Overview & Reviews

Born in the early '80s, the Chevrolet Cavalier was General Motor's attempt to regain market share that had been lost to Japanese manufacturers who had been the first to recognize the public's need for compact, more fuel-efficient transportation. Though inferior to its competition in most respects, the Cavalier proved to be a hit with consumers, emerging as a consistent sales leader for Chevrolet.

The Cavalier's success was built in large part on the value it offered, though updates were few and far between. The Cavalier was on the market from 1982-2005, and in those 24 years, there were only two generations. Still, despite the fact that many models were built on aged platforms relative to the competition, the Chevrolet Cavalier enjoyed popularity, largely because of its irresistibly low price.

One significant factor to consider when deciding whether a Cavalier is right for you is safety. Throughout its life cycle, the Cavalier has received poor to lukewarm crash test scores. Another is overall quality. Cavaliers have suffered from build quality issues; subpar materials quality and outdated design were also problems, particularly with later models.

Resale value has been low for Cavaliers, making them an extremely affordable option. Still, in light of its shortcomings, we'd recommend that those shopping in this category consider other alternatives, such as later-model Korean imports.

Most Recent Chevrolet Cavalier

The Chevrolet Cavalier's second and most recent generation was built from model-year 1995-2005. Cavaliers built in 1995-2000 were available as sedans, coupes and convertibles, but as of 2001, drop-top versions of this Chevy were dropped from the lineup.

Trim levels varied over this generation's 10-year run. Chevrolet offered base, LS and Z24 trims for the majority of the time but later changed the lineup to just base, LS and LS Sport. The standard features list on base-model Cavaliers included little more than air-conditioning and an AM/FM stereo.

When the second-generation Chevy Cavalier was first unveiled, buyers had a choice of two engines. Base models were motivated by a 2.2-liter, 120-horsepower four-cylinder. Those seeking more power could choose a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine ("Quad4") good for 150 hp. After just one year, the 2.3-liter was replaced with an updated 2.4-liter version that also made 150 hp.

A new 2.2-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, "Ecotec" four-cylinder engine appeared in the Cavalier for the first time during the 2002 model year. While base Cavaliers continued with the ancient OHV 2.2-liter four and the Z24 still had the 2.4-liter unit, the 140-hp Ecotec was a clear improvement over any previous Cavalier power plant in terms of overall drivability and refinement. The 2.4-liter engine was dropped in 2003.

Although there weren't any redesigns in the final 10 years of the Cavalier's life, the model did see some upgrades. In 1999, the 2.4-liter engine was refined to improve reliability, emissions and fuel economy. And in 2000, the car was given a smoother-shifting manual transmission; its antilock brake system was also improved, and it saw exterior revisions like new body-colored front and rear fascias and new headlights and taillights. The car's exterior was updated once again in 2003, and XM Satellite Radio became available as an option. Audiophiles should know that in 2004, the base-model Cavalier was given an improved stereo, with CD and MP3 playback capability.

One unfortunate Cavalier hallmark is its dated interior. Build quality is subpar and materials quality leaves a lot to be desired. Seats also miss the mark when it comes to comfort. On the plus side, though, later models are available with both OnStar and XM Satellite Radio.

In editorial reviews, the Chevrolet Cavalier was praised for offering acceptable handling and power, and a reasonably compliant ride. Cons included a dated platform and poor crash test scores. In consumer reviews, the car was praised for its fuel economy but panned for its dull interior styling.

Past Chevrolet Cavaliers

The first-generation Chevy Cavalier existed from 1982-'94. Standard features amounted to little more than an AM/FM audio system. A Cavalier wagon was available, in addition to the coupe, sedan and convertible. (The wagon was dropped with the second generation.) There was also the sporty Z24 variant, which debuted in 1986 and offered a spunky V6, a firmer suspension, alloy wheels and obligatory tape graphics.

