Overview
For a base price of $21,995, Chevrolet Cobalt SS buyers get 18-inch Pirelli tires, four-wheel disc brakes, a rear wing and lower body kit, an auxiliary iPod jack, traction control, leather seats, and the usual assortment of power features.
For its introductory year, the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt is offered in sedan and coupe configurations, with the SS Supercharged Coupe and its $21,995 sticker price (including a $565 destination charge) topping the lineup. Two additional Cobalt SS models will be offered for the 2006 model year, the SS Coupe and the SS Sedan, though neither will be supercharged. Included with the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe’s base price are a host of comfort and convenience features, as well as a few that clearly separate this sport coupe from its more mainstream stable mates. Most notable among those unique items is a supercharged 2.0-liter, 16-valve, all-aluminum four-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams. Grunt is delivered aplenty, with 205 horsepower thundering in at 5,600 rpm and 200 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4,400 rpm. A five-speed manual transmission directs it all to the front wheels, which like the rears are 18-inch alloys wrapped in 215/45 Pirelli P Zero Rosso performance tires. Buyers of the SS Supercharged Coupe also gain exclusive rights to beefier disc brakes (lower models utilize rear drums), a performance-tuned suspension, a massive rear wing, small front fog lights, and body enhancements that include front and rear air dams and lower side skirts. Inside are steering wheel audio controls; leather seats; an upgraded sound system with an MP3 player, subwoofer, and iPod auxiliary jack; a turbo boost gauge on the left A-pillar; and standard items like power windows, air conditioning, tilt steering, and traction control. Side-curtain airbags can be added for an extra cost, as can OnStar telematics, XM satellite radio, and a power sunroof. There’s also a Performance Package which includes a limited slip differential and Recaro front bucket seats. Available colors include Rally Yellow, Sunburst Orange, Victory Red, and Arrival Blue. Our test car was dipped in Arrival Blue and was fitted with the Performance Package, OnStar, and side airbags, for a total as-tested price of $24,585 including the $565 destination charge. Though these options added about $2,500 to the bottom line, the Performance Package proves to be well worth its $1,500 price during spirited driving and, at $395, the side airbags are cheap peace-of-mind. If anything, the $695 OnStar package could be axed, bringing the as-tested price below $24,000.
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