Supercharge anything, and I'm there. The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe boosts its 2.0 Liter 4 cylinder engine up to 205 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, all for a list price of $21,430 ($24,585 as tested) with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. And wrapping that engine with a pretty nice little car is a great bonus. In the first year since 1967 without a Camaro in the lineup, Chevrolet may have minted a viable alternative affordable American hot rod in the 2005 Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe.
First Glance
I don't like high rear spoilers on street cars – I can't help it, I just think they're silly. That said, the Cobalt SS's spoiler is body-colored and fairly restrained in size. The Cobalt's body is otherwise sleek and relatively unadorned. A body-colored sport front fascia and rocker moldings bring the car closer to the ground. The front fascia cleverly integrates fog lamps. Big 18" painted aluminum wheels fill the wheel wells. Impressively large calipers and discs peek out through the wheel slots. The "SS" badging on the Cobalt is very cool looking, and a subtle "Supercharged" label adds to the punch. Chevy certainly didn't take many chances with the styling of the Cobalt. It is a very ordinary-looking car that I'd be hard pressed to pick out of a lineup in standard dress. In SS Supercharged trim, it at least stands out from other subcompacts.
On the plus side, the build quality and general overall fitness of the Cobalt impressed me. The "Arrival Blue Metallic" paint on my test car was eye-popping and well-applied. I noticed a few fellow motorists eyeing the car on the road, and even had a tuner car driver pull up at a traffic light and rev his engine in challenge. Being a responsible driver, I didn't rise to the bait, of course.
In the Driver's Seat
I measure a great riding experience by the seat of my pants - literally. If I'm not comfortable in the driver's seat, I can't enjoy the car. The Cobalt SS's Recaro front bucket seats are part of a $1,500 option package that includes a limited slip differential. The seat of my pants was very happy with the Recaro seats. They are supportive and adjustable, and they give great lateral support. Unfortunately, they haven't been well-integrated into the Cobalt Coupe. If you ever need to carry passengers, the Recaros make getting in and out of the back seat an enormous pain for all involved. There's no easy way to slide the seats forward, and no easy way to return to your preferred driving position. Once you get your passengers in to the back, they're in for a cramped ride. A child seat would require contortions.
The big oddity on the Cobalt is the trunk - it's enormous, but it has a tiny mouth. Check your bags for fit before heading off on a trip.
The Cobalt dash looks just right - not too much flash, just the facts, ma'am. There's a lot of plastic on display, but it's tasteful and solid. And there's a boost gauge for the supercharger prominently on display at the base of the left "A" pillar to remind you of the power under the hood.
On The Road
So, does the performance of the Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe justify the minor design inconveniences? Well, there's a lot of fun to be had on the road with this car. Freeway onramps are a blast, especially with the five-speed manual transmission and the boost gauge staring you in the face. A turbo gives a more primitive kick in the pants, but the supercharger's linear power blast is always on tap. If you keep the revs up in the powerband, the SS really delivers. When the road turns curvy, the SS eats it up with gusto. The "Performance Handling Suspension" reduces body roll. Rough roads and sharp bumps are a little harsh, as is usually the case in the performance/comfort tradeoff. But in the balance, the Cobalt gives an overall good ride, pleasant enough on the highway, fun and spirited on the back roads. The manual clutch and transmission are compliant and easy to operate, even in heavy traffic. I wouldn't hesitate to use the five-speed Cobalt SS for daily commuting. It gets pretty good mileage (23 city/29 highway per the EPA) to boot.
Visibility is a little bit compromised by that high rear spoiler. At my eyeline, it cut off the tops of cars in my rear view, so every sedan looked like a potential police cruiser. Nerve-wracking.
Journey's End
If you're looking for a front-wheel drive performance subcompact right now, you're probably looking to Japan for inspiration. In the Cobalt's price range, you have to consider the Nissan Sentra SE-R, Scion tC, Honda Civic Si and the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. Europe's Mini Cooper S is also in the Cobalt's ballpark. From US manufacturers, the Dodge Neon SRT-4 and the Ford Focus ZX3 SES are worth a glance. For a real American rear-wheel drive hotrod coupe, you've got to drive the Ford Mustang. In V6 form, it's a bargain.
With all this competition, where does the Cobalt SS slot in? In the best sense, it's a matter of taste and suitability. If the Cobalt's restrained styling, spirited performance and sporty ride appeal to you, you may be able to overlook its cramped rear seat, odd trunk and harsh suspension. There's much to like in the Cobalt. The supercharger and its boost gauge are very appealing. My only serious knock on the car is its limited utility. As much as I enjoyed driving the Cobalt, I couldn't live with one as my only car in the long term.
If you're looking for a sporty commuter or second car, though, check out the Cobalt SS. It won't make you forget your Camaro, but you may find your alternative American hot rod.
