Should I take a chance on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
To its credit, Chevrolet has bumped the powertrain warranty on the Cobalt to provide modestly competitive coverage (except for the SS Supercharged) and our test sample was impressively built with few quality flaws. The car is easy to drive, comfortable for front seat occupants, and even stylish depending on what equipment you select. Downsides include unrefined and outdated mechanicals, unimpressive fuel economy, a small back seat, a high liftover into the trunk, and a new-car smell that will remind you more of Avis and National than a vehicle to be proud of. Big rebates and incentives are likely, but despite discounts, unless you buy and drive until the wheels fall off, the Cobalt is not likely to hold its value over time like a Honda or Toyota.

Is the Chevrolet Cobalt as good as the critics say?
As this is written, Los Angeles is peppered with billboards proclaiming a quote from a reputable automotive publication that says the Cobalt is one of the great new cars for 2005. Under the skin it’s a Saturn Ion, which was one of the worst new cars for 2003. Though the Cobalt is a much better vehicle than the Saturn, mostly because of its superior interior design and amazing build quality, we would not call it one of the best new cars on the market. Rather, it falls mid-pack behind segment leaders like the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla.

What would you buy in this segment? Why?
Honda Civics are safe, reliable, and hold their value well. Plus, lots of aftermarket parts make them easy to customize. Toyota Corollas are durable, refined, and worth some money after a few years. But the Mazda 3 is our favorite in the class, because we like to drive, and its driving character reminds us of a BMW 3-Series except for a lack of engine power.