firm suspension was never uncomfortable over bumps or rough roads.
The front brakes have powerful Brembo calipers. Anti-lock brakes, traction control and vehicle stability control are all standard.
The Cobalt SS doesn’t look as fast as it actually is. Chevy said that one lapped the famous 14-mile German Nurburgring racetrack roughly one minute slower than the time posted by the 638-horsepower Corvette ZR1, which costs more than four times as much as the Cobalt SS.
The SS sport theme continues inside with two-tone upholstery, brushed silver trim on the instrument panel and contoured front bucket seats. The front seats were firm and supportive without being restrictive. Rear-seat leg-room is decent for adults.
The dash has bright gauges, and the easy-to-use audio system lets the driver create preset buttons for AM, FM or XM satellite stations. Having all presets together saves switching bands to select favorites.
Price
The base price of the test car was $23,435. Options included a power sunroof, limited-slip differential and a spare tire. The sticker price was $24,755.
Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Engine: 2.0-liter, 260-hp 4-cyl.
Transmission: Five-speed
Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 103.5 inches
Curb weight: 2,975 lbs.
Base price: $23,435
As driven: $24,755
MPG rating: 22 city, 30 hwy.
Tom Strongman’s e-mail address is tom@tomstrongman.com.
