2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 -25 City / 28 -33 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
115 -143
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Glenda R
It gets great gas mileage ,easy to parallel park, and starts up every time even in very cold weather.
I love my car. It may be old but it's small yet big enough to seat my grandchildren.
accountCircle Madison K
Small two door, reliable vehicle.
It's a small two door car that's reliable and good on gas. It gets me back and forth to and from work or wherever I need to go.
accountCircle Joshua M
A great vehicle and awesome to drive.
The performance on the vehicle has been exemplary and I have not had really any problems concerning the vehicle. The comfort of the vehicle has been one of the best I have had.
accountCircle donna A
It handles very well has good brakes
It's a nice car drives really well i wish parts didn't cost so much for it
accountCircle Ashley H
I love the great mileage.
It is an older vehicle but it gets great mileage and is reliable, I have not really had any issues with it.
accountCircle allison k
This thing runs forever! Car sturdy enough for new drivers and students
The cavalier is a very durable car, good gas mileage, and I'm sad they stopped making them, I've had three cavaliers
accountCircle Christian G
Chevy cavalier review, best quality is it can run off 2 different fuel types.
The problems is that the brakes grind a little bit. The car will overheat sometimes when left idle for too long. The car is reliable, it has good gas mileage. The car is 2wd so it is not the best in the snow. The car can take gas or cog which cuts the cost of gas by a lot.
accountCircle Madison B
Small and reliable two door car.
It's a small two door vehicle. It's reliable and good on gas. I'm a short person so it being small, it's easier for me to reach the pedals.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sydney V
Nothing really interesting details.
Not my favorite car to chose, I should buy s new one it is not relatable in my opinion. But if other people like it then good for them but I would chose a different one. They haven't made a new one in so many years so I need a new car as soon as possible.
accountCircle Caitlin K
Two door blue Chevy cavalier.
My car is nothing special but it gets you where you need to go. I've had it for three years. I got it when I was in high school and now I am in college and still driving it. I have had a lot of thermostat and radiator issues this year with it. Not very comfortable and very small so it is not a family car or a car to travel with friends.
accountCircle Heather D
The most important thing others should know about my car is that it is extremely unreliable.
The only thing I like about my vehicle is the fact that it has AUX cord for the radio and the radio actually works. Other than that, it's in very poor condition and has many problems mechanically and cosmetically. Overall, I very much dislike my vehicle.
accountCircle Brit N
Its red. But the paint is flaking and ugly.
Falling apart and I can't afford to fix it or get a new one. Everything from the ac to the windows to the brakes is going wrong, I always have to put steering fluid, and its so low to the ground it's hard to get 8n and out of.
accountCircle Lauren M
Don't buy a Chevy Cavalier they are throwaway cars.
My car ran great the first year them it fell apart . For the next 2 years I spent so much money on repairs I could barely pay my bills.
accountCircle Shannon C
The Chevy cavalier that goes and goes.
It is a great car as in engine wise and durability. The air conditioner works great beyond the best. Just my windows do not work or my headlights. Its an electrical thing that would cost to fix more than the car is worth. It has never broke down on me anywhere.
accountCircle Tammy A
It gets good gas mileage and it rides well, and is very comfortable.
It is ok, i use it every day and it has lots of miles on it.
accountCircle Sierra G
Cons of having a Chevrolet cavalier.
There's a weird noise when I turn my wheel, it eats my gas, when I am on the interstate the steering wheel starts enabling, my car starts going side to side. My rims are bent on it. Living in West Virginia it does not help that my car is very low to the ground. It is only a two door car which I do not like. But it does have a sunroof so that is nice.

Chevrolet Cavalier Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
115 HP 24-29 MPG 5 Seats
car
LS
115 HP 28-29 MPG 5 Seats
car
LS Sport
143 HP 28-29 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Reviews

3.74
155 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 30%
4 stars 29%
3 stars 30%
2 stars 8%
1 star 3%
accountCircle Andrea R on April 8, 2021
A trooper
I've had this car for years now and it's only given me occasional problems. AC still works (although the engine doesn't like it), windows are fine, etc. Transmission broke once and there's a crack in the windshield now (and in the dashboard as someone else mentioned), sometimes it has a temperature problem. Otherwise I'll say what my old mechanic said about this car: the body will rot out before the engine quits (we all have the same rust spot near the gas cap!). If you take care of it, it'll last forever.
accountCircle allison k on April 3, 2021
This thing runs forever! Car sturdy enough for new drivers and students
The cavalier is a very durable car, good gas mileage, and I'm sad they stopped making them, I've had three cavaliers
View All Reviews (155) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #20 Small Cars by Owners

The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier has an average owner rating of 3.76 out of 5 which ranks it #20 of 24 other Small Cars.

