09 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo Sedan By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Recently I had a lot of fun with the new 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo.  Right up front, let me say that Road & Track magazine calls this “the most underrated car in the world.”  Others say it is the “best bang for the buck” in the sport compact car category.  However you might want to describe it is up to you, but this is a great little car that has more ability than it appears by a simple look-over.

    My test model was a dark blue color called Imperial Blue Metallic.  The interior was gray with black accents.  It was a five speed manual transmission because all the Cobalt SS Turbo sedans are standard shift.  It was powered by a terrific 2.0 liter, four cylinder, turbo-charged engine that puts out 260 horsepower.
This car is fun to drive because it has so much extra power under the hood.  It takes turns quickly.  It accelerates rapidly.  It can get the adrenalin moving easily, especially if like to push the pedal to the metal on a regular basis.  This aspect appeals to those who lean slightly to the side of being performance buffs.  But this can be a fun car to drive just on a regular, day-to-day basis.  It has a fairly good ride and good handling.

I took the Chevy Cobalt on a two day road trip.  Four adults in a little car for several hundred miles.  Obviously, the back seat can become a little bit uncomfortable after that much time on the road.  There wasn’t a lot of room for stretching out, but the rear seat was adequate and surprisingly roomy for a small car.  The front seat was not plush by any means, but did not tire the driver or passenger, being more supportive than I had anticipated.  One thing I noticed was that the gear shift lever was placed slightly to the rear, much closer to the seat.  I didn’t’ have to reach forward and stretch very often.  The materials and interior were fairly straightforward and some might call it plain and simple.  For the low price, I was surprised by the interior.  More than that, the trunk area was huge for a small car. 

It might appear that the sport performance engineers designed this car.  It has a lot of low-end torque and the suspension is fairly good.  For years, low priced small cars have not received a lot of attention other than making the engines bigger or faster.  This new Chevy Cobalt may have struck the optimal balance.  Stats say that this little non-descript car can hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.  Unless it is a bad road, you don’t feel the bumps very often.  That is a good balance.

The manual transmission is called a short-throw shifter.  It slides easily between gears and there is no need to take your foot off the gas when you shift.  It doesn’t rev up and race the engine.  The power bands are engineered so that the driver can start up from second or even third gear without a problem.

My test model was equipped with a performance handling suspension system, Brembo brakes, 18 inch wheels and performance tires, XM satellite radio, a high performance audio system that included seven Pioneer brand speakers, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, rear window defroster, and a lot more.
Now for the surprising part – the price.  Bottom line sticker price, including delivery and all options on my test model, was just $24,105.  The EPA fuel economy rates it at 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.  I think I got slightly better than the 30 on my road trip.

The Cobalt SS was tested  as a performance car in Nurburgring and set a lap record for a compact car.  From the exterior, the Cobalt is rather ordinary.  It’s what’s up under the hood that counts on this baby.  Check it out yourself at a Chevrolet or General Motors dealership.  You might be as surprised as I was with the new Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo.