Chevrolet Cobalt replaced the Cavalier in 2004, and it was a compact sedan that dreamed big and offered little for its customers unless they were a rental company.
GM tried to wash away the bad reputation gained by the Cavalier and changed the car’s name, and improved it in every way. The era of Bob Lutz started, and he didn’t want to cut corners anymore. The carmaker already had a low-budget econobox built on top of a Korean platform (the Aveo), so it didn’t want to make another low-budget car in the compact segment.

From the outside, the Cobalt featured angled headlights with sharp, angular lines on the inner side, and the wrapped-around, body-colored bumper made a good impression on a market where the Asian cars already gained their reputation. The reversed trapezoidal grille sported a horizontal slat adorned with the golden Chevy badge. Despite being on the budget side of the compact segment, it featured body-colored door handles and mirrors. Its profile resembled the European Opel/Vauxhall Astra, especially on the C-pillars. The carmaker tried to manage the big-taillights vs. wide trunk opening situation and handled it fine in the back.

The Cobalt could look like a cheap economy car or a premium wanna-be inside, depending on the trim level. The base levels featured cloth upholstery and a cheap-looking instrument panel saved only by its white dials. Still, the carmaker provided the vehicle with standard AC, power windows, and power mirrors. The customers could enjoy the artificial leather, the sunroof, and the wood trims on the dashboard for the top-spec version.

Under the hood, GM offered the Cobalt with two engine versions. Its coupe sibling also received a supercharged four-banger made to compete in the boy-racer segment.