Chevrolet Cavalier

Chevrolet Cavalier: generations compared: what actually changed

The catalogue lists 6 generations. Body labels in the data are Cabrio (1 generation, 2 generation, 3 generation), Coupe (3 generation, restyling and 3 generation, restyling 2), and Sedan (4 generation). Drive is FWD on every version. Boost is No on every version.

The catalogue lists 6 generations. Body labels in the data are Cabrio (1 generation, 2 generation, 3 generation), Coupe (3 generation, restyling and 3 generation, restyling 2), and Sedan (4 generation). Drive is FWD on every version. Boost is No on every version.

1 generation (1982-01-01–1987-12-31), Cabrio, 6 versions. Power band is 88–130 hp. 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT: 88 hp, 65 kW, 1796 cm³, 4 Inline. 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT: 90 hp, 66 kW, 1985 cm³, 4 Inline. 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT: 130 hp, 96 kW, 2800 cm³, 6 V-shaped. Gearboxes: Manual 4 or Automatic 3. Ground clearance 109 mm on all six. Kerb weight, tank, 0–100, top speed, torque, fuel (except 92 on the two 2.8 cars), consumption, wheels: not measured. Front brakes Disc, rear Drum. Rear suspension label: Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem.

2 generation (1988-01-01–1994-07-31), Cabrio, 12 versions. This is the only generation with both 4 Inline and 6 V-shaped engines and a full mpg table on every listed car. Displacement steps 1991 → 2190 → 2838 → 3135 cm³. Peak power in this generation is 142 hp on 3.1 AT and 3.1 MT, +12 hp versus 1 generation’s 2.8 (130 hp) and +54 hp versus 1 generation 1.8 (88 hp). Peak torque 251 N·m on the 3.1 pair is the catalogue maximum; 1 generation torque is not measured. Tank is 51 L on the 2.2/2.8/3.1 cars and 58 L on 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT. Ground clearance not measured. Front brakes become Ventilated disc. Rear suspension Independent, spring.

3 generation (1994-08-01–1999-08-31), Cabrio, 12 versions. The 6 V-shaped engines disappear. Power is 4 Inline only: 117 hp (2190 cm³), 141 hp (2189 cm³), 152 hp (2392 cm³). 152 hp is +10 hp versus 2 generation’s 142 hp 3.1, on 2392 vs 3135 cm³ — 63.5 hp/L versus 45.3 hp/L. Ground clearance is 150 mm (41 mm more than 1 generation’s 109 mm). Tank 57 or 58 L. Several 0–100 and vmax figures exist (see performance). Front brakes revert to Disc. Rear Independent, spring.

3 generation, restyling (1999-01-01–2002-08-31), Coupe, 3 versions: 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT at 117 hp, 2.4 AT at 152 hp. No 141 hp 2.2 and no 2.4 MT in this restyling. Kerb 1190 kg on both 117 hp cars, 1214 kg on 2.4 AT. Tank 57 L. vmax 170 km/h (117 hp) and 193 km/h (2.4 AT). 0–100 only on 2.4 AT: 9.3 s. Rear suspension label Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem. Front brakes Ventilated disc.

3 generation, restyling 2 (2002-09-01–2005-10-31), Coupe, 2 versions: 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT, both 141 hp / 103 kW on 2189 cm³. Versus restyling’s 117 hp 2.2, that is +24 hp on 1 cm³ less (2189 vs 2190). Compression 10 vs 9. Torque 203 N·m vs 183 N·m. Rear suspension Independent, spring. Tank not measured. These two cars set the catalogue’s best measured 0–100 (8.8 s, 2.2 AT) and vmax (201 km/h, 2.2 MT).

4 generation (2016-01-01, stop not measured), Sedan, 3 versions: 1.5 MT, 1.5 DCT, 1.0 DCT. First Robotic 6 gearboxes (1.5 DCT, 1.0 DCT). Fuel 95 (earlier Gasoline cars that list fuel use 92). Displacement collapses to 1485 and 999 cm³. Power 113 or 120 hp — below 3 generation’s 152 hp, but 1.0 DCT is 120.1 hp/L versus 53.4 hp/L on a 117 hp 2.2. Rear suspension Semi-independent, torsion. Ground clearance, tank, 0–100, consumption, CO2, eco class, wheels, compression, bore × stroke: not measured. vmax 180 km/h on all three.

Engines and specs

Same name, different power: treat 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.4 MT, 2.4 AT, 2.8 MT, 2.8 AT as families, then split by hp.

3 generation lists 2.2 AT 117 hp twice: Automatic 4 at 1290 kg, and Automatic 3 at 1190 kg. 2.2 MT 117 hp appears at 1290 kg and 1190 kg. 2.4 MT 152 hp appears at 1287 kg and 1265 kg; 2.4 AT 152 hp at 1287 kg and 1265 kg. 2.2 MT 141 hp at 1215 kg (tank 57 L) and 1240 kg (tank 58 L). 2.2 AT 141 hp: kerb not measured (tank 57 L) and 1214 kg (tank 58 L). Distinguish those rows by mass and tank, not by renaming them.

