Nearly all of the Cobalt's rivals have been redesigned in recent years, except for the Corolla, which is due for a full face-lift for 2009.
And like the Cobalt, the Ford Focus and Honda Civic are available in coupe or sedan versions; the Ford Focus was just restyled for 2008 and has a very refined, attractive, and quite roomy interior, while the Civic feels especially nimble and responsive on the road, though it's tight on backseat headroom.
The Sentra, Elantra, and Corolla are each very well-designed small sedans, conservative and basic but more refined and just as roomy, if not more so.
Ride comfort is one of few categories where the Cobalt has an edge.
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 2008 Chevrolet CobaltBrowse Used Listings |  2009 Toyota CorollaBrowse Used Listings |  2008 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | ||
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The Cobalt is cheap and comfortable, and it performs reasonably well, but it's past its prime. |
The 2009 Toyota Corolla has a split personality: the utilitarian base car and the slightly edgy, expensive Corolla XRS. |
The 2008 Ford Focus isn’t all new, but it is an improvement, and a solid choice if you’re looking for a roomy car that handles well with a base price that starts around $15,000. |
| MSRP From | ||
| $14,410 | $15,350 | $14,395 |
| Gas Mileage | ||
| 22 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||
| Gas 4-Cyl | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | ||
| Subcompact | Compact | Compact |
| Style Name | ||
| 2-Door Coupe LS | 4-Door Sedan Manual (GS) | 2-Door Coupe S |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||
| 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||
| 2 Door Coupe | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe |
| Transmission | ||
| Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||
| 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt vs. 2009 Toyota Corolla | 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt vs. 2008 Ford Focus | |
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