The Brazilian branch of GM, by 2011, independently developed its own vision of the state employee. The project was named Chevrolet Cobalt, the novelty, as a concept, was presented in the summer of 2011 in Buenos Aires. Until the end of 2011, sales of this sedan started in South America, and in 2012 the “global” Chevrolet Cobalt reached the Russian market.
In order to avoid confusion, let us immediately clarify that the model of the same name was produced in the USA under the Chevrolet brand in 2004-2010 (GM Delta platform) - using this platform were also produced: Opel Astra H (2004-2009), Opel Zafira, Chevrolet HHR ...
The second incarnation of the Chevrolet Cobalt uses the old Delta platform - shortened by 4 mm (2620 mm); the manufacturer positions this car as a representative of the European class "B". The four-door "South American" sedan is 4479 mm long, 1735 mm wide, 1514 mm high, and with its dimensions is located between the Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Cruze sedans.
The appearance of the 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt model year from the Brazilian designers turned out to be original, but boring. The front part with large almond-shaped headlights, an immodest size false radiator grille, a bumper with an additional air duct and "cannons" for foglights is made in the corporate style of the brand. Only the disproportionately large dimensions of the headlights and the radiator grille introduce some kind of imbalance in the appearance of this car.
The sides of the body with a high waist line (small glass), an almost flat roof, powerful rear pillars, round wheel arches and a lean trunk look fresh, without a hitch.
The stamping at the bottom of the doors somewhat dilutes the mood, but its configuration seems to be asking to be protected by a plastic overlay. The stern with a huge boot lid is discordant with the "child size" bumper and rear lighting, which is made in the style of "Corsa sedan".
The dimensions of the practical luggage compartment of the Chevrolet Cobalt sedan are 545 liters (leave the former class record holder, Renault Logan, far behind).
The internal component of the second incarnation of the Chevrolet Cobalt sedan in many solutions echoes the interior design of the 2012 Chevrolet Aveo model year. The same three-spoke steering wheel with an insert for metal (the steering column is adjustable in four directions), an original motorcycle dashboard, a front dashboard with open shelves for small things. The center console with an attractive and ergonomic configuration and multimedia system, with convenient control knobs for the heater and air conditioning.
The seats in the Chevrolet Cobalt also migrated from the Aveo, the front ones with a bright anatomical shape and pronounced lateral support not only for the cushion, but also for the back of the chair.
The back row pillow is molded for two passengers, and there are two headrests, the third seated person will be uncomfortable. In the second row there is plenty of legroom, passengers of average height will not feel cramped.
The materials used in the interior trim will not be expensive, but of acceptable quality. In addition, the Chevrolet Cobalt II can be equipped with climate control, power windows, power and heated mirrors, front airbags, a CD / MP3 radio tape recorder.
Specifications. For the Russian and market, the second Chevrolet Cobalt is equipped with a petrol 1.5-liter 105-horsepower engine. There will be two gearboxes for him: 5-speed "mechanics" or 6-speed "automatic".
The dynamics of the sedan does not depend on the type of gearbox - it is, in any case, 11.7 seconds "to the first hundred", and the maximum speed is 170 km / h.
But in terms of fuel efficiency - "mechanics", nevertheless, wins. Fuel consumption (and the manufacturer recommends the 95th gasoline) with manual transmission will be 6.5 liters per 100 km in "mixed" mode (8.4 - "in the city" or 5.3 - "on the highway"), and with "automatic" fuel consumption will increase to 7.6 liters "on average" (10.4 in the urban cycle or 5.9 on the highway).
By the way, the Basil version of the Chevrolet Cobalt is equipped with 1.4 liter EconoFlex engines. with a power of 97 h.p. when running on gasoline and delivering 102 hp ethanol (Brazil is the world's largest biofuel producer). A 5-speed manual gearbox is offered to help the engine. Dynamics up to "hundreds" of 11.9 seconds, with a maximum speed of 170 km / h.
Chevrolet Cobalt is built on a classic budget car suspension: independent front on MacPherson struts, rear semi-independent with a torsion beam.
