2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS test drive

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I just love the fact that certain cars inspire passion. It's easy to picture a passionate Lamborghini owner; a passionate Porsche owner; even a passionate Corvette owner. Can you picture an owner who is passionate about their Chevrolet Cobalt? I met a few when I drove the new 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Would they be able to recruit me into their fold? Read on. Price range $22,995 - $24,520, EPA fuel economy estimates 22 MPG city, 30 MPG highway.

First Glance: SS goes low-profile

Larger exterior photos: Front - rear

Chevrolet invited me along with a lucky handful of journalists up to Bakersfield, California to test drive the Cobalt SS on public roads and at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. (By the way, if you've never driven on a race track, do yourself a big favor and get to one right away. The first time you hit the track, you'll discover how little you actually know about driving, and you'll want to get some professional driving instruction. Good training and experience on the track will make you a better driver on the street. And it's a blast, besides. Okay, back to the Cobalt SS...)

Cobalt SS is available only as a coupe for 2008; a sedan (link goes to photo) will be added for 2009. The appearance of the SS coupe differs from the ordinary Cobalt in a few ways: a beefier front fascia with integrated fog lamps, diamond-mesh-look upper and lower grilles, sportier rocker panels, a bright-tip exhaust, 18" twin five-spoke forged aluminum wheels with performance tires, and the choice of a low profile rear deck-mounted spoiler (standard) or a high profile "boy racer" wing (a $150 option). Oh, and that all-important "SS" badge, tastefully displayed on the front, rear and each rocker panel. The SS treatment doesn't transform the Cobalt; it's actually pretty subtle and not overly showy (as long as you choose the low profile spoiler).

In the Driver's Seat: Great seats, but not enough pizzazz

Aside from the seats and the boost gauge on the A-pillar, there's disappointingly little to distinguish the SS from lesser Cobalts

Photo © General Motors

Larger interior photo

Inside, the SS treatment continues. Whereas the previous edition of the Cobalt SS offered an upgraded seat only as an add-on option, the new SS package includes a very comfortable, supportive set of SS embroidered sport seats with no upcharge. I really came to appreciate the suede-like UltraLux inserts in the seats, which kept my cheeks planted when the roads got curvy.

Sitting in the driver's seat, I was greeted by a beefy, leather-wrapped steering wheel that adjusted for tilt but not for reach. I noticed this when I took a Cobalt with the optional ($750) headroom-robbing sunroof out on the track, as I had to lean the seat back in order to accommodate my gigantic helmet (one of the downsides of having a gigantic head) and found the steering wheel too far away. About.com Car Shopping Tip: If you plan to take your Cobalt SS on the track, be sure to bring your helmet to the dealership for your test drive. (And be sure to e-mail us a picture of the salesman's face when you put it on.)

Other than that, the interior is pretty much standard Cobalt, which is to say, just okay. Material choices, fit and finish are adequate, and the design is ho-hum. I would have liked a little more of the SS splash inside -- how about an SS logo on the steering wheel, Chevy? How about a little more brushed aluminum or machine turning? Hopefully the aftermarket will help owners to personalize their SS interiors. At least the dashboard wears a matte finish, which keeps reflection off of the steeply-raked windshield to a minimum.

On the Road: Chevy does their turbo homework

Let's look under the hood. Is that a turbocharger? Why, yes it is! The old Cobalt SS made its power (205 hp/200 lb-ft of torque) with the help of a supercharger. Both superchargers and turbochargers boost engine power by increasing the pressure of the air that's going through the engine. A supercharger gets its power mechanically, from a belt attached to the engine. A turbo gets its power from exhaust gases, so it is (in theory) more efficient. Each system has its benefits and drawbacks. Traditionally, superchargers deliver more low end punch, while turbos spool up and wallop you with a rush of power higher in the rev range. Chevy engineers did a lot of work to tame the turbo lag that can afflict a poorly-tuned turbo, and the result is that the Cobalt SS's 2.0 liter delivers its power (260 hp/260 lb-ft of torque) smoothly and linearly, with plenty of torque available at low RPMs.

More power requires better braking and traction control and a more robust transmission to get the power to pavement. Cobalt SS comes with power 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brembo calipers, a truly high-end solution to the stopping problem. A five-speed manual transmission is the only available choice -- no automatic here. To facilitate quick starts and quick shifting, electronic launch control can be engaged via a button on the instrument panel, and the engine supports "no-lift" shifting -- just keep your foot on the gas while you change gears and the computer keeps the revs in the right range. Takes a little getting used to, but with practice you can really rocket the SS off the line.

Journey's End: Excellent -- but so is the competition

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Photo © General Motors

Put your SS through its paces on a curvy road, or on a roadrace course, and you'll discover that it is nice and flat through the curves. Even though the SS is a front-wheel drive vehicle, torque steer (the tendency of front-wheel drive vehicles to pull to one side under power) is barely noticeable. Steering feel is good, though the turning radius is much wider (39.4') than you'd expect for a compact car, which could be an issue in parking lots.

Cobalt SS is a lot of car for the money. The only problem is the competition -- specifically, the Mazdaspeed3. On paper, Cobalt matches up well with the 'Speed3, but the Mazda is more refined, better looking and more fun to drive. With its four doors and hatchback, it is also more useful on a day-to-day basis. You will also want to check out the Honda Civic Si and the Nissan Sentra SE-R. If you can step up closer to the $30,000 mark (or beyond), the Subaru WRX STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will reward your generosity with racetrack-ready performance that will challenge your ability to keep your driver's license. Personally, I'd spend my hard-earned dollars on the Mazdaspeed3.

Don't tell the Chevy faithful that I said that, though. Cobalt SS owners are a very tight-knit community -- check out CobaltSS.net for a sampling. I admire their passion -- I just don't share their taste in cars. -- Jason Fogelson

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