Comments on: Chevy (Quietly) Launches Fuel Efficient XFE Trim

By: BrianK299

BrianK299 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:22:17 +0000

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!

By: The Luigiian

The Luigiian — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:20:05 +0000

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.

By: Stingray

Stingray — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:49:49 +0000

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.

By: rtz

rtz — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:54:01 +0000

“and a few other special items we don’t want the competitors to know about..”

I’d sure like to know what those are.

By: ejacobs

ejacobs — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:06:10 +0000

@ 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.

By: shaker

shaker — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:16:55 +0000

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?

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:12:38 +0000

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…

By: limmin

limmin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:44:34 +0000

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!!!

By: rtz

rtz — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:03:39 +0000

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).

By: CarShark

CarShark — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:03:06 +0000

I remain unimpressed because nearly all people will get the automatic and see no benefit whatsoever. Try again, GM.

By: poltergeist

poltergeist — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:27:22 +0000

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.

By: davey49

davey49 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:14:25 +0000

My Saturn ION weighs 2677 according to it’s sticker. Can’t imagine there’s 500# extra weight in the Cobalt

By: davey49

davey49 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:11:33 +0000

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.

By: Juniper

Juniper — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:09:05 +0000

chevy website lists cobalt weights at approx 2700 lbs.

By: gawdodirt

gawdodirt — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:07:52 +0000

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.

By: Mj0lnir

Mj0lnir — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:03:01 +0000

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.

By: KixStart

KixStart — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:45:11 +0000

davey49, Edmunds lists the Cobalt sedan at over 3200. Where did you get your figures? Edmunds might well be wrong, of course.

By: davey49

davey49 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

There’s 1 sedan and 6 coupes with manual trans within 50 miles from me.

By: davey49

davey49 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:23:56 +0000

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.

By: Bancho

Bancho — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:56:33 +0000

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.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:49:09 +0000

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.

By: bfg9k

bfg9k — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:40:32 +0000

# 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/

By: marc

marc — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:13:28 +0000

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.)

By: KixStart

KixStart — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:12:56 +0000

gawdodirt, My Japanese car doesn’t need as much power as a Cobalt because it doesn’t weigh as much as a Cobalt.

By: KixStart

KixStart — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:10:47 +0000

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.