Background: Question...What's General Motors' best-selling car? Answer... Chevrolet division's Cavalier. While Chevrolet's C/K pickup claims the "Best-Selling Vehicle" title at GM, the reliable Cavalier has quietly been posting solid numbers for the worlds' largest automaker. In a fickle automotive business, numbers speak louder than words and during the 1997 calendar year, 302,161 Cavaliers were sold. Introduced in spring 1981 as a 1982 model, the compact, relatively low-priced Cavalier appeals to entry-level shoppers, buyers on a budget and a wide range of value-conscious car enthusiasts. The front-wheel-drive Cavalier shares an automotive platform with the Pontiac Sunfire. General Motors assembles Cavalier in three locations: Lansing, Mich., Lordstown, Ohio and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Trim levels: Cavalier is available in several different varieties depending on ones driving needs and price range. Included in the mix are Base coupe and sedan models, a RS "Rally Sport" Coupe, LS sedan, Z24 Coupe and Z24 convertible with standard power top. The Base coupe represents Cavalier's best-selling model. Chevrolet dropped a station wagon edition after the 1994 model year.
New for 1998: The biggest Cavalier news concerns the convertible offering, which now is built off the Z24 performance model rather than the more conservativeLS version. Chevrolet has made improvements to it's manual transmission shifting resulting in smoother movement between gear.
Safety equipment: Cavalier is one of the only vehicles in the compact segment offering standard four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Traction control, which monitors wheel slippage during inclement driving conditions, comes standard with four-speed automatic transmission models. Daytime running lights, dual air bags, child safety rear power window protection (sedans), child safety rear door locks (sedan), PassLock theft-deterrent system and five-mile-per-hour safety bumpers come with the price of admission. Battery rundown protection, which turns off interior lights left on for more than 20 minutes, is also standard in every Cavalier. Remote keyless entry is standard in Z24 models, optional in the RS Coupe and LS sedan, but not available in Base coupes and sedans.
Price: Cavalier's manufacturer's suggested retail prices range from a low of $11,610 for a Base two-door to $19,410 for the Z24 two-door convertible. In between, a Base four-door checks in at $11,810, RS two-door coupe is $12,870, LS four-door sedan is $14,250 and a Z24 two-door hardtop sets one back $15,710. Chevrolet provided the Daily Herald with a Z24 convertible, which totaled $20,345 after adding four-speed automatic transmission and upgraded sound system and a Z24 coupe, costing approximately $17,000 with the same options. Both include a $500 destination charge.
Engine: Cavaliers offer two different sequentially-fuel injected four-cylinder power choices. The 2.2-liter base engine delivers 115 horsepower, and comes standard in Base coupe, sedan RS Coupe and LS sedan. The more powerful 2.4-liter twin cam engine delivers 150 horsepower and is standard in Z24 models and optional in the LS sedan. Chevrolet indicates base engines run quieter this model year.
Standard equipment: Cavalier, like most entry-level competitors, offers more standard equipment the higher up one travels on the trim level ladder. Power rack-and-pinion steering, intermittent wipers, reclining front bucket seats and five-speed manual transmission come standard on every model except the LS sedan, which includes four-speed automatic standard. Three-speed automatic transmission is an option only in Base models and four-speed electronically-controlled automatic with traction control is optional in Base, RS coupe, and Z24 Cavaliers.
Options: Air conditioning, optional in base and RS editions, comes standard in LS sedans and Z24s. Rear-window defogger is optional across the board except in Z24 convertibles where its standard fare. Power door locks are standard in Z24s and RS coupes and LS sedans with the remote keyless entry options, but optional in all other editions. Power windows, not offered in Base models, are optional in RS Coupe and LS Sedan and standard in Z24s. Intermittent variable wipers and tilt steering column are optional in Base models, but standard everywhere else. An AM/FM stereo with compact disc player is optional across the board while a AM/FM cassette stereo combination is standard in the LS sedan and Z24 models, but option in RS coupes and Base models. Cruise control is standard in RS coupes, LS sedans and Z24 coupes, but not available in Base editions.. Sunroofs are optional in all Cavalier coupes (except convertible), but not offered in sedans.
