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 71 through 80 of 167.00

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  Really Good Basic Transport - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By analyzerlx - October 3 - 11:39 pm

  Ive driven this Cavalier from Vegas to Baltimore, MD. back to Vegas and then to Georgia. Its been everywhere in-between. Ive used it as a pizza delivery car! I think GM did right with this engine and body style. I wish the fit-and-finish were up to Asian and Euro standards, but you get what you pay for I guess. I like the Cobalt, but think the Cavalier has a better look. Cavalier may have been a checkered ast, but it still is one of Chevys best selling cars ever! Cobalt should be renamed Cavalier to keep the legacy alive. I bought my car as a standard 4-door sedan w/o all the bells and whistles inside. Ive had to replace the trunk latch. Overall a great American car!

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  2003 Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jim - September 10 - 3:57 pm

  After owning a 96 Cavalier coupe, and putting 175,000 miles on it with no problems, original everything, I had to get a new one with the awsome ecotec. Performance mods are endless. even better than my first!

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  Perfect Car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Skippy - August 21 - 10:00 am

  After owning a 2001 Ford Focus by reading reviews I have learned that most reviews are useless and their is no better way to buy a car but to drive the living hell out of it at the dealer. So after test driving this car on the lot I was fully convinced to purchase the Cavalier, as it was the last car on my list to drive. I dont know how in the hell consumer reports put this car last if anything that Focus should be dead last, I have owned GMs before and they are reliable unlike my Ford which lost all its power after 2 years and 60,000 miles. This ECOTEC engine is great, and you cant beat the value with a stick.

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  nice car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mamasplat - August 21 - 10:00 am

  We just bought our cavalier 2 months ago, and I am really impressed. It handles in accidents very well. We drove the car off the lot and down the street and some guy rear ended us going about 40 MPH totaled his truck, gave us bumper damage. All in all i like driving the car.

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  Happy with Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By James OMelia - July 24 - 10:19 pm

  I purchased it new and have had no problems. This is my second Cavalier, having bought a 97 new. Great A/C and heat, pickup, reliability, and gas mileage. I like its looks too. I disagree with Consumer Reports concerning this vehicles comfort and interior design. I would recommend it to anyone in the market for cheap transportation and some degree of style.

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  2002 z24 and the mew 2003 model - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Ryan V. - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2002 z24 that came with the Ecotec in Canada. Although it lost 10 hp from the previous 2.4L engine, the car still has respectable power from 150 ft lbs of torque. Im pretty sure this model is identical to the new 2003 design; the only differences being the design and some interior bits. The build quality is below average and the materials used is also below par. The tweaked suspension gives it a grippy handle on the road; thats a plus. This car gives you what you paid for. If it was 5,000-7,000 more I wouldnt have bought it.

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  Wish there were no problems - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Denise - June 29 - 5:02 pm

  My car has had some issues. My windows needed to be repaired two times under initial warranty. Make rear seat came off tracking and needed repair. My trunk latch has issues and needs to be closed several times before latching. With all the shutting, the spoiler has cracked and need to take it into the dealership. I got a nice blue color which I loved but the car has so many scratches, it looks pathetic. This was the first brand new car I purchased and have been very disappointed. BTW - wheels on sports model are VERY expensive to replace if a flat hurts rim. The car also uses special oil filter which some places charge an extra $10 to change.

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  An awesome car at a bargain price - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Defendar - June 27 - 12:35 am

  This is my third Cavalier. Also owned a 1988 and 2000 Cavalier. I bought this car fully loaded planning to keep it for a long time. Well losing my job forced me to take a job 107 miles away from home. So my daily commute totals 214 miles. At 88,000 miles I just replaced the fuel pump. Im still on my first brakes and tires, even though both probably need to be replaced soon. This car has fantastic low-end torque. You can get yourself in trouble in no time at all, blowing away everything in its class and then some. Considering the cost, this car is a total steal and you can tons of after- market parts to make a look a billion bucks, for less than $20,000 overall cost.

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  Excellent First New Car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Steven Horvat - June 24 - 8:10 pm

  I bought this car new inspite of what my parents have told me for 9,999 and added underbody spray, interior protectent at that time This car used to get 23-25 mpg but after my standered $200 dollars modifications to any car I get My mpg in city driveing went to 30mpg and 28 with the ac on! I have Royal Purple 5w20 engine oil, Royal purple trany oil. K&N stock air filter, Iridium spark plugs, and I pulled out the power robbing bong connected to the air box in the front left fender wall. Dynoed the car too. stock 153hp 156tq after mods: 173hp 180tq. Got a ram air hood too. 20k comming up soon great ride for my first new car.

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  Practical and inexpensive - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Hibiscus - June 7 - 5:35 pm

  I purchased this car with 9 miles on it and have put almost 17,000 miles on it since May 2003. It has great mileage, its very reliable and seats our family of five in comfort. Ive had squeaky brakes, but my mechanic says these Cavaliers come with brakes that have a high metallic content. They work fine, but make a funny sound sometimes. This model has had three recalls for small items: a computer chip was reprogrammed, rear lights were replaced and an emissions sticker was added later. This is an inexpensive car thats great to drive and has a terrific sound system. This is the third Cavalier Ive had and theyve all been very reliable since I got my first in 1986. Im very happy with it!