With such a long spell between redesigns, Cavaliers built in the '90s offered a positively ancient platform compared to the competition. The model did see some tweaks over the years, though. In 1991, the Cavalier received sheet metal revisions. The following year, ABS joined the standard features list, and base engines saw hp increase by 15 to 110. In 1994, base engines saw another horsepower boost, up 10 hp to 120. Air-conditioning, a sunroof and a CD player were all available as options.

Again, resale values on these Chevys are low. Other than bargain-basement prices, though, these older Cavaliers have little to offer.

User Reviews:

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  our 2nd Cavalier - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tom decker - March 10 - 8:03 am

  Oil changes and tires have been the only maintenance to date for our Cavalier and for us, that equates to reliability.

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  Cavalier "The Best" - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By car man - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Great performance, very comfortable, lots of leg room

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  Z24 love it - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By D White - January 30 - 11:04 am

  I inherited this car from a friend who had it for less than a year. I intended to sell it right away, but changed my mind after driving it a bit. For the size and class of car, its definitely one of the most fun ones Ive had. And it loos good! Easy to maintain, and reasonable priced, I truly believe I got a sweet deal.

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  Love it! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Amanda - January 28 - 12:57 am

  I love this car, yeah it may be a Cavalier but I think its a great car. The car is fun to drive, drives well, and is great on gas. Its easy to get in and out of, the seats move easily and its more spacious then i thought it might have been. I honeslty enjoy this car more then the others I have had, so overall I believe its a great car for a 21 year college girl!

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  I love my car! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By lia - January 26 - 2:00 pm

  I had a great experience with my Cavalier. I love its design. I have made some really long trips recently and motor is still excellent. I highly recommend it.

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  a great car! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ryan sarver - January 24 - 4:36 am

  175k miles and still going strong, has only ever had normal maintenance, this is my 2nd cavalier, my first one was a 03, I was young and dumb and was running close to 100mph, hit a phone box, went thru a fence, hit 2 trees then backed the car out of the woods and walked away unharmed, I can not complain with this car I love it

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  Great Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mike C - January 3 - 7:13 pm

  A near perfect car with outstanding handling, good fuel ecomomy (30+), and very comfortable. I am very satisfied with my Z24. Your web site is incorrect when it states that all of these have 5-speed manual transmissions. Mine has a four-speed automatic transmission with traction control. That is not available with the 5-speed manual and does make a substantial difference in value. I am a professional used car and truck buyer that attends auto auctions weekly. I am very familiar with the actual wholesale and retail values. Your site is does not contain realistic values for many of the vehicles I researched on it.

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  A Great Car For the Money - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Matt - December 23 - 1:49 am

  We bought this car with just 55K and so far it needed nothing and is holding up quite well. The little 2.2 is more powerful than you would think and the transmission is smooth. Fuel economy is an average of 35-40 MPG. The AC and heater are strong and the CD/cassette player has great sound and is RDS equipped. The interior while well designed is full of cheap plastic but its still holding up well. The seats are comfortable but look and feel cheap. Interior room is not bad for a small car.

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  Over 200K and still going!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By SandBoa - December 16 - 6:30 pm

  This car has been AWESOME to me. I bought this when I was a freshman in college in 1999. I put a TON of miles on it and it has literally never been in the shop other than for routine work like oil changes and brakes. This car still remains in my family to this day. It now has well over 200,000 miles on it and it still has never seen the inside of a shop!! I would recommend this car to anyone. The only reason why I bought a new truck was because it was a tight fit for me considering Im 63", but I knew that when I was buying the car. If I was a smaller guy, I would probably still be driving this car to this date.

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  Love my car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By christi - December 3 - 12:01 am

  I drive my car a lot, and I absolutly love it. Its an older car, but I wouldnt want to get rid of it till it died on me, and once that happens ill definitely get another one like it. Its easy to drive, and it did great in the snow surprisingly. Ive taken it on road trips and it was pretty comfortable over a long drive. Wouldnt trade it for the world!