2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged

Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged is fast, but it doesn't feel like it and sure doesn't sound like it

Jan 27, 2007

Chevrolet's famous SS, or Super Sport package, was introduced in 1961. At the time, it could be combined with larger engine options, but on its own it was just trim items and heavier-duty shocks.

Today, though, it's all about the power: the Cobalt's base 2.2-litre engine is upgraded to a 171 hp 2.4-litre in the Cobalt SS. But should that not be enough, there's a final step up to the SS Supercharged, which coaxes 205 horses from its 2.0-litre powerplant.

Unlike the SS, which also comes in a four-door version, the SS Supercharged is strictly a two-door. It's also the only Cobalt that can't be ordered with an automatic transmission; instead, there's a Supercharged-specific five-speed with short-throw shifter.

Other Supercharger-only items include a performance suspension, 18-inch wheels, titanium-faced cluster with boost gauge, and a huge rear spoiler wing that could use some toning down. C'mon, guys, even the boy racers abandoned the trunk-mounted shopping-cart handles a long time ago.

The Supercharged can also be ordered with my tester's $2,365 Recaro Performance Package, which adds narrow but very comfortable sport seats and a limited-slip differential.

Despite being the smallest of the three available engines, the 2.0-litre gets its extra wallop from its supercharger, which forces extra air into the engine. Unlike a turbocharger, which does the same thing but relies on exhaust for its power, the supercharger has no lag between the time you press the throttle and the moment the engine springs into action.

The downside is a premium fuel recommendation, which can add up quickly at today's prices, even at the car's reasonable return of 9.3 L/100 km.

This Cobalt is quick, and the clutch and shifter have a very smooth, close-coupled action with well-spaced gears. A very wide torque band means you don't have to shift excessively, and I felt little need to get up into fifth except on the highway.

But the sound is all wrong: it's buzzy where it should be throaty, techno-heavy where it should be raw and visceral. The car's fast, but it doesn't feel like it, and it certainly doesn't sound like it. It may be based on a bread-and-butter economy car, but I think it needs that old-school SS sound.

That said, its surprisingly civilized manners may strike a chord with buyers who want performance that doesn't sound like a scene from Bullitt, and no doubt there are aftermarket exhaust systems in the works to give it some rougher noise.

Unlike the 1961 version, though, this Cobalt really handles well. The performance suspension includes stiffer springs, tuned shocks and a larger anti-roll bar, allowing it to focus on the task of getting around sharp turns without either the front or rear wheels going wide.

The ride is firm, but the suspension doesn't bang over road imperfections, and rough spots are soaked up quite well – Chevy has done a fine job of underpinning this little car.

Steering is electric and speed-sensitive, a combination that can add up to a vague or numb feeling on some GM offerings, but not here. Feedback is good, and while Honda and Mazda are dialed in a bit tighter, Cobalt's no slouch at interpreting driver commands.

Inside, the Cobalt is fitted together fairly well, although it would have been nice if the soft-touch material on the door tops had been continued across the hard plastic dash.

The aforementioned Recaro seats hold driver and passenger in place for sharp turns, and are comfortable enough for long treks.

There's plenty of legroom up front, but consider this coupe a 2+2; the cramped rear seats are suitable for folding to increase the trunk space, but that's about all.

Controls are nestled into a metallic centre console and fall easily to hand, although the small indicators on the heater dials can be tough to see in daylight. The SS Supercharged comes with a premium sound system with 10-inch subwoofer that's as loud as my tester's screaming yellow paint.

Best of all, the Supercharged starts at just $24,195; yes, that's $9,500 over a base Cobalt and $3,000 more than an SS, but try adding individual components at the go-fast shop and see where your bill takes you.

From the Corvette Z06 down to the Cobalt, GM seems to be developing a knack for packaging power with viable value.

Toronto Star