Interior: Power window controls are located between front bucket seats while the power lock button is found on the driver's door. Cavalier includes GM's easy-to-use, three rotary dial system for monitoring temperature, fan direction and speed controls. These dials situate above the stereo system with large, easy-to-find, square pre-set buttons. Headlights operate from the turn signal stalk while windshield wipers monitor from a right-hand side stalk. A hand-operation parking brake and flip-top storage bin is nestled between front bucket seats. Also in this area is a permanently-molded, circular beverage holder and a exposed tray area for keeping loose change. Looking for a no-hassle, struggle-free power convertible roof? Cavalier's current design tops them all. With the press of a button above the rear-view mirror, a four-inch long handle descends, unhooking the front portion of a two-prong hatch of the vinyl roof. By gently bringing the lever forward, the power roof retracts back in a matter of seconds. By maneuvering the handle towards the windshield, the power roof motors up again, nestling into latch position above the front windshield. After pushing the easy-to move handle up into the lock position, the roof is secured. This single-handle design, simple for one person to operate, is light-years ahead of manually-operated, cumbersome manual convertible tops which were the norms not so long ago. Plus, the convertible's rear glass window, with built-in defogger, greatly improves visibility during inclement weather and is far superior to distorted, plastic back windows; a staple not long ago in many ragtop-top cars. Wind noise is evident at high speeds, especially in the convertible. But Cavalier offers more interior space than Dodge Neon and Ford Escort, its two closest domestic competitors.
Seating comfort: All models include a fold-down rear seat cushion. When down, cargo-carrying capacity increases. While General Motors promotes Cavalier as a five-seater, two adults fit most comfortably in back. Three's a crowd. Coupe editions would benefit from front bucket seats that move forward once the seatbacks tilt down as in some compact competitors. In back, leg room is tight with front bucket seats positioned in a comfortable setting for front travelers. Durable cloth seats come standard. Cavalier offers no leather seating surfaces.
Exterior: All Cavaliers include fade resistant clearcoat exterior paint. The non-locking, square fuel-tank door is positioned on the right-side back fender, the same area that's home to the radio antenna. A rear deck lid spoiler comes standard in RS coupe and the two Z24 offerings, while optional in the LS sedan. Base models do not offer spoilers. Cavalier offers three tire sizes. Fourteen-inch tires are available in Base models only. Fifteen-inch versions are standard in the RS coupe, LS sedan and Z24 convertible and optional in Base Cavaliers. The sporty Z24 coupe comes equipped with large 16-inch performance tires.
Dimensions (convertible) Wheelbase: 104.1 inches Length: 180.7 Width: 68.7 inches Height: 53.7 inches Weight: 2,899 pounds
Demographics: Cavalier covers a wide demographic territory with its many offerings. Coupe buyers include a median age 29; sedan buyers 39 years and convertible shoppers 42. Median household incomes include Coupe buyers at around $40,000; sedan buyers above $40,000 and convertible shoppers at $65,000. Sixty-six percent of coupe buyers and 65 percent of sedan buyers are women. Most Cavalier buyers are high school graduates with some college experience. Cavalier plays an important role for GM since approximately 40 percent of first-time, new-vehicle buyers choose one of the five offerings. Over the years, many of these buyers have turned into loyal GM customers.
Fuel economy: Our two Z24s with automatic transmission and double overhead cam engine checks in with fuel estimates of 22 miles per gallon city and 32 m.p.g. highway. These figures almost match five-speed manual transmission figures when matched with the upgraded engine (22 city and 33 highway.) For better fuel economy, the smaller, 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine matched with five-speed manual is the fuel champ at 25 m.p.g. city and 37 m.p.g. highway. When combined with four-speed automatic, this engine checks in at 25 m.p.g. city and 34 m.p.g. highway. The fuel tank holds 15.2 gallons of regular unleaded fuel.
Final thoughts: For shoppers looking for relatively inexpensive, reliable transportation, