Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Cobalt: generations: what actually changed

Chevrolet Cobalt has 3 generations in this catalogue. Restyling is not a fourth generation: it sits inside the second.

Chevrolet Cobalt has 3 generations in this catalogue. Restyling is not a fourth generation: it sits inside the second.

2 generation (2013-01-01–2015-11-30) and 2 generation, restyling (2015-12-01–2020-12-31) are both Sedan, both with two versions named 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT. Power stays 105 hp at 5800 rpm and 134 Nm at 4000. 0–100 stays 11.7 s, top speed 170. Mixed use stays 6.5 on 1.5 MT and 7.6 on 1.5 AT. What the restyling does not buy: quicker acceleration. What it does change in the numbers: 1.5 AT kerb drops from 1170 kg to 1160 kg (−10 kg); 1.5 MT kerb stays 1140 kg. Output in kW is listed as 78 on 2 generation and 77 on restyling at the same 105 hp. Wheel sizes 185/75 R14 and 195/65 R15 are measured only on 2 generation 1.5 AT; restyling wheels are not measured. Ground clearance is not measured on every 1.5 version.

1 generation (2004-01-01–2010-12-31) is Coupe, not Sedan. The catalogue lists 15 versions; 12 are shown here. Displacement jumps from 1485 to 1998 / 2198 / 2384. Peak power on the shown set is 205 hp (2.0 MT) versus 105 hp on every later 1.5. Tank is 49 versus 46. Rear suspension is not one recipe: Dependent, leaf spring, Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem, and Independent, spring all appear. Rear brakes are Disc on some versions and Drum on others.

Buying a later Cobalt is buying a smaller naturally aspirated 1485 engine and a Sedan. Buying a first-generation Cobalt is buying a Coupe and a spread of 2.0 / 2.2 / 2.4 Gasoline engines. There is no overlap year: first generation ends 2010-12-31; second starts 2013-01-01.

Engine specs (all named versions)

Every engine here is Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), FWD. Boost is No except 2.0 MT (Compressor). Fuel grade is 95 on all 1.5 versions, 92 where measured on first generation, and not measured on several 2.2 / 2.4 rows.

Same name, different output — treat as different cars:

• 2.2 MT: 147, 145, 148, 155 hp
• 2.2 AT: 147, 145, 148, 155 hp
• 2.4 AT: 174 hp and 171 hp

Horsepower per litre (hp ÷ litres of obyom_dvigatelya):

• 2.0 MT: 205 / 1.998 ≈ 102.6 hp/L — the only Compressor row, and the densest
• 2.4 MT 174 hp: 174 / 2.384 ≈ 73.0 hp/L
• 2.4 AT 171 hp: 171 / 2.384 ≈ 71.7 hp/L
• 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT: 105 / 1.485 ≈ 70.7 hp/L
• 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT 155 hp: 155 / 2.198 ≈ 70.5 hp/L
• 2.2 148 hp: ≈ 67.3 hp/L; 147 hp: ≈ 66.9; 145 hp: ≈ 66.0

The 1.5 engine is not “weak per litre” versus naturally aspirated 2.2; it is close to the 155 hp 2.2. What it lacks is absolute power: 105 versus 145–205. Compression is 10.2 on 1.5, 9.5 on 2.0 MT, 10 on 2.2, 10.4 on 2.4. Bore × stroke: 74.71 × 84.7 (1.5), 86 × 86 (2.0 MT), 86 × 94.6 (2.2), 88 × 98 (2.4).

