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Chevrolet Cavalier sedan serves as a transportation bargain
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Weaving a path through parading sporty cruisers, tourist taxis and those high-roller stretched limousines clotting Las Vegas Boulevard, our set of wheels appears far less conspicuous in this ultimate gulch of glitter and neon.
It's small in stature, although conformed with slick curves in the sheetmetal fenders, and there's only a modest engine aboard but it puts a spark in the pedal when commanded and still generates thrifty fuel economy figures.
The interior, with twin bucket seats posted ahead of a small rear bench, applies some unexpected and handy features for convenience, and for safety the standard equipment usually shows up on the list of options for other cars in the budget class.
Unlike those flashy machines passing by on the boulevard, this basic car comes with a price tag which tallies to a modest figure -- less than $13,000.
As the subcompact product from Chevrolet, Cavalier clearly demonstrates that the American automotive dollar extends far further than you might imagine for back-to-basics transportation.
It looks good too -- smooth and round but still compact and to the point.
The exterior, with rolled corners, crisply tapering front hood and taller tail, culminates with an unusual bowed back window set in counterpoint to the rakish shape of the C-pillar.
If you didn't know that Cavalier was born and bred in the USA, you might mistake it for a cute little sedan imported from Asia. And if you could close your eyes and drive at the same time, you might also misplace its precise handling attributes and comfortable interior fittings for those found in a nice import.
A Chevrolet behaves like an import?
Cavalier feels tight and drives responsively, proving that General Motors can build an import-busting economy car.
Chevrolet lists Cavalier for as little as $11,971 in a base edition packed with features.
Of course, installing value-oriented hardware and safety systems in a responsive package bearing low sticker figures becomes the big idea behind Chevy's subcompact line, which includes three forms as sedan, coupe and convertible.
Within the 4-door sedan segment, Cavalier offers the base issue and the LS trim with more gear added.
All of the current Cavaliers trace to a radical remake in 1995 which included a chassis expansion that added three inches to wheelbase and two to track, producing a vehicle that feels rooted to pavement.
These expansions also carved out more cabin space for passenger shoulders, legs and heads.
Check out the cabin and you'll discover a variety of comfort and convenience items usually found only on far more expensive labels.
Seats, for instance, feel solid and supportive.
Handy gadgets turn up everywhere you look: Cup holders in back as well as front, heat ducts for rear riders, interior lighting that fades dramatically after start-up, a back window defroster zoned to clear vital center section first for prime visibility.
Still, there are significant systems for safety aboard, like 4-wheel anti-lock brakes and twin air bags, plus a steel safety cage with integrated crumple zones fore and aft to insulate passengers.
For power, both base Cavalier and LS sedans draw from a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine outfitted with sequential fuel injection and platinum-tipped spark plugs.
Horsepower totals to 115, and fuel economy numbers run as high as 34 mpg with manual stick.
Cavalier carries two optional automatic transmissions. A 3-speed automatic may be added to the base Cavalier for $600, but for only $180 more you can get an electronically-controlled 4-speed variation -- the best yet from General Motors -- and it has a built-in traction control system to help corral the wheels on slick pavement.
Chevy's twin-cam 2.4-liter 4-in-line engine, rated at 150 hp and mated to the 4-speed automatic, becomes a $450 option for Cavalier LS.
Cavalier responds quickly to obey a driver's commands.
This lively response stems from power-assisted rack and pinion steering and independent front suspension components which incorporate dual-path struts to isolate front wheels and remove harshness and that shake-rattle-and-roll effect.
The rear suspension, in coil-over-strut design, arranges all components in a straight line to transfer any wheel movement from road bumps directly onto Cavalier's rigid structure. By dispersing such jolts throughout the car body, passengers feel a smoother ride quality.
Anti-lock brakes in 4-channel format, a rare standard safety asset for vehicles in this price range, work fast when prompted to arrest the sedan.
Shut the doors and roll up all windows to test Cavalier's ability to filter out engine noise and sounds of surrounding traffic. The calm and isolation in the passenger compartment is a result of that firm chassis when combined with sound-damping materials concealed throughout the structure.
At speed on a freeway my Cavalier remained quiet with little evidence of wind noise, thanks to its slick styling.
All of these good traits must be measured against low price tags, along with refined hardware which appears on both Cavalier LS and the base edition.
Each version provides favored interior items like the cup holders, plus map pockets on both doors, a folding rear seatback, front center console with storage bin, theft deterrent system and intermittent wipers.
Cavalier LS adds a tachometer, AM-FM radio package, remote decklid release, easy-entry front passenger seat, plus a tilting steering column, variable speed for intermittent wipers, and larger 15-inch wheels and tires.
The engine upgrade with automatic 4-speed transmission and extras like air conditioning show up on the list of options for Cavalier LS, as does a package of power equipment for windows and door locks and trunk lid release, aluminum wheels, even a rear decklid spoiler.
1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SEDAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SEDAN Specs |
| Description: |
Subcompact 4-door sedan |
| Model Options: |
Subcompact 4-door sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
104.1 inches |
| Overall Length: |
180.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 2.2-L I4
DOHC 2.4-L I4
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/3/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
2.2-L: 24/34 mpg
2.4-L: 25/34 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 11,971 to $ 16,000 |
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