In general, knowing the characteristics of the suspension, the engine power and the gearbox used, it is not difficult to understand how the budget Chevrolet Cobalt will behave on the road. The car is built on the proven Delta platform, a typical representative of which is the Opel Astra H (now out of production). So, on roads with poor coverage, the driver and passengers will have to take on all the pits, joints and road ripples due to the rigid suspension. With a leisurely ride, the steering will be adequate, body roll will be negligible. It won't work, the car is not "tuned" for high-speed taxiing and abrupt rearrangements. In critical situations, it is possible for the rear axle to slip into a skid, but good and tenacious brakes should save the situation.
Summing up, this "Cobalt" can be attributed to a number of typical representatives of the "budget segment". The main features of the car: original design, interesting functional interior, mediocre handling.
The budget Chevrolet Cobalt sedan is produced for the CIS countries in Uzbekistan (at the GM Uzbekistan plant).
Options and prices. In 2015, Chevrolet Cobalt is offered on the Russian market in two trim levels: LT and LTZ. The cost of a sedan in the basic configuration "LT" (with a 1.5-liter, 105-horsepower engine and a 5-speed manual transmission) starts at 571 thousand rubles. And "Cobalt" with the same engine, but already with "automatic" is offered at a price of 637 thousand rubles. For a price of 668 thousand rubles, a top-end Chevrolet Cobalt configuration will be offered (the equipment additionally includes: ABS, an airbag for the front passenger, foglights, a CD + USB audio system, rear power windows and 15 ″ alloy wheels).
Chevrolet Cobalt belongs to the line of budget sedans. The serial version of this C-class car model was released back in 2011, but it is still in great demand among motorists in different countries. The advantages of the model for domestic motorists, which is produced at car factories in Uzbekistan, include the McPherson struts used in the front suspension, they made the suspension stiffer. Thanks to this know-how, it is much easier for Chevrolet Cobalt to cope with bad roads than other models of cars of this concern. Other features of this vehicle in the basic configuration include:
- a record high - 545 liters - the volume of the luggage compartment;
- heated front seats;
- height-adjustable steering column and other pleasant differences.
Vehicle dimensions and power characteristics
Chevrolet Cobalt has an impressive size - 4.5 meters in length. Although it belongs to the "C" class, in its essence it does not differ in any way from the cars of the "B" class. From the looks of it, the car doesn't look huge, which is absolutely not the case for its record-breaking large cabin. The developers of this model have achieved this result thanks to the increased distance between the front and rear axle, which determines the space for passengers - it is 2620 mm. This is 144 mm more than the Lada Grants, and even 50 mm more than the Hyundai Solaris. Add to these advantages a confident 16-centimeter ground clearance and reliable impenetrable suspension, we get a low-budget sedan-based crossover.
Chevrolet Cobalt has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a cast iron cylinder block and an aluminum cylinder head with two camshafts. Thanks to its smooth operation, the sedan accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 11.7 seconds. A 6-speed automatic transmission paired with the engine produces 105 horsepower.
In addition to the engine, fuel consumption is also an important factor when choosing a vehicle. Chevrolet Cobalt requires 7.6 liters of high-quality gasoline to overcome 100 kilometers on a combined cycle. The size of Chevrolet Cobalt wheels in the basic configuration is standard for this brand: the car has alloy or steel wheels R 15. The size of Chevrolet Cobalt tires also depends on the configuration and the year of manufacture.
In general, the characteristics of Chevrolet bring this model to a level above average. can be found in any authorized Chevrolet showroom in your country. Due to its reliability, internal spaciousness and external dimensions, the Chevrolet Cobalt is a budget family car that is chosen by most domestic motorists.
09.11.2016
Chevrolet Cobalt is a budget sedan with an original appearance, which motorists have not accepted unambiguously. The car sold well, but still, it did not become a sales leader. To date, Chevrolet Cobalt is not officially sold, therefore, those wishing to acquire a pop-eyed iron horse will have to look for it in the secondary market.
A bit of history:
The first generation of Chevrolet Cobalt was very popular in the USA, in our country, almost no one knew about the existence of this car, since it was not officially supplied to us. The second generation of the model was presented at the Buenos Aires auto show in 2011, the car was built on the “GM Gamma” platform, and the new “” was also built on it. The external dimensions of the car can be attributed to the European C-class, the total length of the car is 4470 mm, with a width of 1735 mm, and a height of 1514 mm.
