Introduced in 2005 as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cavalier, the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt is in every way a more rewarding car to drive. Based on GM's Delta platform, which also underpins the Saturn Ion, the Cobalt adds a lot of refinements over its Saturn counterpart in both powertrain and chassis tuning. With three engine choices and four trim levels for each of two body styles, the Cobalt also offers buyers a lot of room for personalization.

The standard engine for both the coupe and sedan is a 140-horsepower, 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder. Choosing the SS version of either model gets you a 170-horsepower bored-and-stroked 2.4L Ecotec with variable cam timing. A supercharged version of the 2.4 is available on the coupe only, and is good for 205 horsepower. This allows the supercharged SS coupe to go from zero to 60 in about six seconds; pretty impressive for a sporty car under $22,000. Along with impressive performance, you also get a modified sport suspension, and wide 45-series tires on 18-inch wheels. It also comes with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, and a large rear spoiler. Optional are Recaro front bucket seats with plenty of lateral support.

Most buyers are more likely to choose the less performance-oriented versions, but the Cobalt doesn't disappointment here either. The base LS models have a fair amount of standard equipment, including air conditioning with cabin filter, an AM/FM/CD player with MP3 input jack, height-adjustable driver's seat, a tachometer, and a rear 60/40 split bench seat with trunk pass through

Opting for the LT trim can add body color fascias, power windows, mirrors and door locks, an upgraded stereo, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, or cruise control. The top-of-the line LTZ trim adds fog lamps, traction control, ABS, leather seats, and XM radio, and still comes in just shy of $20,000.

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Chevrolet's 2007 Cobalt starts out at a very attractive $13,125 for either the two-door coupe or four-door sedan. Notable base equipment includes a rear 60/40 split bench seat with trunk pass through, tilt wheel, a programmable driver information center with outside temperature readout, and a four-speaker audio system with auxiliary input for a portable MP3 player. There are numerous trim levels and option packages available for nearly any entry-level consumer.

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