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 11 through 20 of 167.00

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  Love My Yellow Cav - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By kimmy03cav - July 1 - 10:39 am

  I love my little Cavalier. It has gotten me from A to B everyday since day one in 2003 when I drove it off the lot. When I first brought her home, I had numerous little problems, bad wiring harnesses that blew my blinkers out weekly, rusty roters that caused a pulsation, blew my speakers too but, In 8 years the only major problem was a fuel pump after owning it for 7 years and 110k. Its peppy for a 4 cly. 2.2 automatic. Best car ever! I lover it and I dont want to sell her but I need room for little ones.

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  2003 Chevy Cavalier Review - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By md2011 - May 19 - 11:21 am

  Got this car Feb 06 traded it in May 09 with 68k. My first car. Drivetrain in this car could not be beat strong engine good transmission(auto). Performance, handling was exceptional. Excellent mpg 35mpg hwy. Problem is everything else in this car was going. The A/C had problems with derbis that would rattle in the vents, alternator was going, battery was going, suspension was horrible. So many rattles actually got rubber sheets cut and siliconed it in various places to stop the rattles. Interior space every bump I hit my head on the ceiling (im 63). Interior materials were below avg but this an economy car. Cupholders in a bad location. t All in all good first car.

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  2003 cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By wolverine39 - May 9 - 4:26 am

  I just sold my 03 Cavalier, it had 125,000 miles. I owned it for 18 months. I had problems with it leaking oil and had to replace the rear main seal, also recently the a/c unit went out in it which caused me to sell. but other than that it was reliable, always started and never left me on the side of the road.

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  115k miles and... - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By neil27 - February 22 - 10:02 pm

  Ive put 115k miles on my Chevy cavalier. The price was very attractive. The car has surprisingly good slow speed acceleration. However, Ive had numerous mechanical difficulties including: fuel pump failure, multiple evap canister failures, serious wire harness failure, ventilation blower failure, speaker problems, hood latch failure, power steering issues, broken seat. In addition the car eats front end brake rotors at high rate. The transmission failed with 12k miles, but was replaced on warranty. The rear suspension is noisy and rides really rough. Road noise levels are high. The interior design, especially the placement of the cup holders, is terrible

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  lemon yellow lemon - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kay - May 10 - 11:00 pm

  I bought this car new in 2003 and thought it would be a good car for my needs. I had it in for repairs 5 times under warranty and count fewer times since. Now it has headlight problems and turn signal light on passenger side blows out every 2 to 3 weeks. I would never buy a GM car again!

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  Not a good choice - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jay - April 6 - 1:03 am

  My parents bought me this car when I graduated but I wish they went with something else. Ive owned one for 3 years and now selling it. It is very reliable and doesnt have many mechanical problems at all but the entire interior design is made from cheap easy to break materials. Even the seats are VERY uncomfortable for driving for long periods my back would actually start to hurt after 3 or so hours and id have to get out and stretch, the cup holders are ridiculously placed right behind the cup holders. Dont expect the CD drive to last long either. Not to mention what car nowadays doesnt have power doors OR windows??The brakes also stink on wet roads, the steering is loose.

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  fun but it has its problems - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chevycavalierowner - March 17 - 11:47 pm

  I just bought this car with 50,000 miles on it. The car drives excellent. IT is real fun to drive. The only thing wrong with it is its real cramped inside, and the car car is real torquey.

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  Great car for the money - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rae - December 21 - 10:28 am

  I bought this car in 2002 and have about 97,000 miles on it. I just had to replace the fuel pump ($600), replaced the brake pads, and have put new tires on the car. Other than that, regular oil changes and the car drives wonderfully. It may not be the fanciest car around, but for someone on a budget, it is perfect.

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  I LOVE IT! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BeckaRabbit - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Just got my new Cavalier and I just can not belive what I got for this price! The power is excellent, great stability, and great performance.... am I doing 80?? and I paid how much for this baby??....Lots of attention on the road. Great looks and very comfortable. I love it! I love it! I love it!.

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  coolest car ever - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cavi lover - December 3 - 4:14 pm

  Traded 03 cavi. For a another 03 cavi cause I wanted the sport pkg and manual tran. Car handles great. Fun driving it around with Windows down moonroof open and radio cranked up. I can go 3 to 4 weeks on a single tank of gas. I took it on a 14 hr road trip to Texas this past summer and that was fun. Has been reliable since only a few minor fixer uppers. Cluster wouldnt work when it got over 90 degrees and the car was sitting out in sun. Easy fix I just replaced it. And one of my wires on abs broke off front tire. Thats it.