Latin American designers tried to apply as many original solutions as possible in the design of the car, it turned out quite well, but it cannot be classified as elegant. Too stretched wheelbase (2.6 meters) does not add harmony to the exterior, but there are no problems with the space in the cabin. In models designed for the CIS market, one should not expect rich equipment. The basic equipment included power steering, central locking, one airbag and front power windows. For the rest of the "bells and whistles" had to pay extra. Initially, Cobalt was offered only in South America, a little later it appeared in the markets of the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Most of the cars for the CIS were assembled in Uzbekistan.
Advantages and disadvantages of Chevrolet Cobalt with mileage
Chevrolet Cobalt appeared on our market not so long ago, therefore, it is too early to talk about its corrosion resistance. However, it should be noted that to date, no serious problems with corrosion of the body have been identified, even in places where paint is chipped, rust does not appear for a long time. The paintwork, even on cars that serve in taxis and have traveled 200,000 km, was not badly damaged by reagents on the roads. But with the build quality, not everything is so smooth, for example, many owners find water in the niche for the spare wheel, it gets there through the uncovered cracks behind the rear bumper. To avoid problems, you need to cover all the seams with a sealant. Over time, many cars start fogging up their headlights, on the forums, the owners offer many ways to solve this problem, but, unfortunately, most of them are not effective.
Power units
For Chevrolet Cobalt, only one power unit is available - an aspirated gasoline with a volume of 1.5 (105 hp). This engine is installed on many cars of the concern and has established itself as a fairly reliable and unpretentious power unit. The timing drive is equipped with a metal chain that easily nurses 150-200 thousand km, replacing the chain will cost 200-250 cu. A big plus of this motor is that it is quite simple and cheap to maintain. So, for example, cheap candles for $ 4 are suitable here, they will last about 15,000 km, and to replace all filters, you need to spend only $ 25. After 50,000 km, the valve cover gasket begins to leak, this practically does not affect the oil consumption, but the entire power unit will be covered with oil drips. The consumption of gasoline, as for such an engine, is quite large, on average, 9-11 liters per hundred go out in the city, fortunately, this engine over-etches the 92nd gasoline without any problems.
Transmission
Chevrolet Cobalt can be equipped with one of the gearboxes - a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode or a five-speed mechanics. Both boxes have a very simple design and a fairly long service life. As operating experience has shown, both transmissions are quite reliable, but minor flaws in them were nevertheless identified. The automatic transmission is very afraid of slipping, and if, for example, you constantly race at traffic lights, problems will not take long. In the cold season, many owners recommend warming up the transmission. The regulations say that both gearboxes are maintenance-free, however, in order to extend the life of the transmission, it is necessary to change the oil in it every 60,000 km. The clutch in mechanics, with careful operation, will last 80-100 thousand km, with racers it does not live up to 60,000 km.
Chassis Chevrolet Cobalt
A MacPherson-type suspension is installed in the front, a semi-independent beam at the rear. The suspension, the owners of the Chevrolet Cobalt, are praised for its energy intensity, it copes well with road irregularities, while providing good enough comfort for a budget car, but small shaking is not for this car. Front disc brakes (pads run up to 40,000 km), rear - drum (pads resource 60,000 km). The steering and power steering are not a "sore spot" for this car, and up to 100,000 km do not present any surprises. The stabilizer struts and bushings are considered consumables and must be replaced every 15-20 thousand km. Shock absorbers, on average, take care of 30-40 thousand km. Ball joints, wheel bearings run up to 60,000 km, thrust bearings and silent blocks live about 80,000 km. Practically no intervention in the rear suspension is required. If the car is equipped with ABS, monitor the condition of the sensors, as they quickly turn sour and begin to work incorrectly.
Salon
Like most budget cars, Chevrolet Cobalt has cheap interior trim materials, as a result, the interior is very noisy, and with the onset of cold weather it is filled with a large gamut of sound. Due to the fact that the machine does not have a large amount of electrical equipment, electrical failures are very rare. Although the electrical equipment cannot be called completely primitive, the CAN bus is still present here. The low quality of materials has its own plus, for example, the material wears out quickly enough and it becomes much easier to determine the mileage
Outcome:
Chevrolet Cobal is a car that has an acceptable level of comfort, a benchmark for this class of cars, suspension and good dynamics. The design here, of course, is not for everybody, the most important epithets for Cobalt will be reliability and simplicity, in other words, the best friend of taxi drivers and families who choose a car wisely and with a calculator. Chevrolet Cobalt would be a good alternative Renault Logan and Nissan Almera.
