Why? The Turbo is pushing out a lot more power. Have you seen the things Nurburgring time?? It's up there.

2005 SS Supercharged
Horsepower: 205 @ 5600 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 200 @ 4400 rpm

2009 SS Turbo
Horsepower: 260
torque (lb-ft): 260
8:22 'Ring time.

 

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS coupe

View all Chevrolet Cobalt years and styles


Photos

Editor's Ratings

• Enthusiast Rating: 6/10
• Consumer Appeal: 4/10
• Ratings Explained

Users' Ratings: N/A

• Submit a User Rating

Base Price

$23,435



Highs

Big power and tons of torque from a high-tech powertrain, a well-tuned chassis, firm Brembo brakes.
Lows

Wind noise, ugly start-up noises, interior finish not up to that of the competition.


What's New

Introduced for 2008; configurable performance display new this year.
Behind The Wheel

For a front-driver, the SS glues to asphalt and eats up mountain roads. The turbo sounds good and pulls hard.



Capsule Review

Chevy’s hot tot answers the Subaru WRX with a new 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo with a big 260 hp. At 5.7 seconds to 60 mph, the SS is fast. The techie turbo, which replaces a supercharged mill, has a “no-lift shift” feature to hasten acceleration. A lot of fun is the result.

Reviews

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - Video

December 2008
GM’s Performance Division turns out a duesy of a Cobalt.


2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Sedan - Short Take Road Test

November 2008
To better battle Mitsubishi and Subaru, Chevy arms the Cobalt SS with four doors.


2009 Chevrolet Cobalt / Cobalt SS - Review

November 2008
What’s new, highlights, and safety info for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt.


LL1: 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - Feature

November 2008
The Lightning Lap, 2008


2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LS XFE - Short Take Road Test

September 2008
Xtra Fuel Economy might not be thrilling, but at least it’s not torture.


2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - Short Take Road Test

July 2008
Powered by a new, mighty turbo-four we're certain that the hot-rodded Cobalt's best days are still ahead.


2008 Cobalt SS - Feature

June 2008
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Faces Four Forced-Induction Fours and a High-RPM Honda


2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - First Drive Review

March 2008
GM’s Performance Division turns out a duesy of a Cobalt.


2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS and Pontiac G5 GT - Feature

April 2007
The Quickest Cars of 2007: Less than $20,000


2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged - Feature

February 2007
Eighth Place: The Quickest Cars of 2007: $20,000 to $25,000


LL1: Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged / Honda Civic Si / Volkswagen GTI - Feature

November 2006
The Lightning Lap, 2006


Chevrolet Cavalier to Cobalt - Feature

September 2006
Best Makeovers: The Best and Worst Automotive Makeovers


Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged - Short Take Road Test

August 2005
A feel-good pill for the Camaro blues.


Chevrolet Cobalt LS - Road Test

April 2005
Plainly good.


Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged - First Drive Review

February 2005
GM's newest heavy metal packs some heat.


2005 Chevrolet Cobalt - First Drive Review

July 2004
GM tries to convince us that 'it's different this time.'


More

 

Just prefer super over turbo, nothing more than that lol

it's not about power or anything. I'm just not a fan of a turbo's sound.

 

I'm literally shaking my head... lol

I'm just kidding though. Personally preferences!

 

I don't like turbo's cause they sound sinister. Superchargers are always good guys, like Superman. Superman is never sinister. Superchargers are super like Superman. I like like my supercharger. F* turbos...

 

Ok, since everyone is talking about it, here is my opinion..

If all I wanted was power, I could careless if it was turbocharged or supercharged, which ever made the most power is what i'd want.

If turbo and Supercharging were neck and neck with equal power in a particular application, then I prefer supercharging because there is not turbo lag.

This all said, I would prefer a bigger engine that is normally aspirated over a turbo or supercharded engine. From a longevity stand point, turbo and superchared engines are much more highly stressed than a normally aspirated engine, therefore, they are likely to not last as long as a normally aspirated engine, and have more that can possibly go wrong with them than a normally aspirated engine...

 

I have both. Not on the same car, but in the same garage. LadyT has one of those LNF 260 HP turbo jobs, not in the FWD Cobalt, but in the RWD Solstice GXP. Not 260 hp, but 350 hp, without any effort. You know what it takes to get 350 hp from my L67????
My point is whichever you prefer, or do like ZZPerformance on their Cobalt, and use both, the point here is BOOST is a GREAT thing.

I just found out today that our 2nd shift supervisor used to build drag engines and knows how to massage blowers! Might have to spend a Saturday with this guy! (I got a Solstice to beat!)

Maybe I should just go up to ZZPerformance and do what they want to do to my Intimidator SS, and that's ADD a turbo to it. hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!

Boost is a GREAT thing!

 

Volts wagon made a rabbit that got 51 miles per gallon in the 80's and were "astonished" at 29mpg in todays car. lol. If GM would make attractable cars on the exterior they would make money. They should also make "simpler" cars for maint. to get rid of the computers. Which we all love getting aggravet that the check engine light goes on becasue the gas cap is leaking a little air....We all love the pointless sensors. but thats me.

 

My new boss bought a '06 VW Jetta TDI just before taking this job. He drive 1 hr each way. He is getting 45 mpg and driving it hard. It is SO apparent that the oil companies are tied in so big with Detroit. Now we all suffer.

 

Just watch the oil change on the VW. The 504/507 spec required in the oil is not met by Mobil1 or pretty much anything else. 2 companies make it - Castrol and Total - and it is about $20 per litre (quart for you yanks). It does not extend oil change intervals and the Castrol is not available over the counter anywhere (this is not regular Castrol synthetic). I sell the Total at my store.
A VW - any vw - is a very ugly and soulless machine. Everyday at my job I enjoy telling VW owners to pound salt because I can't get the parts to help them put back together their POS's. VW owners get to pay top dollar for every other aspect of ownership to get that gas pump price down - far more then those who by Chevs. I don't see the benefit of driving VW unless I was trying to let everybody know I was gay (not that there's anything wrong with that)