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 1 through 10 of 167.00-
Push it off a cliff - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By Ian - August 16 - 9:43 pmThis is a long review. What I mention can be very important to anyone who is serious about buying this car. Skip to the end if you want my recommendations. In 2010, I bought a base model 2dr Cavalier with a manual transmission for around $4500 with around 104k miles on it. I look back now and I can tell you that it was NOT worth that, even if KBB said so. If Im lucky I could sell this to a dealer for $600. In five years I have put around 41k miles on it and I have grown to loathe it. Good things: its a mode of fairly reliable transportation, heating and A/C still work, road noise isnt too terrible. Bad things currently: rocker panels are rusting badly behind the doors, intermittent wiper mode doesnt work properly (wipers get stuck mid-cycle), suspension, front seats, back seats (anyone taller than 5 9" should NOT sit in the back), seat belt harnesses are uncomfortable in front seats, trunk lid latch (occasionally when going to use the key to unlock the trunk, the key wont be able to open it because the socket for the latch will twist when turning the key and will not allow the latch to release). Bad things in the past: air vent control (Under the right conditions, if you force the air vent control knob, it will bend the cable that it uses to switch between airflow directions. After this, it is stuck in one airflow direction and cannot be changed. The dash has to be removed and a new cable has to be installed.), timing chain (This one worried me. It has been reported in forums that, after 100k miles, the timing chain starts to not get enough oil and the chain breaks causing engine damage. Id like to say I had my chain and other components replaced at around 128k miles.) Driving this car is dreadful. The suspension is soft and corners like a barge. The brakes are there and they get the job done. Acceleration is what you can expect from 2.2L 4cyl. Steering is quite floppy. There is a long throw in gear changes but it shifts smoothly nonetheless. Looking at this car is not much better. I realized later that what I should have had was a hatchback or at least a 4dr vehicle. This car is NOT practical. Yes, you could get yourself a 4dr Cavalier but they look even worse than the 2dr versions. Recommendations: 1. Use it for a winter beater. 2. If you travel less than 5 miles to work every day and you dont plan on ever driving more than that in one trip, you should be fine. 3. DONT BUY THIS CAR! If youre looking for a compact Chevy that isnt built in Korea, look into a 4dr Cobalt. Theyre more practical than the 2dr, they look way better than a 4dr Cavalier, and they arent terribly expensive. Do your research and pick a car that fits you. I clearly made the wrong choice.
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Solid work car, with plenty of quirks. - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By hpcrowley - December 25 - 12:23 pmBought this car from a buy here-pay here lot with $160k miles for a ridiculous price. Been reliable so far, but has SOOO many little problems. When I first bought it, the instrument cluster would go haywire at at random times, which was later attributed to moisture in the electronics. The climate control has an annoying click on any setting but recirculate, and the knobs broke to boot. the shifter has a disconcerting grind in it going into fourth gear. The interior is virtually destroyed, and the body isnt much better. okay, so now for the positives: its been unwaveringly reliable for the past 6 months! The only expense Ive had has been tires. All in all, a solid driver.
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Excellent car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By ravens1986 - September 4 - 9:07 pmI bought my cavy when it had around 135,000 miles on it. Its just now gotten to 218,000 after five years of owning it, and its been exceptionally reliable. The only part to go bad on it was the fuel pump, I have not had to buy any other parts for it. Other than the standard oil change and brake service, new tires, and normal maintenance, I havent had to put any money in to it. And I used to abuse the crap out of it when I was younger. Well worth the investment. I notice a lot of people posting about having all sorts of problems with theirs, but its the absolute opposite for me. Its not the sportiest car, but it is reliable.
