Overview & Reviews

The Cavalier gets a refresh this year that adds new front and rear fascias, revised headlights and taillights, redesigned ground effects, body-colored mirrors and door handles and a new hood. LS Sport models also get integrated foglights and new rocker moldings. The 2.2-liter Ecotec four-cylinder is now the only engine offered, as the Z24 model has been dropped from the lineup. Base model Cavs no longer come with standard ABS brakes, but it remains an available option. Inside, the Cavalier now features a center rear three-point seatbelt, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, a rear 60/40-split bench seat, new child-seat anchors and optional side airbags. Finally, you can get XM Satellite Radio on all cars, and LS and LS Sport trims are available with the OnStar communications system.

• Low price, torquey four-cylinder engine, optional satellite radio and OnStar.

• Ancient design inside and out, cheap interior materials, poor build quality, low resale value, poor side-impact and front-offset crash test results.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 167.00

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  Love my Cavy - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mdshome - November 30 - 2:59 am

  Bought this car used with 10,000 miles on it. Have driven the heck out of it for 6+ years. Currently has 190,000 miles on it and still runs like a dream. Other than brakes, rotors, and a fuel pump no other problems. Didnt think about the cup holders being a problem, just slightly inconvenient. With back seat down, I have hauled 8 foot 2x4s in it and use it like a truck. Still getting me 28-32 mpg consistently. Drives great in the snow. I make it to work when people with 4x4s dont. Makes me laugh!

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  Drives well...when it drives - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By crapaliergirl - November 23 - 6:46 pm

  I keep my cars in great shape - my previous car was a 30 year old VW in mint condition. This car - well. Under warranty: Bearings some sort of alternator shelf? catalytic converter Covered because though not under warranty, acknowledged problem: ENGINE (faulty block - if your engine goes - INVESTIGATE AND PUSH!) Not under warranty: brakes and rotors - constantly warps rotors within first 5,000 kms. $400 Fuel pump at 125,000 kms - although thousands of complaints, claim its a "fuel supply" issue and not a fuel pump issue. Yes - apparently, by the thousands of complaints, its one all over north America. nice one, GM. interior poorly setup - cannot use heat knobs with cup holders full.

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  A piece of junk! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Valerie - November 13 - 3:30 pm

  Bought this car brand new with 3 miles on it. Thought it would be a great reliable car. WRONG! I had every stupid little thing go wrong with it possible. I replaced the rear turn signals about 20 times and finally the dealership did some fixing to it. Didnt work cause I Still had to replace it once a month. The windows, BOTH, broke and wouldnt go down so I had to have my father fix them several times. The interior lights had issues with flickering constantly. Another electrical problem the dealership fixed and it restarted again. Had some engine issues but luckily my father is a mechanic so it didnt cost too much.

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  yo - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cory matsyeu - November 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this car

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  Really good Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Darby J. Pruitt - August 3 - 1:04 pm

  This 03 Cavalier is the 2nd Cavalier I have owned, and besides the few problems that I have had this car has seen me though thick and thin. Now that I have hit 105,000 miles Im looking forward to its first real tuneup. It diffenetly has the get up go I need to fly past any import I come across. The comfort is pretty good seeing I managed to stay setted for 10 hours on two 780 mile trips, and I think the automatic transmissons are as good as the manuels. The only problems Ive had are the fuel pump, e- vac canister, and catalytic converter, (the converter was my fault for running hard everyday). And after 1 wreak with a BMW (BMWs fault) the Cavalier is still running like she means it.

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  A great car. - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By nollocs - July 30 - 12:16 pm

  I bought the car brand new in 2003. I love it. I have had a few problems. But nothing big. The gauge cluster acts up some times and will not work. I had a rod that was bent in the AC unit, but that was fixed under warranty. It has 87,000 mile now. This last tank of gas I got just over 34 mpg in mixed driving. But I usually average 30-31mpg in mixed driving. It has plenty of power for a cheap car.

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  I love it!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By FireBoy - July 29 - 10:00 am

  FOR THE MONEY, WHAT A GREAT DEAL...RESTYLE LOOKS GREAT. MY WIFE IS A EUROPEAN CAR FAN AND LOVES THE HANDLING AND ROAD FEEL. VERY PEPPY AND THE MONEY WHAT A BARGAIN...XM RADIO IS WONDERFUL IF YOU ARE A MUSIC FAN....

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  I love my cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nicole - July 11 - 12:11 am

  This is my very first car. Ive had it for almost 2 yrs now and have over 110K on it and its still running strong. AC works amazing and so does the heat. It gets regular oil changes and tune ups and has amazing gas mileage. Ive done alot of driving in it, miles at a time sometimes and it doesnt ever have a problem. Ive gotten into one accident with it and it was just exterior damage, and the car looks and feels like it never happened. Nothing major has had to be fixed on it yet. Runs very well in the snow.. Very reliable car!!

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  Basic yet under-rated - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cailean - July 10 - 12:58 pm

  Ive got over 90,000 km on my car and its still going strong - the only problem I had was with the cooling system just a month after I first bought it, and it hasnt been an issue since. Its far from being the fanciest car out there, but theres a lot more to it than people realize. Surprisingly sporty, excellent mileage for its age, and a surprisingly large amount of cargo space - I once loaded three large book cases from Ikea with room to spare. I bought this car straight out of university when money was pretty tight. My money situation has improved, so I probably wouldnt buy it again, but would more than recommend it if youre needing to pinch some pennies.

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  6 good years together - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Muskokan - June 8 - 7:38 pm

  I just traded in my 2003 Cavalier for a 2009 cobalt. I really enjoyed driving it and had no real issue in the 160000 km. Rotors warped by 20k and again at 40000. Replaced with inexpensive after market brand and never had another problem. Wheel hubs were done while car still under warranty.I did very little maintenance, oil changes every 10-15 k, nothing else the owners manual suggested. It always started even in - 30 Celcius -22F. I got over 800km on a tank several times,38US mpg 6.1 l/100. I never really took good care of it and in 6 years it never let me down. I was impressed by the acceleration, 0- 100 km in 8.5 seconds is not bad for a car that cost 13 grand tax in.