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 Cavaliers have suffered from build quality issues; subpar materials quality and outdated design were also problems, particularly with later models.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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Great First Car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Bella - January 29 - 1:20 pmI bought his car brand new and I have had this car about six years now. The glove box has rattled since day one and the dash board cracked at about forty thousand miles. I will say that is a very reliable car. Always started up no matter how cold or how hot. Inexpensive to fix and because of the price had a nicer car than most of my friends. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive, decent looking car.
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Midnight - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
By cwilson179 - January 28 - 10:46 pmI bought my car on January 29, 2004. It has been the best car I have ever had! It is dark blue metallic. My car is 5 years old now. It still runs like new. I have taken care of my car very well. I always get compliments about how good of condition that my car is. Everyone loves the color of the car including me! The 2.2 ecotec so far is a very good engine I now have 82,000 miles on my car. I dont have any problem with the comfort with the interior of the car. I drive this car at least 40 miles per day mostly highway driving. It gets the same great gas mileage that I got the day that I got it! It gets between 30 and 32 mpg. I would not trade this car for anything.
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Chevy Cav - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
By sunnygrl2930 - January 27 - 3:01 amLove the car, love the way it drives, just diappointed about the head gasket. But I bought it with more than 100k anyway. Love the gas mileage. Love driving it. Never owned a Cav before, but my next car will be a Cav, too. Two door. Love them. Love the way it looks and sits.
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My 04 Cavi - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
By jmock - January 20 - 11:50 amThis hasnt been too bad of a car. Although, I dont think I get the mileage others do. The best I have gotten is 29 mpg on the interstate. I have had it in the shop 5 times for front end noise in less than a year. But I like the style, and for a 2.2 it has decent power.
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Great Price/performance - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By JohnEP - January 20 - 10:00 amThe Cavalier is nothing fancy, a basic car, but as a commuter car it gets consistently 30 mpg and has had zippo defects. Nice mileage, with various rebates and payments I ended up at less the $10k for a new vehicle, which is unheard of. (Thank you, GM MasterCard.) This car seems to get knocked in trade rags; I dont understand why. I test drove about six-seven models in the $15- $20k price range, and all have similar plusses/minusses. Most seemed noisy, and handled adequately but not great. Cavalier in this price range really seems to be near the top. And its fully debugged, in my opinion. Traded in an 87 Corolla, am quite happy I did.
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Get what you pay for - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Gabe - January 14 - 9:54 amIm still driving my Cavalier and I have to say that its not too bad considering the price. Obviously its one of the more inexpensive cars out there, so expect what you pay for. The key phrase here is "preventative maintenance." As long as you get regular oil changes and check-ups, the Cavalier will hold up. Will say that it seems to run into problems on very wet days, especially when running through puddles. Not too enamored with the crash ratings but, again, you get what you pay for. Couple of expensive repairs but confident they are isolated incidents and dont affect the overall dependability of the Cavalier. Remember, its a cheap car. Dont expect a Porsche out of it.
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It works for me - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Spec - December 21 - 10:26 amI have been happy with this car. There have not been any major problem inherent with it, just some minor things. For a 10 year old vehicle, it still performs rather well, getting 24-28 mpg around town and not exhibiting any problems on road trips.
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Cavalier Racer - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Jason Howard - October 25 - 5:33 pmI am currently building up my cavalier to race and take to car shows. It actually handles and responds better than I thought it would when I got it.
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What more can you expect? - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
By TeeA - August 28 - 10:00 amYou cant buy a better car...for the money. If you want a luxury or sports car, shell out the cash for one. If you want a nice ride, decent pickup, and a satisfactory interior for a cheap price, this is the car to get. I buy a new car every year and owned Camrys, Accords and SUVs. This car gets good gas mileage is easy to drive and for much lower cost than most others.
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Economical and reliable - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Maggie - August 21 - 4:06 pmI purchased this car with nine miles on it, so all of its miles have been mine. Its solid on fuel economy and roomy for a small sedan. Ive had very few problems with it (an automatic window motor was replaced under warranty and Ive had a tire and battery go, but thats been it). I have two small peeves: the back windows wont go all the way down, which my 11-year-olds hate and the temp control is right where your drink is, which means an extra step when you dont want to be fumbling with a travel mug. Other than that, its been a great car thus far. Im going to keep it until the 11-year-olds get their licenses--if I live that long-- so Im taking very good care of the car.