Advantages:
- Comfortable suspension.
- Spacious salon.
- Low maintenance cost.
- High ground clearance.
- Comfortable seating.
Disadvantages:
- High fuel consumption.
- Rattling salon
- Lack of soundproofing.
- Small resource of suspension parts.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.
Best regards, editors AutoAvenu
American cars, by virtue of the prevailing stereotype, appear to be huge land ships, dreadnoughts. Chevrolet Cobalt is a modern family sedan with excellent technical characteristics and a relatively low price. In comparison with competing models, it is indeed somewhat larger and more massive.
Chevrolet Cobalt is positioned as a family car
The interior of the car is distinguished by the maximum spaciousness and comfort possible for its class. Chevrolet Cobalt, to all its advantages, also has a huge trunk, which is extremely appropriate for a family-type car. The memorable stylish appearance and outstanding technical characteristics of the Chevrolet Cobalt car have largely determined its commercial success.
Model history
This designation was originally produced in the United States for a compact car in the B-segment market. This model replaced the popular Prizm and Cavalier in the country, and it was produced for six years starting in 2004.
The car was developed on the basis of the GM Delta platform in two body styles: sedan and coupe. In the United States, this rather large car by European standards belongs to the subcompact class.
The new Chevrolet Cobalt was developed specifically for the emerging market on another smaller GM Gamma platform. It is intermediate between the larger Cruze and the smaller Aveo.
The debut of the model took place almost three years ago in the capital of our country, and the next year, active sales of the car began through the salons of official dealers.
The production of the car has been adjusted at a full-cycle automobile plant in Tashkent, before that Daewoo Nexia was assembled here. The first cars for the Russian market were delivered to the country from Latin America, then they were replaced by cars assembled in Asia.
In terms of class and cost, the model approximately corresponds to the Renault Logan, popular in our country. The Chevrolet Cobalt car quickly gained popularity among our fellow citizens.
Description Chevrolet Cobalt
Despite the fact that this car was originally designed as a budget car, it looks impressive and modern on the road. Gilded once again emphasizes the style and originality of the model.
Video review of the Chevrolet Cobalt LTZ:
Its rather high technical characteristics, rich equipment, and good quality of components correspond to its solid appearance.
According to experts conducting a test drive of the Chevrolet Cobalt, the car demonstrates good dynamism and controllability on the road. Considering the characteristics of the powertrain and transmission, the results are truly outstanding. The vehicle was originally designed for developing countries with appropriate suspension settings.
Any descriptions of such a complex object as a car will not be able to give a holistic picture and an accurate idea of the subject. Video reviews of the Chevrolet Cobalt car are very informative, which help to form their own objective opinion about it.
Appearance and linear dimensions
The design of the body attracts attention with the smoothness and softness of lines and transitions that are so characteristic of the classic automotive style. The details are striking: a double radiator grille, an unusual shape of the head optics and sides with accented kink lines. The exterior of the car turned out to be both strictly classic and memorable at the same time.
The external dimensions of the Chevrolet Cobalt make it possible to confidently attribute it to the European C-class, its total length is 4479 mm, with a width of 1735 mm and a height of 1514 mm. The high stability of the car on the road and the spaciousness of the passenger compartment is ensured by a sufficiently large base, which is 2620 mm.
Good cornering performance is determined by the high torsional rigidity of the body. This was achieved through the use of an integrated lattice girder.
The dynamism of the appearance and the integrity of the image of the Chevrolet Cobalt are emphasized by rather large wheels, tire size 195/65 R15.
In general, the car was a success, which is confirmed by the high level of sales in our country and abroad.
Car interior
GM designers and technologists have done a good job on the interior styling. The decoration used materials of fairly high quality, a lot of chrome parts that fit well into the style.
The design is made in a two-color scheme, some of the elements are light gray, the main background is dark gray. In the top trim levels, the steering wheel, seats, rear sofa and center console are lined with artificial leather.
The Chevrolet Cobalt has an interesting dashboard
The relatively inexpensive Chevrolet Cobalt has a striking dashboard design. The innovative electronic speedometer looks especially unusual against the background of the traditional pointer tachometer.
The driver's workplace is organized exceptionally well: the range of adjustments of the steering wheel column and seat is large enough and allows it to be adjusted for a person of any size.
The stylish interior of the Chevrolet Cobalt car is not its only advantage. There is enough space in the front and back so that people, even in winter clothes, can sit comfortably.
