#2009 chevrolet cobalt manual#

These models don’t have air conditioning or antilock brakes, even as options. You can find a list of the Cobalt’s standard safety features here.Įntry-level Cobalts start at $14,990 for Value Leader models with the XFE treatment. Granted, it’s not a very expensive option, but the Corolla and Civic both include the feature standard ABS is a $745 option on the Focus. On the highway, however, wind noise is more prevalent than in the Corolla or Focus, but it’s about equal with the Civic.Īntilock brakes are routinely included as standard equipment on many new cars, but the Cobalt’s ABS is still a $400 option. At slower speeds, the Cobalt isolates outside noises well, and the interior is relatively quiet. That was appreciated when I was stuck in traffic.Įven though the highway ride is uneasy at times, the Cobalt otherwise rides very smoothly for a compact car.

#2009 chevrolet cobalt manual#

The Cobalt’s manual transmission is extremely easy to drive smoothly, with a clutch that doesn’t require much work to use. The 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission combine to move the Cobalt impressively on highway on-ramps and make passing easy. Just because the Cobalt XFE is fuel efficient doesn’t mean it’s a stick in the mud in terms of acceleration. Going 70 mpg on the highway, the instantaneous gas mileage readout read 37-38 mpg. Considering I was also evaluating the car - which can sometimes be a fuel-consuming process - the average mileage was pretty impressive. I consistently averaged in the low 30-mpg range doing about 40 percent city driving and 60 percent highway. The automatic Civic and Corolla, for example, have 36 and 35 mpg ratings, respectively. With the optional four-speed automatic transmission ($925), the Cobalt loses its XFE designation and is rated 33 mpg on the highway, far from the XFE’s mileage and lower than many automatic-equipped competitors. If you opt for 16-inch wheels, the manual Cobalt’s mileage drops to 25/35 mpg. That’s unfortunate, because the car’s best mileage is achieved at highway speeds. The XFE treatment doesn’t leave the car unaffected, though, as the skinny tires make the car skittish on the highway and require constant steering correction if you want to keep it pointed straight. The XFE comes with low-rolling-resistance tires on 15-inch wheels and different manual transmission gearing to reach 37 mpg. So would a tilting front seat.Ĭhevrolet added a more efficient engine for all Cobalts for 2009 that adds variable valve timing for more power and better mileage. A telescoping steering wheel, which the Civic and Corolla include as standard equipment, would have helped with overall comfort. In its fixed position, the seat base was so flat I slid forward during braking. More problematic than panel gaps or rough plastic is how little adjustability there is in the seats - so little that long drives were uncomfortable for my 6-foot, 175-pound frame. Those looking solely for a fuel-efficient, no-frills car, however, may not be put off by that. The cheap materials and jagged plastic edges inside the Cobalt radiate an aura of cheapness. Though GM has competitive interiors in some models, the Cobalt is a great example of the flaws that gave the company a bad reputation. The Cobalt is also available in a high-performance SS version, which is reviewed here. As an overall package, it leaves something to be desired. While the XFE’s gas mileage is impressive, and the Cobalt does have competitive features, its interior refinement and ride quality aren’t up to par with the competition. The Cobalt only manages to hit that mileage mark with its manual transmission, however fuel economy takes a big hit with the optional automatic that most buyers will choose. As Chevrolet’s commercials want you to recognize, the Cobalt’s 37 mpg is better than manual versions of the Honda Civic (34 mpg), Toyota Corolla (35 mpg) and Ford Focus (35 mpg). The race to do so brought Chevrolet’s otherwise-underwhelming Cobalt compact car into the spotlight with an XFE (eXtra Fuel Economy) model that bumped the Cobalt’s highway rating to a best-in-class 36 mpg.įor 2009, there are even more XFEs: Manual versions of the base (Value Leader), LS and LT trim levels, with 15-inch wheels, all get the designation, now rated at 25/37 mpg city/highway. When gas prices peaked in the summer of 2008, automakers quickly turned out models with improved gas mileage to ease consumers’ concerns.