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The Value Mobile - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By sbe79 - August 5 - 10:50 pmPurchased in 2/2013 with a mere 38K on it. Had been garaged constantly and rarely driven in inclement weather. Basically, it was nearly mint. All in all, the car feels extremely cheap. It does not feel or drive like a 2003 of any type, it feels much older. It is a true budget mobile that offers no thrills or extras -- its a wonder these ever sold at all up against the competitively priced Civic or Corolla. My wife drives it as an errand runner -- and she runs a lot of errands. It has so far proven its dependability. Even though it feels like I could karate chop most of the interior, I think I could drive it at least part way across the US without issue.
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So Many Problems - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By allexwags - September 2 - 10:16 pmI have an 03 cavi with 130,000 miles. There are so many things wrong with it Im not sure where to start.. I bought it used a year ago. The speedometer doesnt function at all, the whole dashboard doesnt function when it is hot outside. It burns through a quart of oil every week or so. Smokes out the muffler when I press on the gas after stopping, which is now held on to my car via tape. Cracked belt. Air only works when it wants to. I hate this car. There are so many things wrong with it & I cant even save up money to buy a new one because it needs so much maintenance.
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Never buy governmert motors - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By danddad33 - August 29 - 4:26 pmbought the can new with 7 miles on it. around 350 miles the heater switch went on it. Next one happen around two years after owning the car. wife called and told me car will not stay running. I ran the car about a mile to the house, with it stalling about 100 times. this is 36,000 the fuel pump went. well the good news was that the car was too new for the bolts to rust. I changed it. around 54,000 miles the gauges on the dash went hay-wire. Stepper motor bad, easy fix with the dash pulled apart. Now that the car is 12 years old and 97,000 miles the motor went. I have a ford ranger close to 200,000 miles only thing went was the timing belt. I love my ford!!! NO MORE CHEVY!!!!!
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everywhere and back - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By mycars201 - April 13 - 5:11 pmi was giving this car as a present from my parents in high school in 2006 it had 40k miles on it, and it was a good little first car, drove me everywhere i needed to go, im 6" ft so its not the biggest and i couldnt fit more then 3 people in my car. i went to college in Oregon and did very well in the rain, considering im from arizona and thats where the car had lived most of its life, i drove 3 hrs every weekend from the coast to portland back never let me down. the longest trip this car has taken was a 16 drive to san fran and was perfect, sold it 96k miles and only did routine maintenance, brakes oil change, never had to replace clutch, did have to replace soarks at 90k
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The Cavalier That Could - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By roo93 - November 2 - 4:30 pmI bought my cavalier on 4/28/10 w/ 85,xxx miles on it. Was prior salvage. I bought it for $4k. Initially, I was very concerned it would break down or something, or if it was just going to die on my way back home. But I fell in love with this car. Not one problem out of it, and I drove it till it had 100,000miles on it. Had two things go bad: A ratchet thing on my muffler that had fallen off from going down my gfs bumpy driveway($25) & tires. Now, it was in a wreck 4 days ago from me hitting a deer. Just want to say, the seatbelt and airbags saved my life. Its a very well built car. And I went to the salvage yard to look at my car, as soon as I put the key in, it started right up. Reliable
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Reliable, excellent gas milage! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By travelsalot - October 12 - 9:38 amI bought my car in 2004 with 24k miles for about $8500. When purchased, my car would get 30-32 miles per gallon highway and 28-30 mpg town. I have had my car for 7 years and now have 165k miles racked up. On average, I get 29.5-31 mpg highway and 28 mpg town. Over the years I have replaced a few things: Carpet (warranty) Ignition switch x3 (warranty) Fuel pump x1 (around 90k miles) Brakes x2 (one set front and back with rotors- have lifetime warranty on parts) Tires (set of 4) x2 Fan motor (very inexpensive through private mechanic) and belt x1 0verall, very few inexpensive mechanic bills. I am starting to burn oil, but the car exhaust does not stink.
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okay car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
By yaris4 - August 12 - 9:38 pmThis car is average at best. bought brand new in 2003 has 180K on odometer. Automatic Z24 in canada model. Car drives well, with smooth automatic transmission. Gas mileage is average. Have had to replace driver side auto window motor 3 times. Other than that regular maintenance.