The car is positioned by the manufacturer as a family car - for trips to the country or on vacation with a lot of things. Trunk volume - 545 liters is sufficient even for a very large company.
Specifications Chevrolet Cobalt
The car is equipped with only one power unit, but there are two gearboxes to choose from - mechanical and. The advantages of the Chevrolet Cobalt model include low fuel consumption, good dynamic performance, handling and road stability.
Chevrolet Cobalt engine is economical enough
The car body has an integrated power space frame, which significantly increases the safety of the driver and passengers.
| Manufacturer company | GM |
| Assembly plant location | Uzbekistan, Tashkent |
| Body type | Sedan |
| Number of seats, including driver's / number of doors | 5/4 |
| The working volume of the power unit, cubic meters cm / number of cylinders | 1485/4 |
| Fuel type / power system | Gasoline AI-95 / injector |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 47 |
| Timing type / drive | DOCH / belt |
| Gearbox mechanical / automatic | 5-speed / 6-band |
| Engine rated power hp / speed rpm | 105 / 5800 |
| Vehicle acceleration 0 -100 km / h, seconds | 11,7 |
| in the city cycle / on the highway, l | 8,4 / 5,3 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1080 | 540 |
| Suspension front / rear | McPherson / semi-dependent with beam |
| Steering | Rack with GU |
| Braking system front / rear | ventilated discs / drums |
According to the drivers, the car on the road behaves quite predictably, with an eye on the not too powerful engine, one should not count on a quick set of speed.
At the same time, the dynamics are quite decent, the car's handling is at the proper level, and confident cornering. The energy-intensive suspension copes well with road irregularities, while providing a fairly high level of comfort.
The developers paid much attention to the safety of the driver and passengers.
The list of passive safety elements of the Chevrolet Cobalt includes:
- Automatic and including attachments for child seats.
- Inflatable cushions for the front row of seats.
- Crash-proof steering column.
- Head restraints for all passengers.
- Reinforcing elements in the doors.
- Structural elements of the engine compartment that absorb energy in a collision.
- Driving the engine down on impact.
The measures taken by the developers provide a sufficiently high degree of protection of the driver and passengers from injury.
Complete set
The car was originally developed for the markets of developing countries, however, the developers offer the consumer two options for equipment. In both, the Chevrolet Cobalt is equipped with a 1.5-liter engine, the differences are in the transmission and additional equipment. To designate versions of this model, the letter code is used, the cheapest option is LT, the top-end one is LTZ.
The Chevrolet Cobalt car is equipped with:
- power windows on all doors;
- remote control and heated rear-view mirrors;
- central lock and;
- heated front seat cushions;
- full size spare wheel;
- audio system consisting of a CD-player and 4 speakers.
In the luxury configuration of the Chevrolet Cobalt, the above options are added:
- air conditioning;
- branded alarm;
- two;
- set of alloy wheels;
- fog lights;
It is allowed to install skis, bicycles and other items on the roof of the car.
Tuning
For those who like to stand out from the crowd, the Chevrolet Cobalt provides a wide field for action. Manufacturers of accessories have launched the production of equipment and external elements, which are called plastic body kit among motorists. With its help, the appearance of the car changes dramatically, which makes the car easily recognizable and catchy.
Qualified tuning of the Chevrolet Cobalt provides for changes in the equipment of the car. Some devices that facilitate car control are popular with experienced drivers: GPS navigators, systems projecting data from devices to the windshield. The imagination of car owners in relation to adjusting the car for themselves is truly limitless.
Internet club Chevrolet Cobalt and owner reviews
The model has long been sold in our country through a network of official dealers and has earned popularity in the driving environment. For the most part, the reviews of the owners about the Chevrolet Cobalt car are positive: there is a high technical level of design, the reliability of systems and assemblies. The spacious interior and the ergonomics of the driver's seat are especially noted.
Chevrolet Cobalt, from 444,000 rubles, CAR from 5.12 rubles / km
It is a sin for Chevrolet dealers to complain: Cobalt appeared in our area in the spring and is already in steady demand, despite its specific appearance. The newcomer, of course, lags far behind the bestsellers "Rio" and "Solaris", but he is not so far from the popularity of "Logan" and "Sandero". Buyers are not confused by either the original design or the confused pedigree (the surname of "Cobalt" is American, it was designed in Brazil, but produced in Uzbekistan). And the car cannot boast of a variety of options. So what is the secret of the success of this unremarkable machine? Well, let's figure it out.