1
car
2002 Mitsubishi Mirage
5
2
car
2002 Volkswagen GTI
4.8
20
car
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
3.74

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier has a combined MPG of 35 which ranks it #8 of 24 other Small Cars.

1
car
2002 Toyota Echo
41 MPG
2
car
2002 Honda Civic
40 MPG
8
Tie
car
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
32 MPG

Is The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier A Good Car?

The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier is a great vehicle. The only issues I have had are with the coolant system, the paint chipping from the sun exposure, and the dashboard cracking from the sun exposure.... Read More
Cathy S.
It is decent. I have had a few issues that have occurred multiple times over the 5 years I have owned it. The front and rear axles have blown and been replaced. The muffler hanger has been replaced at... Read More
Dianne A.
Yes it runs smooth and it's easy to fix it gets good gas mileage. it's a beater car meaning I can drive it forever and maintenance is super cheap.
Trenton T.
A very good vehicle. It is very reliable and needs minimal upkeep. It's great in all weather. Would buy a cavalier again if they were still in production.
Jorge A.
For the most part yes, but I enjoy it. It’s an overall great car. I love the way it rides. It’s a classic that you can’t beat
Cecil M.

How Reliable Is The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier?

The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier has problems with overheating. Aside from this, it has also had problems with paint chipping and dashboard cracking
Jennifer T.
It is reliable as in it has been able to get me many places. I purchased the car from the original owner with 32000 miles on it, and have put 50000 miles on it myself. The problems I have had with it... Read More
Shawn S.
Yes love it I have had very little problems it is easy maintenance and runs smooth. I had a recent battery issue but it's the first battery replacement needed. The starter lasted 15 years and the car... Read More
Kristin B.
The 2002 Chevrolet cavalier is the most reliable automobile that I have ever owned. They should still be in production and makes no sense why they were stopped.
Susan K.
The only problem I have is that the paint is chipping off a little bit but I guess that’s because I haven't gotten a paint job
Vanessa W.

Is The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier A Good Value?

I bought the car second hand for about 1500 it was a good value since I have had it for a little over 2 years now.
Terry A.
I paid 4000 dollars for mine 5 years ago, which is a reasonable price for a car of its age. Replacement parts, tires and maintenance is not very expensive.
Shane P.
It cost me 1500 dollars which is 800 dollars under value. The original car was 2300. It was a great value for the car.
Blake A.
It has been too long ago so I no longer remember what I paid for it but since I am still driving it after seventeen years it must be a great value.
Elizabeth M.
We paid 500 for it and it’s a pretty busted up car so I understand the reason for the price being so low
Dara T.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2002 Chevy Cavalier cabin air filter location?

Answer: There is no location for the cabin air filter on the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier because there is no cabin air filter. This is the same in previous years starting at 1995. Instead of using a cabin air filter, it...

Where is the 2002 chevy cavalier starter located?

Answer: The 2002 Chevy Cavalier starter is located at the base of the engine block on the driver's side of it. You will find it near where the transmission meets up with the engine block and there are large wires that...

What type of antifreeze does the 2002 chevy cavalier use?

Answer: The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier isn't too picky of a beast when it comes to engine coolant; the recommended type is A50/50 mix of DEX-COOL, but when I owned an '03 Cavalier back in the day, I'm pretty sure I...

What is the 2002 chevrolet cavalier oil type?

Answer: The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier oil type iS5w-30. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with the engine. Having...

What causes my 2002 chevy cavalier check engine light to come on?

Answer: There is no way to reset the check engine light on the 2002 Chevy Cavalier. It comes on when there is something wrong with the car, but it can be caused by just about anything. Due to this, it is not worth Your...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety