2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Review: Not the Best Used Compact on the Market, but Sportier Than Most

The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt is outclassed on value by the Elantra and overall performance by the Civic. But, the muscle-car-inspired all-American feel of the short-lived Cobalt makes the car worthy of a test-drive.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – A sportier-than-average but mostly-mediocre compact car.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 6/10 – Drivers report that the ride is smooth, but the seating is cramped and feels a bit saggy.
• Reliability 7/10 – The engine and powertrain will probably reach 250,000 miles, but you’ll be covering a lot of nickel-and-dime repairs along the way.
• Safety 7/10 – Onboard safety features are outdated, but the car performed well in crash tests and features anti-lock brakes are offered in the higher trim levels.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – 25/34 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t terrible, but it’s not that impressive for a compact, either.
• Value 8/10 – The 2005 Chevy Cobalt is priced to move and moderately inexpensive to refuel and maintain.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?

Consumer Reports found the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt to be a mild, if underwhelming improvement over the Cavalier, calling it “still just an average small sedan.” CR report that it’s not very agile or fuel efficient for such a small vehicle, the cabin feels cramped, and the seats lack support.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2005 Cobalt a lukewarm 80% recommendation. Drivers praise the car’s longevity, smooth ride, and decent fuel economy. Road noise and poor build quality earned the car some red marks, with drivers citing frequent electrical repairs and peeling paint.

Edmunds liked the smooth ride, the sporty handling, the torquey i4 engine, and the generous interior features, but they found the interior plastics to feel a bit cheap, and note that the exterior styling might not be to everyone’s taste, being a weird mix of quirky and boring.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Have?

1,137 of the Chevrolet Cobalt’s 1,638 National Highway Traffic Administration complaints are for steering. As one driver puts it, “the power steering seemed to have quit working.” Multiple drivers report the same thing, with the wheel requiring extra force to turn. There was a recall for this in 2010, but complaints persist.

There are 317 electrical complaints on file, with the wide spectrum of issues being most easily summed up with “stuff goes haywire.” Drivers report door locks locking and unlocking, ABS lights going on and off, keys getting stuck in the ignition, and batteries being drained.

Transmission failure has been reported at mileages as low as 100,000, with gears shifting incorrectly and vehicles jerking and stalling out. There have been no engine or powertrain recalls, but rate of incidence is low enough that you shouldn’t have to worry about any used model that has been inspected and vetted.

The 2005 Cobalt has just 6 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which is low for a sedan from 2005. But, seeing as there have been so many steering complaints following the 2010 recall, another one might be in order.

How Long Will the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Last?

Drivers report the 2005 Chevy Cobalt easily passing 200,000 with only a few moderate repairs along the way. Expect to reach 250,000 miles on the original equipment before the more expensive fixes start to pile up.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of $453, with the most expensive common fix being a new catalytic converter, starting at around $1,885.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology onboard the 2005 Cobalt is dated by now but generous for 2005. The higher trim levels come with features like 7-speaker Pioneer sound systems and MP3 players.

Safety features are, likewise, dated, but not bad for 2005. 4-wheel anti-lock brakes are available in the higher trim levels, and dual stage airbags are included as a standard feature.

Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt a Good Value?

The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt is priced to move. A base model typically lists at around $3,273 with around 140,000 miles on the odometer, while the high-end SS Supercharged lists for around $4,778. Add that to a moderately low cost of ownership and you’ve got a pretty good deal.

The SS Supercharged is a fun, sporty ride, and worth the expense if you want something with a little more oomph under the hood. But, if you’re looking to get the maximum value, the LT comes with all the high-end features at just $3,662.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?

The 2005 Cobalt is offered in four trim levels, from the self-explanatory Base to the high-end LT and the sporty SS Supercharged edition.

With the entry-level Base you’re getting:

• Manual air conditioning
• CD player with 4 speakers
• Cloth seating
• Dual stage airbags

The mid-range LS adds:

• Remote keyless entry
• Premium cloth seating
• Leather wrapped shift lever

With a top-of-the-line LT you add:

• Leather seating
• Heated front seats
• Fog lights
• Driveline traction control

Finally, the SS Supercharged offers:

• Supercharged 205 horsepower 2.0L engine
• MP3 player

What Engines Come In the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?

• The starter engine found in the Base, LS, and LT models is a 2.2L inline-four delivering 145 horsepower and 155 lb.-ft. of torque at an average MPG of 25/34, city/highway. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic in front wheel drive.
• In the SS Supercharged you’ll find a 2.0L supercharged ECOCTEC i4 delivering 205 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque at an average MPG of 23/29. This is paired to a 5-speed manual in front wheel drive.

What Colors Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?

The 2005 Cobalt is adequate but underwhelming in the comfort department. It rides smooth, but the seats may be a bit cramped without as much support as you’d like, and you’ve got just 46 inches of hip room in the back.

There have been a handful of suspension complaints over the years, with one driver reporting that they had to have the entire front end rebuilt. But, any existing suspension issues should be easy enough to spot on the test-drive.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Have?

The 2005 Cobalt taps out at 13.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which is decent for a small sedan. That’s enough space to store four medium suitcases, so you won’t have any trouble with grocery shopping or trips to the airport.

Inside there are plenty of pockets and slots for phones, tablets, books, and so on, and you’ve got two cupholders up front and two in the back.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt was the first model year for the car, launching the 1st Generation, which ran until 2010 when the nameplate was retired.

2005: The Cobalt launched with independent MacPherson struts up front, a longer wheelbase than comparable compacts, and a pair of inline-four engines.

2006: 2006 saw the debut of a non-supercharged SS model, featuring an Ecotec inline-four. The LS became the new base model and the LT the new mid-range.

2007: Both engines got a power upgrade for 2007, with the base engine going up to 148 horsepower and the Ecotec hitting 173.

2008: The new SS Supercharged was tuned to 250 horsepower, and the base model was brought up to 25/36 miles to the gallon.

2009: Chevrolet dropped the non-supercharged SS models and added Bluetooth connectivity.

2010: No major changes for 2010, as Chevy were phasing the car out for the Chevrolet Cruze at this point.

How Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Compare to the Competition?

Year after year the Honda Civic ranks in first place as the well-rounded, fuel-efficient compact car against which all others are measured. By contrast, the Cobalt is a few MPGs less efficient and a few inches shorter at the hip, and about $1,500 cheaper on average.

As far as budget compacts go, the Hyundai Elantra typically lists as the best compact for the price. For 2005 you can find the Elantra listed in the same price range as the Cobalt, but it’s far roomier, with 55 inches of rear hip room, and a bit more efficient, at 27/34 MPG. But, it lacks a sporty trim level to compete with the SS Cobalt.

The Honda Civic is arguably the best overall compact released in 2005, but the 160 horsepower Si model typically sells at around two grand more than the 205 horsepower SS Cobalt. The Elantra probably offers the best value for under $4,000, but lacks the oomph of the torquey Cobalt.

There are plenty of ways you could improve on the Chevrolet Cobalt, and while it’s outclassed by the competition in terms of fuel economy and overall value, the Cobalt is at least worth a test drive so you can see if you like the sporty, muscle-car-inspired feel of the car.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?