By Edward Niedermeyer
April 25, 2008 - 11,566 views
Plug-in Volt, hydrogen fuel cell Equinox, two-mode hybrid Tahoe, belt-assist hybrid Malibu, yada, yada, yada. With all this high mileage hype, how come GM's not making a big deal out of the XFE (eXtra Fuel Efficiency) Cobalt? If it weren't for our good friend at AUTOSAVANT, we would've never known that as of May 17, all Cobalts with the five-speed manual tranny get 36 mpg on the highway. (That's second in its class to the Honda Civic Hybrid AND the Cobalt XFE offers class-leading hp from its 2.2-liter Ecotec engine.) GM squeezed the last few mpgs from the Cobalt by calibrating the engine, decreasing the tires' rolling resistance and (probably) offering a taller fifth gear. These are exactly the kind of common-sense efficiency improvements Chevy (et al) should spread across their lineup. Yes, well, come the '09 model year, the Cobalt sedan will no longer be available with a manual transmission. So if you want best-in-class horsepower and efficiency from a four-door, buy a Cobalt XFE now or you'll be looking at the Civic. Because practical, efficient cars just aren't Chevy's future, are they? Oh wait…
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POWERED
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Y’know, I don’t think a return to the 70s and 80s game of offering specific models competing for best-in-class fuel economy (which spawned cars like the CRX HF) would be a bad thing at all.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I wonder how it drives with the tweaks. If it’s not too different it makes you wonder why they didn’t do this earlier.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Why am I not impressed? My GTI gets 33mpg with summer performance tires and 34.5 with OEM width all seasons. I’ve got tons more torque (and hp) as well. AND it’s spinning 3000rpm at 70mph.
If VW would put that engine in a decently sized (weighted) car with decent gearing, you could easily have a 40mpg rocket.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Is “calibrating” code-word for “detuning”?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Why did they go through all that trouble if they are only going to sell the car for a year. I get the idea GM is AGAINST making their cars more efficient. I wonder how many manual Cobalts you can find on dealer lots, probably not many. Until this news story I didn’t even know they offered it in a 5 speed, and it wont be for much longer.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Much like the 89-94 Geo Metro XFi? From http://gtkgeo.50megs.com/:
The XFi model was designed for maximum fuel efficiency. It had a lighter curb weight, different computer, camshaft and transmission than the base or LSi models. It also had less comfort and convenience options than the other models. It boasted 53 city/58 highway mpg numbers and received “Most Fuel Efficient car in America” for all six years of it’s production. It was dropped after the ‘94 model year because of slow sales.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
“Calibrating” is a function not just a verb. It’s most likely got a leaner cruise, and power enrichment cal. Not bad and it STILL is leading on hp in that class.
Yeah, I know that it hurts to admit that when you bought a Japanese car…
April 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
This thing can’t be “launched” quietly enough.
The badge almost certainly adds more to the unit production cost than any of the other changes, save, perhaps, the tires.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
gawdodirt, My Japanese car doesn’t need as much power as a Cobalt because it doesn’t weigh as much as a Cobalt.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
This is a no-brainer. It’s time for a moratorium on bigger tires, more horsepower, heavier features (at least on “economy” cars). I can only imagine that some mfrs of fuel efficient vehicles have known these tricks all along, and have been building cars with fuel savings in mind, at the expense of a superior driving experience. (Yes, I’m lookin at you, Corolla and Yaris.)
April 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
# marc :
April 25th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
This is a no-brainer. It’s time for a moratorium on bigger tires, more horsepower, heavier features (at least on “economy” cars).
No need for a gov moratorium…
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/oil-headed-for-225-a-barrel/
April 25th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
You won’t find many manual Cobalts on dealer lots because there aren’t many people that want them or will buy them. Dealers generally order what they know they can sell. That doesn’t prevent anyone from ordering a Cobalt with a manual if they really want it.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I agree with KixStart.
Any class leading HP is wasted on the extra mass the Cobalt is saddled with. It’s also an engine that’s not much fun to rev.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Cobalt Coupe 2681
Cobalt Sedan 2747
Civic Coupe 2586
Civic Sedan 2628
Corolla 2822
Mazda 3 2780
Sentra 2885
Elantra 2723
The Cobalt does OK weight wise compared to it’s competition.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
There’s 1 sedan and 6 coupes with manual trans within 50 miles from me.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
davey49, Edmunds lists the Cobalt sedan at over 3200. Where did you get your figures? Edmunds might well be wrong, of course.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
KixStart :
April 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
davey49, Edmunds lists the Cobalt sedan at over 3200. Where did you get your figures? Edmunds might well be wrong, of course.
Yahoo autos has a Cobalt LT2 Sedan with a manual listed at 3216.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Wow. More HP and similar mileage!
Alert the media. Oh, you already have.
