This is the first Chevrolet Cavalier that had a more streamlined look, as opposed to the more boxier look of the older models.
It was notorious because of its low scores in crash tests made by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The IIHS also rated the Cavalier as the “Highest rates of driver deaths,” with 150 deaths for the 4 door version and 171 deaths for the 2 door model per million registered vehicle deaths. The previously available V6 engine was ditched so all you could have were inline-four.