Performance and economy (mpg / L/100 km as given)

0–100, where measured:

• 2.0 MT: 5.4 s — 6.3 s quicker than any 1.5
• 2.2 MT 147 hp and 2.2 MT 145 hp: 6.2 s
• 2.4 MT: 7.1 s (1.7 s slower than 2.0 MT, 4.6 s quicker than 1.5)
• 2.2 AT 147 hp and 2.4 AT 174 hp: 8.8 s
• 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT (both generations): 11.7 s
• not measured: 2.2 AT 145 hp, 2.2 MT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 155 hp, 2.2 MT 155 hp, 2.4 AT 171 hp

Top speed: 230 (2.0 MT), 225 (2.2 MT 147 and 145 hp), 190 (2.4 MT), 170 (every 1.5). not measured on 2.2 AT 147 hp, 2.4 AT 174 hp, 2.2 AT 145 hp, both 148 hp versions, both 155 hp versions, 2.4 AT 171 hp.

Automatic versus manual on the same engine:

• 1.5: 0–100 is the same 11.7; the Automatic costs fuel, not seconds. Mixed 7.6 versus 6.5 (+1.1), city 10.4 versus 8.4 (+2.0), highway 5.9 versus 5.3 (+0.6). The Automatic is 6 gears versus 5.
• 2.2 147 hp: Manual 6.2 s versus Automatic 8.8 s (+2.6 s). Mixed on the Manual is 7.4; Automatic mixed is not measured.
• 2.4 174 hp: Manual 7.1 s versus Automatic 8.8 s (+1.7 s). Fuel on both is not measured.

First-generation mixed figures that exist: 2.2 MT 147 hp 7.4; 2.2 MT 145 hp 8.0; 2.2 AT 145 hp 8.4; 2.0 MT 9. City/highway on 2.0 MT: 10.2 / 7.4. On 2.2 MT 147 hp: 10.2 / 5.9. On 2.2 MT 145 hp: 9.5 / 6.1. On 2.2 AT 145 hp: 9.9 / 6.6. Remaining first-generation fuel rows are not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured on every version.

A 1.5 MT at 6.5 mixed uses 2.5 less than 2.0 MT at 9, with 100 hp less and 6.3 s more to 100. That is the economy-versus-speed trade in this catalogue.

Dimensions, weight, clearance, wheels

Kerb and kg per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp), where kerb is measured:

• 1.5 MT (both 2 generation and restyling): 1140 kg → 10.86 kg/hp. Gross 1590.
• 1.5 AT restyling: 1160 kg → 11.05 kg/hp. Gross 1620. 20 kg heavier than 1.5 MT.
• 1.5 AT 2 generation: 1170 kg → 11.14 kg/hp. Gross 1620. 10 kg heavier than restyling 1.5 AT.
• 2.0 MT: 1274 kg → 6.21 kg/hp — lightest per horsepower in the set. Gross not measured.
• 2.2 MT 155 hp and 2.2 MT 148 hp: 1265 kg → 8.16 and 8.55 kg/hp.
• 2.4 MT: 1280 kg → 7.36 kg/hp.
• 2.2 MT 145 hp: 1301 kg → 8.97 kg/hp.
• 2.2 AT 148 hp and 2.2 AT 155 hp: 1320 kg → 8.92 and 8.52 kg/hp.
• 2.4 AT 171 hp: 1330 kg → 7.78 kg/hp.
• 2.2 MT 147 hp: 1350 kg → 9.18 kg/hp — heaviest measured kerb.
• Kerb not measured: 2.2 AT 147 hp, 2.4 AT 174 hp, 2.2 AT 145 hp.

Payload on the 1.5 rows: 1590 − 1140 = 450 kg (1.5 MT); 1620 − 1160 = 460 kg (restyling 1.5 AT); 1620 − 1170 = 450 kg (2 generation 1.5 AT). First-generation gross is not measured, so payload is not measured.

Ground clearance 136 is listed on 2.0 MT, 2.2 MT 147 hp, 2.2 AT 147 hp, 2.4 AT 174 hp, 2.2 MT 145 hp, 2.2 AT 145 hp, 2.4 AT 171 hp. not measured on 2.4 MT, 2.2 MT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 155 hp, 2.2 MT 155 hp, and every 1.5.