What is the price?
There are several reasons for this. "Chevrolet" is larger than the overwhelming majority of classmates and at the same time costs 444,000 rubles - this circumstance cannot fail to attract the attention of a zealous person. Moreover, in the arsenal of "Cobalt" there is a completely modern 1.5-liter S-TEC III engine - this is a direct relative of the "Opel" engine "Ecotech-1.6". Compared to Solaris, Rio and Logan, the basic versions of which are equipped with 1.4-liter units, the extra hundred "cubes" is a definite plus.
Another trump card of "Chevrolet" is a decent equipment. In the initial LT, there is no need to pay extra for a remote control with central locking, heated front seats and electric heated mirrors. Fortunately, they don't save money on painting bumpers, door handles and mirrors in Tashkent either.
And yet it is hardly worth settling for the base Cobalt. The fact is that such a car is devoid of air conditioning; of the safety features, there is only a driver's airbag. Perhaps this option is acceptable for a freight forwarder of a large company who works in splendid isolation. But a family man should still spend money on options, adding an air conditioner, which can be bought both separately for 26,000 rubles, and together with the automatic transmission - 59,000 rubles.
Well, is the Chevy ready? Do not hurry. Yes, the "automatic" is really convenient in the city, especially since it is a modern and agile unit with six steps. However, the specificity of the LT configuration lies in the fact that the automatic transmission is somehow incompatible with ABS and a second airbag, while for the Cobalt equipped with "mechanics" this set is available for a surcharge of 20 thousand.
It turns out that if you need an "automatic", but not at the expense of safety, then you have to fork out for the LTZ version. Such a car is estimated at 530,000 rubles - but it's worth it! After all, as a bonus, you will receive light alloy wheels, an on-board computer, an MP3 audio system, an alarm system and rear power windows. And this is a really good offer - similarly equipped classmates are approaching the level of 600,000 rubles.
There are less obvious reasons for the LTZ package. For example, in the price list you will not find the slightest mention of the fact that the basic version has simplified sound insulation, and its wheels are shod with cheap Chinese tires.
Outside and inside
On paper, "Cobalt" is a big friend: its length is 4.5 m, and the wheelbase (2.62 m) is longer than that of other representatives of the "golf" class. In general, this accelerator clearly grew out of the slider group. However, the appearance of the car is deceiving: the forehead body strongly conceals its dimensions, and in life the Chevy does not seem large at all.
Sad as it may seem, the gods of the Cobalt design, alas, cheated on the beauty of the face: you can't look into his eyes without a shudder. They seem alien, as if borrowed from a large van. However, I am not the only one who dislikes the headlights of the sedan: I have repeatedly met specimens on the road with which the owners tried to correct the front optics with the help of tinting applied to the upper part of the headlights. With such a "tattoo" the face of "Chevy" still looks more harmonious. By the way, the design flaws are partly concealed by the dark body colors.
But with the stern of the car, everything is more or less in order. In the evening, it is best to leave Cobalt in the parking lot so that in the morning you can see it from this angle. Sharp edges, chopped shapes - everything is quite solid and strict. Note also that in real life the car looks a little better than in the photo.
The pillow has good lateral support, but the wings of the back, alas, are quite mediocre in their duties
Everything is easier with the interior. Fortunately, there is no trace of Brazilian originality here. Those who are familiar with the inner world of Aveo will find much familiar in Kobe. Although no, the wide rear doors are again their own unique feature. These "wickets" are not much inferior in size to the doors of the larger "Octavia": thanks to them, landing in the second row of the "Chevrolet" is noticeably easier than in many superminis.
To match the sweeping portals and a spacious sofa. Here there is 4–5 cm more headroom in width and height than in Rio and Solaris. True, the three adults in "Cobalt" will still be cramped. The width of the cabin is almost a textbook supermini - neither add nor subtract. But in terms of legroom, our hero is inferior only to "Almera", which is the leader in this discipline. And if it seems to you that the pillow is too short, then this is nothing more than an optical illusion: in fact, its dimensions and profile are chosen correctly.
The light material a la plush, which is used to cover the interior, is a clear puncture. This looks good in the photo and is pleasant to the touch, but the usual "shorthaired" gray fabric of the basic version is much more practical.
