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 Cavaliers have suffered from build quality issues; subpar materials quality and outdated design were also problems, particularly with later models.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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  Would not suggest this car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jackie91802 - August 12 - 2:35 pm

  My car was great for the first couple years but all has gone down hill from there. ABS light continues to come on even after maintenance, all 4 power windows had to be replaced, pick-up is terrible, transmission is close to going, engine misfired after 45k miles, the a/c and heat does not work unless you put it on full blast, and now surprise surprise there is an electrical problem which doesnt allow me to use my left turn signal (real safe) - Im getting rid of this car as soon as next week, never buying a GM again

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  chevy cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chevy4u - July 28 - 2:00 am

  the car works..but its not a bmw i get you from point a to b in a comfortable manner. the cd player needs work and the moon roof because ive had it break allready 3 times but everything else works fine

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  Very disappointing - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Steve-o - April 22 - 8:40 am

  Ive never had more problems with a car than this one. My Cavalier has had one thing go wrong after the other. Its never been abused, the oil has been changed every 3,000 miles and its not even driven that much. I only have one more year of payments, but Ive decided to trade it in for something other than a GM. Maybe I just got a lemon. For those who are about to buy one, beware. The Cavalier is a cheap car and its one of those things where you get what you pay for. I guess its back to imports for me.

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  worst car ever - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By * - April 21 - 10:15 pm

  Cd player doesnt work. The stick is hard to move and sometimes doesnt go into park and has to be shoved. Dashboard rattles. Mileage does not show up half of the time. Passenger side window does not go up, therefore it never goes down. Air conditioner wires cracked. Im sure Im forgetting things but I just cant remember everything wrong with this car. This is the worst car known to mankind, probably getting rid of it during the summer.

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  Unhappy Cavalier Owner - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By betht_121 - April 3 - 3:25 pm

  This car was not even weatherproofed at the factory, bought it brand new. Nothing but problems. Customer service was no help other than replacing the carpeting after the car flooded from no weatherproofing (the "new" carpet doesnt even fit). The dashboard rattles, the window broke very early in ownership, the trunk light was wired wrong. There is still something wrong wiring-wise but no one can find it. Did I mention the customer service experience left a lot to be desired. I have been trying to get them to address any of these issues for almost 2 years now. . I wouldnt recommend a Chevy to anyone.

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  Poor Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Dave - March 27 - 10:57 am

  Bought this car for my wife against my better judgment. (cars reputation) I was told that they had improved build quality. They have not!! The car only has 55000 km on it and something breaks every week. All new brakes at 40k, fan speed switch, lower control arm bushings, broken rear defrost switch that required a complete heater control unit because you cant just change switch!! etc, etc! Everything squeaks! Not even close to being is the same league as my last Toyota or current Subaru. Cant wait to get rid of this car. I will never buy another GM!!!!

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  Chevy Cavalier, only so-so - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CHill - August 2 - 4:17 pm

  This car has had more issues than not. The steering has always made a griding noise when at low speeds, the air conditioner has been broken since the second day after we drove off of the lot, and the cab space is next to nothing. I do not feel safe driving this car. Personally, I do not like it, but for a first car that is only to be owned for a short period, its ideal. Its cheap, and the price shows it. Youll drop the price of a new car to repair the a/c alone, though, so if comfort is your game you may want to steer clear of this model and year.

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  Good Car, Not - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By btdoug - July 30 - 11:42 am

  I bought this car a few months ago, with less than 100k miles on it. Ive had a lot of electrical failures that needed to be replaced, and the engine overheats on long drives. I know its getting to be an old cheap car, and its an American car, but I expected a little more reliability than what Ive got so far.

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  Cheaply made lemon - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Washingtonian - May 21 - 9:08 am

  At 4 yrs. old this car has developed a number of problems that a car its age should not have. The entire serpentine belt has slipped off and the car periodically stalls when stopped. The trunk latch also broke, a problem the dealership tells me is very common in in the Cavalier. Weve also had smaller annoying problems -- a buzz in the ventilation system, a CD player that skips incessantly, and a fuse issue that causes lights to burn out quickly. Aside from the reliability issue, the car is poorly designed. Sun visors droop low across the windshield over time, the seats are uncomfortable, the cup holders block the climate control, and the roof pillars are in the drivers line of sight.

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  A Cheap car in many ways - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By KidsCar - March 7 - 2:05 pm

  Although it didnt cost much to buy as a used car, it has cost relatively a lot since I bought it. Head gasket $1000, rear shocks $300, alternator $300, not including tires and brakes (normal wear items). Although it looked great when I bought it for my daughter, I wish Id spent more on a Civic or Corolla and would have ended up with a better car. It has annoying issues like a leaky trunk seal, poor paint on bumpers, slipping door seals, etc. I had not purchased an "American car" in several years - this product reaffirms why.