2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

The Chevrolet Cobalt isn't featured in any major head-to-head tests for 2008, though editors at ConsumerGuide.com do use the results of extensive road testing to rank the Cobalt against the compact class as a whole. The 2008 Cobalt is the subject of several interesting single-car reviews, however. Consumer Reports magazine hones in on the essentials -- safety, drive-feel and long-term predicted reliability -- the last of which is a facet also addressed in a review for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt at CarCritic.com. Edmunds.com offers a well-balanced overview that includes some brief, informal comparison of the Cobalt with class-leading rivals. More broad-based articles from the National Motorists Association, Money magazine and About.com focus on the overall value and cost of ownership.

The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt is offered in sedan and coupe versions. It competes, price-wise, with the Honda Civic (*est. $14,800 to $23,250)and Honda Fit (*est. $13,950 to $16,070), both of which receive better reviews overall. Still, some reviews acknowledge that the Cobalt is a huge improvement over the Chevrolet Cavalier, which it replaced in 2005. Changes made for 2008 include the addition of standard side-curtain air bags and satellite radio, but side air bags are not available. Fuel economy and performance of the SS coupe are high points in most reviews of the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, but almost all say that rear-seat access and legroom can be an issue. Overall reliability seems to be about average.