In a word, the LTZ buyer should immediately spend money on covers. To buy inexpensive, but quite decent capes made of solid dark leatherette is not a big problem today.
Don't believe your eyes! Although there is not much space on the couch, in fact, a person with a height of 185 cm can easily sit down by himself.
Behind the wheel
The first impression of the inner world of Cobalt can be formulated as follows: the designers looked at the Aveo salon and reproduced it from budget gray plastic, slightly redrawing the dashboard and dashboard along the way. And yet, in spite of everything, Cobalt is quite comfortable. Ergonomics should appeal to those who like a slightly higher fit than conventional cars offer. For the sake of this effect, the slide of the chair is installed on a small elevation, and the pillow is made quite plump. True, even in its lowest position, the driver with a height of 180 cm does not have too much headroom - only 6-7 cm. The height itself is regulated by a rotating round at the base of the seat, although I would have preferred a more comfortable "jack" with a swinging handle ...
Leather steering wheel trim for "Cobalt" is an unaffordable luxury. However, do not be upset: the regular polyurethane "donut" turned out to be quite grasping, not slippery and with tides in the right places. Only it is regulated exclusively by the angle of inclination. My arms are long, so I was quickly able to find the optimal posture. But here the thing is - the future buyer must himself try on the driver's seat before carrying the money to the cashier. But there are no problems with the perception of devices, the effort on the pedals and the control of secondary functions.
However, I had to get used to another feature: the volume knobs and audio system settings are the same size and are located quite close. However, this is nothing more than a matter of skill. But the sluggishness of the system upset me more. For example, it takes as much as five seconds to change a track when playing music from a flash drive - an amazing sluggishness that is not characteristic of even the most nimble MP3 devices of ten years ago.
There are other nasty little things as well. Pockets in the upholstery of the front doors are distinguished by a low rim: a bottle for a liter and a half is held tight here, but smaller containers fall down at the first sharp braking. The window regulator buttons are located in the forearm area: to manipulate them, you have to bend the hand unnaturally. These flaws, as they say, cannot be corrected with a little blood. But the lack of a central box-armrest can be made up by visiting any car market.
It is easy to fight with mediocre visibility by installing a rear parking sensor - without its help, the edge of the sedan's stern is not felt very clearly. Yes, and sometimes you have to look ahead in the corners because of the wide front struts.
Loading suitcases
In terms of cargo transportation, "Koba" is the record holder in its class both on paper (545 liters!) And in practice. The back of the sofa folds down in parts, forming an impressive opening into the salon. Such a trunk would have a simpler shape - with fewer nooks and crannies - and at least a couple of hooks for attaching luggage. Alas, the designers of "Chevrolet" did not foresee any rigging devices. However, the rugged owner will probably guess to fit some kind of squiggle to the upholstery and iron ceiling of the hold.
The fact that the trunk lid is devoid of upholstery is upsetting: it is inconvenient to grab the sharp edges of the stiffeners - you can injure your fingers. However, I found that one of the ribs on the right side of the lid is rounded so that it can be used as an inner handle. Cheap and cheerful!
I almost wrote down the inability to uncork the trunk from the passenger compartment, but later I realized that it was much more convenient to do this using the button on the key fob - the range of the remote control transmitter was enough.
In terms of trunk volume, "Cobalt" turned out to be preferable to any classmate. True, you cannot put high luggage directly under the hinges - it will crumple
Security
Cobalt has not been crash-tested in either Europe or America. Indirectly, the strength of the body can be judged by the test results of the soplatform "Aveo", which managed to become an excellent student of "EuroNCAP". True, a car with six airbags was crashed there - "Cobalt" is sold with a maximum of two. Height adjustment of the front belts is available on all cars, but only LTZ versions are fitted with pretensioners. In addition, in none of the configurations is it possible to get a third rear headrest of the sofa, and the central belt of the sofa is completely two-point - it runs along the waist of the passenger.
However, this feature of the car can be translated for the good: in the center of the sofa with the help of such a belt, it is easy to fix the simplest children's ottoman chair. And along the edges, you can install full-fledged chairs on isofixes. Have "Cobalt" and "children's" rear door lock. Finally, the right front cushion is made to be disconnected, so that babies can be carried in a special cradle with their backs forward.