Tank: 46 (1.5), 49 (first generation), +3. Theoretical mixed range using measured mixed figures: 1.5 MT 46 / 6.5 ≈ 7.1 “tankfuls of 100 km”; 1.5 AT 46 / 7.6 ≈ 6.1; 2.2 MT 147 hp 49 / 7.4 ≈ 6.6; 2.0 MT 49 / 9 ≈ 5.4. Wheels: only 2 generation 1.5 AT lists 185/75 R14 and 195/65 R15; all other versions not measured. Length and overall size are not measured.

Chassis split that matters when choosing a first-generation car: 2.4 AT 174 hp is the only version with rear Independent, spring and rear Disc. 2.0 MT, 2.2 MT 147 hp, 2.2 AT 147 hp, 2.2 MT 145 hp, 2.2 AT 145 hp, 2.4 AT 171 hp use rear Dependent, leaf spring. 2.4 MT, 2.2 MT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 155 hp, 2.2 MT 155 hp use rear Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem and rear Drum. Front brakes: Ventilated disc on all 1.5; Disc on all shown first-generation cars.

Which version to choose

Daily Sedan, lowest fuel, lightest kerb: 1.5 MT, either 2 generation or restyling. Same 105 hp, 1140 kg, 6.5 mixed, 11.7 s, 170 km/h. Restyling does not change those. Prefer restyling 1.5 AT over 2 generation 1.5 AT only if you want the Automatic: you save 10 kg and nothing else measured.

Daily Sedan, Automatic: 1.5 AT. You keep 11.7 s and 170; you pay +1.1 mixed and +20 kg (restyling) or +30 kg (2 generation) versus 1.5 MT. Six gears versus five is the mechanical extra, not more horsepower.

Fastest Coupe, highest hp, best kg/hp and hp/L: 2.0 MT — 205 hp, Compressor, 5.4 s, 230, 1274 kg, ≈ 6.21 kg/hp, ≈ 102.6 hp/L. Mixed 9 is the highest measured mixed in the set. Rear Dependent, leaf spring, rear Disc, tank 49, clearance 136.

Coupe Manual without Compressor, still quick: 2.2 MT 147 hp or 2.2 MT 145 hp, both 6.2 s and 225. The 147 hp car is 49 kg heavier (1350 vs 1301) but uses 7.4 mixed versus 8.0. The 145 hp car is lighter and thirstier. 2.4 MT (174 hp, 7.1 s, 190, 1280 kg) is the strongest naturally aspirated Manual; fuel not measured; rear is Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem and Drum, not the leaf-spring Disc layout of 2.0 MT.

Coupe Automatic: the only measured 0–100 figures are 8.8 s on 2.2 AT 147 hp and 2.4 AT 174 hp — identical time despite 27 hp difference. 2.4 AT 174 hp is the one with rear Independent, spring and rear Disc; kerb and fuel not measured. 2.4 AT 171 hp has kerb 1330 kg, fuel 92, 0–100 not measured, rear Dependent, leaf spring and Drum. 2.2 AT 145 hp is the only Automatic with a full fuel set (9.9 / 6.6 / 8.4) but 0–100 and top speed not measured. 2.2 AT 148 hp and 2.2 AT 155 hp share 1320 kg; the 155 hp row has 7 hp more and 7 Nm less (203 vs 210).

Avoid if you need a complete measured sheet: 2.2 MT 148 hp, 2.2 AT 148 hp, 2.2 MT 155 hp, 2.2 AT 155 hp — fuel, 0–100, top speed, clearance (except none of these list 136), wheels, and fuel grade are not measured. They exist in the catalogue; they are the worst documented.

Do not mix generations by name. 1.5 MT is a Sedan 105 hp car. 2.0 MT is a Coupe 205 hp car. The later car is 134 kg lighter than 2.0 MT and 100 hp down. Reliability and used-market price are not measured here; the numbers that are measured already split the range into a light 1.5 pair and a first-generation Coupe ladder from 145 hp to 205 hp.