2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Review

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Introduced in 2005 as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cavalier, the 2008 Cobalt is in every way a more rewarding car to drive. Based on GM's Delta platform, which also underpins the Saturn Ion, the Cobalt adds a lot of refinements over its Saturn counterpart in both powertrain and chassis tuning. With two engine choices and three trim levels for each of two body styles, the Cobalt also offers buyers a lot of room for personalization.

The standard engine for both the coupe and sedan is a 148-horsepower, 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder. Choosing the Sport version of either model gets you a 171-horsepower bored-and-stroked 2.4L Ecotec with variable cam timing. Along with impressive performance, you also get a modified sport suspension, and wide 50-series tires on 17-inch wheels.... see more

Introduced in 2005 as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cavalier, the 2008 Cobalt is in every way a more rewarding car to drive. Based on GM's Delta platform, which also underpins the Saturn Ion, the Cobalt adds a lot of refinements over its Saturn counterpart in both powertrain and chassis tuning. With two engine choices and three trim levels for each of two body styles, the Cobalt also offers buyers a lot of room for personalization.

The standard engine for both the coupe and sedan is a 148-horsepower, 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder. Choosing the Sport version of either model gets you a 171-horsepower bored-and-stroked 2.4L Ecotec with variable cam timing. Along with impressive performance, you also get a modified sport suspension, and wide 50-series tires on 17-inch wheels. It also comes with four-wheel disc brakes, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, and a large rear spoiler. Optional are leather front bucket seats.

Most buyers are more likely to choose the less performance-oriented versions, but the Cobalt doesn't disappointment here either. The base LS models have a fair amount of standard equipment, including air conditioning with cabin filter, an AM/FM/CD player with an MP3 input jack, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a tachometer, and a rear 60/40 split bench seat with a trunk pass-through

Opting for the LT trim can add body color fascias, power windows, mirrors and door locks, and an upgraded stereo. The top-of-the line Sport trim adds fog lamps, and traction control and still comes in just shy of $20,000.
For 2008, the Chevy Cobalt has dropped the SS Supercharged coupe and LTZ sedan, and the SS models from 2007 are now called Sport models. In addition head curtain side air bags, XM satellite radio, and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard on all 2008 Chevy Cobalts, and the Sports models get StabiliTrak and OnStar standard. The LT offers a Bright Chrome Appearance Package that includes chrome door handles, chrome grille, body-color front and rear fascias, and fog lights. The Revolution Edition Package is also new on the LT, and adds four-wheel ABS, a rear spoiler, aluminum wheels, and a chrome exhaust tip. Imperial Blue Metallic, Blue Flash Metallic and Slate Metallic are 3 new exterior colors that join the 2008 palette. see less

Trims	City MPG	Hwy MPG	MSRP	Invoice	Displacement	Engine
2dr Cpe LS	24	33	$14,410	$13,617.45	2.2L/134	Gas 4-Cyl
2dr Cpe LT	24	33	$15,120	$14,288.40	2.2L/134	Gas 4-Cyl
2dr Cpe SS	22	30	$22,335	$21,106.58	2.0L/122	Gas 4-Cyl
2dr Cpe Sport	22	32	$19,695	$18,611.78	2.4L/146	Gas 4-Cyl
4dr Sdn LS	24	33	$14,410	$13,617.45	2.2L/134	Gas 4-Cyl
4dr Sdn LT	24	33	$15,120	$14,288.40	2.2L/134	Gas 4-Cyl
4dr Sdn Sport	22	32	$19,695	$18,611.78	2.4L/146	Gas 4-Cyl

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Â 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT STYLING | [7 out of 10]

Car and Driver: "The look of the Cobalt is forgettable and uninspiring"
Edmunds: "a much more modern entry in the economy-car segment"
Kelley Blue Book: "an attractive small car"
Detroit News: "a tastefully designed cockpit with high-quality materials"
Cars.com: "Attractive, if basic, interior"

The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt is Chevy's entry into the compact-car segment. Launched in 2005, the Cobalt replaced the Cavalier, and it's built on the same front-drive Delta platform as the Saturn Astra.

For 2008, Chevrolet offers many different flavors of Cobalt, and the styling ranges from mild to sort of wild, depending on the particular model. ConsumerGuide notes that the Chevrolet 2008 Cobalt comes as a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. Edmunds briefly describes the complicated offering from Chevrolet: "Cobalt is available in compact sedan and coupe body styles, each split into LS, LT and Sport trim levels. Additionally, the Cobalt SS is a coupe-only model for 2008." Cars.com adds, "Both body styles feature a horizontally split grille with a gold bow tie badge." Edmunds calls the styling plain "unless you upgrade to the Sport or SS model." The top-of-the-line SS version of the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt has by far the most flamboyant styling, described by The Auto Channel as "dressed up with unique front and rear fascias, slightly lowered ride height and increased track, special rocker molding, standard rear wing, 18-inch twin five-spoke forged aluminum wheels, SS badging and some great, vivid colors." Other models are less gussied up, however, leading Car and Driver to describe the 2008 Chevrolet as "forgettable and uninspiring."

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

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