Specific output (hp per litre, from listed hp and cm³): 1.0 DCT 120.1; 1.5 MT/1.5 DCT 76.1; restyling 2 2.2 64.4; 2.4 152 hp 63.5; 117 hp 2.2 53.4; 2 generation 2.2 112 hp 51.1 / 122 hp 55.7; 3.1 45.3; 2.8 127 hp 44.7. The 3.1 buys 251 N·m (highest) at the lowest specific output among the late V6s. 1.0 DCT buys the opposite: highest hp/L, only 165 N·m.

Injection, where listed: Distributed injection (multi-point). Engine position: Front, transverse. Valves per cylinder 4 from 3 generation onward on the listed 2.2/2.4/1.5/1.0 cars; 1–2 generation valve count is in the same 4 field on those rows that have it.

Performance and economy

Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest among cars that have a number:

• 2.2 AT 141 hp, restyling 2 Coupe: 8.8 s, vmax 198 km/h
• 2.4 MT 152 hp, 3 generation Cabrio (both 1287 kg and 1265 kg rows): 8.0 s, vmax 190 km/h
• 2.2 MT 141 hp, restyling 2: 9.4 s, vmax 201 km/h (highest listed top speed)
• 2.4 AT restyling Coupe: 9.3 s, vmax 193 km/h
• 2.2 MT 141 hp, 3 generation: 9.0 s, vmax 180 km/h
• 2.2 AT 117 hp, 3 generation: 10.0 s, vmax 170 km/h
• 2.2 AT 141 hp, 3 generation, 1214 kg: 10.2 s, vmax 185 km/h
• 2.2 MT 112 hp, 2 generation: 10.8 s, vmax not measured
• 2.2 AT 112 hp, 2 generation: 13.3 s, vmax not measured

Arithmetic on those: restyling 2 2.2 AT is 0.5 s quicker than restyling 2.4 AT (8.8 vs 9.3) despite 11 hp less (141 vs 152) and almost identical kerb (1215 vs 1214 kg). Versus 3 generation 2.2 AT 141 hp at 10.2 s, the restyling 2 2.2 AT is 1.4 s quicker at 1215 vs 1214 kg. 2.4 MT at 8.0 s is 0.8 s quicker than restyling 2 2.2 AT, on 152 vs 141 hp and 1265–1287 vs 1215 kg.

Top speed span among measured cars: 170 km/h (117 hp 2.2) to 201 km/h (restyling 2 2.2 MT) — 31 km/h. 4 generation caps at 180 km/h for 113 and 120 hp alike: 1.0 DCT’s +7 hp versus 1.5 MT does not raise the listed vmax.

mpg / L/100 km (city / highway / mixed), only where measured:

• 2 gen 2.2 MT 112 hp: 9.4 / 6.5 / 8.1; 2.2 AT 112 hp: 10.2 / 7.3 / 9.0 — Automatic costs +0.8 mixed and +2.5 s 0–100 (13.3 vs 10.8).
• 2 gen 2.2 AT 122 hp: 10.2 / 7.1 / 9.0; 2.2 MT 122 hp: 9.4 / 6.5 / 8.1 — same mixed as 112 hp MT; 0–100 not measured on 122 hp.
• 2 gen 2.8 MT 127 hp: 11.8 / 8.1 / 10.2; 2.8 MT 132 hp: 13.1 / 8.1 / 10.7. The +5 hp 2.8 MT is +0.5 mixed and +1.3 city versus 127 hp MT.
• 2 gen 2.8 AT 127 and 132 hp: both 11.8 / 8.7 / 10.2.
• 2 gen 3.1 AT: 11.8 / 8.4 / 10.7; 3.1 MT: 12.4 / 8.4 / 10.7.
• 2 gen 2.0 MT 91 hp: 9.4 / 6.5 / 8.1 (same mixed as 112/122 hp 2.2 MT); 2.0 AT: 9.4 / 7.3 / 8.4.
• 3 gen 2.2 MT 141 hp (both 57 L and 58 L rows): 9.4 / 7.1 / 8.1.
• 3 gen 2.2 AT 141 hp: 9.8 / 7.4 / 8.4 (57 L, kerb not measured) and 9.8 / 7.3 / 8.7 (58 L, 1214 kg).

Not measured: every 1 generation consumption figure; restyling and restyling 2 consumption; 4 generation consumption; CO2 and eco class on all versions.

Dimensions and weight

Lightest measured kerb: 2.0 MT 91 hp at 1070 kg. Heaviest measured: 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT 117 hp Cabrio at 1290 kg (+220 kg). 4 generation sits in the middle-light band: 1185 kg (1.5 MT, 1.5 DCT), 1200 kg (1.0 DCT). Restyling 2 Coupe: 1215 kg. Restyling Coupe 117 hp: 1190 kg; 2.4 AT: 1214 kg.

kg per hp (where both exist): 2.0 AT 91 hp 11.90; restyling 2.4 AT 7.99 (1214/152) — the densest listed. Restyling 2 141 hp: 8.62. 3.1 MT 142 hp: 8.80. 1.5 MT 113 hp: 10.49. 1.0 DCT: 10.00. 1 generation kg/hp not measured (kerb not measured).

