2006 chevrolet cobalt ss automatic coupe

#2006 chevrolet cobalt ss automatic coupe manual#
#2006 chevrolet cobalt ss automatic coupe upgrade#

Antiroll bars are fitted to the front and rear but the rear torsion beam suspension tends to crash over the same sharp road irregularities that are easily soaked up by the front. The SS has a front strut suspension and the control arms up there are made of aluminum versus heavier steel on lesser models. Not that you’ll be hitting the hairpins like a Miata but the car’s electrically-boosted steering does have a little heft despite being numb. The pull-down drawer to the left of the steering wheel is remarkably cheap feeling while the leather our seats were finished in feels downright vinyl-like and as such, isn’t particularly attractive or supportive in the corners. The cutout on the door that serves as an armrest could use some more padding. A few more dollars on the interior would go a long way toward moving this cabin to the front of the pack.

#2006 chevrolet cobalt ss automatic coupe upgrade#

We’d also recommend an upgrade to the new corporate bow-tie radio with its superior preset capabilities. A three-spoke steering wheel borrowed from the Pontiac Solstice would lend a sportier look to the cabin. We like the attractive chrome-ringed gauges and the silver-painted plastic trim breaks up the black interior well enough. Swing open the long, heavy driver’s door and you’ll find a well-equipped cabin and straightforward ergonomics. We continue to like the coupe’s clean flanks and four round taillights but a slightly lower ride height would further improve the sporty look. We are glad to report the wing on this model is substantially less over-the-top than the one that blocked all trailing traffic in the forced-induction SS. We like the design of the wheels but the wide spokes are susceptible to curb damage as nasty scrapes on the right front wheel of our tester indicated someone had already discovered. Outside the design is heavily influenced by the Supercharged Cobalt with similar front and rear fascias and attractive 17” wheels with performance tires. Ok, we’re getting sarcastic, but corporate misuse of such hallowed enthusiast heritage deserves a scolding. Factor in the slushbox and maybe GM should consider a new designator: USS (Un-Super Sport). The combination is good for 171 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque.

#2006 chevrolet cobalt ss automatic coupe manual#

We would have preferred to stick with the standard 5-speed manual but, to its credit, the optional 4-speed automatic did a fine job. For some reason, it was far smoother in this application than in the Sky we drove a few weeks before. The SS comes with the 2.4-liter VVT I4 that does duty throughout GM’s small car offerings. Fortunately, its good looks, fine fuel efficiency (32mpg highway) and well-equipped cabin are enough to make this a contender in its class. This go around, the SS coupe came sans the supercharger and, effectively, sans the excitement. It offered racy but clean exterior enhancements and a supercharged Ecotec that gave the little coupe enough scoot to feel, well, super sporty. We reviewed the SS Supercharged Cobalt last year and had plenty of good things to say about it.

It may have SS badges glued to an attractive coupe body, but this was no Super Sport. The subject of this review is the poseur. You see, Chevrolet actually offers two Cobalt SSs and one of them is worthy of the legendary designation and the other is little more than an appearance package.

The Sunburst Orange Chevy Cobalt in our fleet was wearing the two most revered letters in GM performance history, but we weren’t fooled.