The back of the sofa folds down in parts, allowing you to transport lengths up to 2.4 meters.
On the roads ...
By the ability to swallow road pits with "Cobalt" can only be compared with "Logan" - the recognized leader in this discipline. However, fans of high-speed slalom on bumps need to remember: the stern is rearranged outside the bend, and the passage of longitudinal waves is accompanied by a noticeable vertical swing of the body. However, if you follow the immutable rule - to slow down before the start of a maneuver, and not in the process - then the Chevy will hardly disappoint: the energy intensity of the suspension is its main plus.
Yes, and with the power-to-weight ratio of "Koba" everything is in order. A small-sized motor produces 106 forces, and it is not at all necessary to twist it until it rings: it is already quite tolerably lucky from 2500 rpm.
The declared dozen seconds of acceleration to hundreds suggests that the car is not distinguished by decent dynamics. And what? The car cheerfully picks up speed even with a full load, and with light it tries to pretend to be an athlete at all. True, at first it seems that the vigor of acceleration is hampered by the "machine". However, having driven the "mechanics", you realize that such a car is almost slower: a long clutch drive and indistinct (especially when the third and fifth gears are engaged) movements of the manual gearbox lever restrain the excitement of the engine.
On the other hand, the “automatic”, with a certain skill, provokes to go in the “combat” mode - you just need to carefully, not particularly zealous, wield the accelerator pedal and at the same time do not allow the tachometer needle to go down to idle speed. Then the gears replace each other extremely smoothly and at the right time.
The sofa allows three people to travel. However, the central passenger is deprived of a headrest, he only has a lap belt
The highest, the sixth, is always included in the case: before the car picks up 70 km / h, it will not give itself out - even if it is forced to do it by manual gear selection. But in cruising mode at a speed of 110–120 km / h, the engine operates at around 2500 rpm (with the "mechanics" the crankshaft speed is about five hundred revolutions higher). And yet, with a fast country driving, the car is already perceived not so much as fast as noisy. Accordingly, the fuel consumption of the "automatic" sedan is less: 8.5 l / 100 km versus nine liters for the "manual" version.
Of course, you can rush much faster, since the engine allows it. However, do not blame me: in the kick-down mode, the "automatic" is late with switching and is too actively fiddling with gears. At 150 km / h, comfort disappears from Cobalt-AT, and the interior is filled with various noises. The reason for this is the aerodynamics of an awkward body, far from perfect, poorly insulated wheel arches and a vociferous engine at high speeds. In addition, with an increase in speed, the stability of the straight-line movement gradually disappears and it is necessary to correct the trajectory with the steering wheel.
But the brakes are what you need: the Chevy effectively slows down at any speed. But the simplest drums are installed on the rear axle! Shod in Continental-Conti-Premium-Contact tires, it took Cobalt 39.5 meters on an asphalt-concrete surface to stop from 100 km / h - a result worthy of much more thoroughbred cars. But the tenacity of the Chinese tires "Champiro-VP1", on the contrary, leaves much to be desired.
... and without them
At a cursory inspection, it may seem that the body of "Cobalt" is located at a considerable distance from the ground - this impression is created by the high sills and bumpers. They are, in fact, separated from the planet by an impressive 21-23 cm. However, between the standard steel crankcase and the road, I measured only 15 cm - far from a record, you must agree. In other words, it will not be possible to drive painlessly along the track where a neighbor has just dashingly picked it up in a Zhiguli.
However, outside the asphalt "Chevrolet" is by no means untalented against the background of their own kind: for example, under the bottom of the "Polo" or "Aveo" the stock is even less. And Solaris and Rio sag significantly more than Cobalt when loading feed.
Operation and service
Cobalt factory warranty conditions are generally typical for many European cars. However, there are also nuances. It is valid for two years without a mileage limitation, but if your annual mileage is relatively small, then you will not be denied repairs during the third year - provided that the odometer did not have time to count 100,000 km. You will have to visit the dealer once every 15,000 km, but at least once a year.
Cobalt can be serviced at any of 160 authorized Chevrolet centers in Russia. There are 25 centers in Moscow and the Moscow region, and there are nine of them in St. Petersburg.
But the cost of service by the standards of a budget brand is quite high. Relatively inexpensive (6-7 thousand rubles) will be the first, third, fifth TO - and so on. More expensive even TOs can get a significant amount out of your wallet - up to 18,000 rubles.