Gross mass is listed only on restyling 2.4 AT: 1654 kg (kerb 1214, payload implied 440 kg). All other gross: not measured.

Ground clearance: 109 mm (1 generation) vs 150 mm (3 generation, restyling, restyling 2) — +41 mm. 2 generation and 4 generation: not measured.

Tank: 51 L (most 2 generation except 2.0), 58 L (2.0 2 generation; some 3 generation 141 hp 2.2), 57 L (most 3 generation and restyling). Restyling 2 and 4 generation tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured on every version.

Which version to choose

Buy 4 generation if the requirement is a Sedan in production from 2016. Among 1.5 MT, 1.5 DCT and 1.0 DCT, the numbers that differ are gearbox and the 1.0 engine. 1.5 MT vs 1.5 DCT: same 113 hp, 83 kW @ 6000, 141 N·m @ 4000, 1485 cm³, 180 km/h, 1185 kg — the extra hardware is Robotic 6 versus Manual 5. 1.0 DCT vs 1.5 DCT: +7 hp, +24 N·m, −486 cm³, +15 kg, same 180 km/h, same Robotic 6. Torque arrives from 1700–4400 rpm on 1.0 DCT versus a single 4000 rpm point on the 1.5. Fuel is 95 on all three; 0–100, mpg, tank, clearance: not measured, so this generation cannot be ranked on those axes.

Buy 3 generation, restyling 2 Coupe if the requirement is the strongest measured sprint or top speed in a 2.2. 2.2 AT 141 hp: 8.8 s / 198 km/h. 2.2 MT 141 hp: 9.4 s / 201 km/h. Same 141 hp, 203 N·m, 1215 kg, 150 mm, Independent, spring both ends. The Automatic is 0.6 s quicker to 100; the Manual is 3 km/h faster on vmax. Versus restyling’s 117 hp 2.2 AT at the same 1190–1215 kg band: +24 hp, +20 N·m, vmax 198 vs 170 (+28 km/h). Tank and mpg on restyling 2: not measured.

Buy 3 generation, restyling Coupe 2.4 AT if the requirement is 152 hp with a measured 9.3 s and 193 km/h in Automatic form, plus the only listed gross mass (1654 kg). Versus restyling 2.2 AT 117 hp: +35 hp, +20 N·m, +24 kg, vmax +23 km/h, 0–100 9.3 s vs not measured. There is no 2.4 MT in this restyling.

Buy 3 generation Cabrio 2.4 MT if the requirement is the fastest listed 0–100 (8.0 s) and 152 hp with a Manual 5. vmax 190 km/h. Two kerb figures: 1287 kg and 1265 kg (−22 kg on the lighter row, same 8.0 s / 190 km/h). 2.4 AT 152 hp in this generation: 0–100 and vmax not measured — do not assume the Automatic matches 8.0 s. 2.2 MT 141 hp at 9.0 s / 180 km/h is the only 3 generation 2.2 with both a time and mixed 8.1 L/100 km.

Buy 2 generation 3.1 MT or 3.1 AT if the requirement is torque. 251 N·m @ 3200, 142 hp, 3135 cm³, 6 V-shaped, mixed 10.7. That is +86 N·m versus 4 generation 1.0 DCT (165) and +48 N·m versus 152 hp 2.4. Mixed consumption is +2.6 versus 8.1 L/100 km 2.2 manuals. 0–100 and vmax not measured.

Buy 2 generation 2.0 MT if the requirement is lowest mass. 1070 kg, 91 hp, 45.7 hp/L, mixed 8.1, tank 58 L. 2.0 AT adds 13 kg (1083) and 0.3 mixed (8.4). These are the lightest Cavaliers in the file; they are also 26 hp below 1 generation 2.8 (130 hp) and 61 hp below 3 generation 2.4.

Buy 2 generation 2.2 MT 112 hp if you want the measured 10.8 s with mixed 8.1 — the Automatic sibling 2.2 AT 112 hp is the slowest measured car at 13.3 s and mixed 9.0. The 122 hp 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT share those mpg patterns (8.1 / 9.0) but 0–100 is not measured.

Buy 1 generation 2.8 MT or 2.8 AT only if 130 hp in 1982–1987 Cabrio is the constraint. 88 hp 1.8 and 90 hp 2.0 add 2 hp for 189 cm³ (1985−1796). Almost every other dynamic number on this generation is not measured, including kerb, so they cannot be compared on kg/hp or 0–100.

Problems / reliability. This dataset has no failure rates, no service intervals, no prices. What it does show: every generation is FWD; boost No; rear brakes Drum throughout; 4 generation switches fuel from 92 to 95 and gearbox from Manual/Automatic to Robotic on two of three cars; 3 generation dropped the 6 V-shaped engines that 1–2 generation used. Missing 0–100, mpg, tank, clearance and wheels should be read as not measured, not as “does not apply.”