It’s a sad rationalization that you don’t WANT the extra hp. It’s more efficient if it GETS the hp and is still as economical.
But you’ve been trained to expect better results from the foreign competition.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
chevy website lists cobalt weights at approx 2700 lbs.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
The weights are off the Chevy web site. Don’t know where Edmunds got it’s numbers. Maybe they used the GVWR instead of the curb weight.
I can’t find an official weight for the Ford Focus. Consumer Reports has it at 2800#
I’m hoping for GM to bring something the size of the Opel Corsa with an approximately 110-120HP VVT/maybe direct injection 1.6L engine to the US.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
My Saturn ION weighs 2677 according to it’s sticker. Can’t imagine there’s 500# extra weight in the Cobalt
April 25th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
The current Civic rates 25/36MPG (same as this Cobalt) and that’s with the auto trans. Plus that’s every one (except the Si), not a “special” model. Of course it’s more coin up front…..but I know which I’d rather drive.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I remain unimpressed because nearly all people will get the automatic and see no benefit whatsoever. Try again, GM.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
XFE, I’m kinda impressed. The General can kick a little ass once in a while. I guess when they feel like it, or feel it’s worth it. Beat the Corolla at it’s own game. Wouldn’t take much to beat that hybrid Civic either… Can we get a hybrid Cobalt? How about a plug in model? A full blown electric model? A performance model that will damn near beat a Vette?
A manager at 7/11 said $4/gal gas is two weeks away. Take that FWIW.
How about a full electric Volt that will beat a Tesla?
Every `09 model should be able to shut the engine off automatically when the vehicle is not moving(stop lights).
April 25th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Perhaps I read the main article incorrectly. But I understood that while the stick will be dropped for uplevel Cobalt sedans, it will still be available for base sedans (and the coupe).
No up-optioned small sedan has a stick anyway. So what GM is doing is not remarkable. It is basically retaining the stick for the entry-level model.
I’ve always said it: the Cobalt is a remarkable value and superior to its competition. Take that, Honda and Toyota!!!
April 26th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Gawdodirt posted:
“But you’ve been trained to expect better results from the foreign competition.”
And who did this training?? What do you think all these import owners drove BEFORE they switched?? And WHY did they switch??
You think mpg figures are the whole story? GUESS AGAIN! Fit, finish, driving dynamics, dealer experience, and resale value all go into the mix.
Tell me how the Cobalt stacks up against Corolla and Civic in areas OTHER than mpg…
April 26th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Chevy just did this so they can squawk about the “Class-Leading” fuel economy in their TV spots. Certainly nothing wrong with that, since they have very few real vehicles to tout as “efficient”.
Now, make a nicely-equipped Cobalt for 16k.
Oh, and GM: How much does it cost to put trim around the windshield so it doesn’t look like the glass was just dropped onto the gasket?
April 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am
@ limmin:
No up-optioned small sedan has a stick anyway.
Maybe domestic brands.
A loaded Civic EX Sedan w/ nav. is available in a stick. Plus, it gets the same gas mileage.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
“and a few other special items we don’t want the competitors to know about..”
I’d sure like to know what those are.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I don’t thinks it’s 5th gear alone… I would bet it’s a taller FDR.
Recallibrate a ECU is not the same as “detuning”. It’s putting a different fuel/timing map inside for better fuel economy/efficiency/performance. If for example, 5th gear ratio is changed, the ECU will have to be recallibrated… so…
All the compact sedans shown above are porky, fat pigs. How come a “small” car weights between 1400-1600 kgs. They should have NEVER gone over 1200 kgs… the weight of a current sub-compact: Yaris, Aveo, et al. It’s insane to say the least.
A 1991 4 door S-10 Blazer weighted between 1800 and 2000 kgs… and it was a full frame SUV.
April 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Chevy Colorado CC and RC XFE w/ 6-sp. manual, Tahoe Hybrid tires and aerodynamics, 4-cyl. engine with 190 hp and 190 lb-ft.
I’ll bet they could squeeze at least 22 to 24 mpg out of that combo.
I mean, if they can go from 33 to 36 mpg with the Cobalt, I’m thinking they can do it with their other models.
It would give their Colorado a reason to exist.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Being a new owner of a 2008 Cobalt XFE, let me chime in on my first week observations:
The car is easily getting between 40 and 42 MPG. I keep my RPM’s under 2,000 and anticipate starts and stops. Granted, in rush hour traffic, the mpg drops to the mid 30’s. The Cobalt has an in-dash mileage calculator which makes mileage tracking easy.
It was tough to get one. Mine was assembled just two weeks ago in Lordstown, Ohio, and if not for a connection at the dealership, I wouldn’t have the car!
The fit and finish is very nice, and I’m getting a lot of compliments! If you can get one, I highly recommend the Cobalt!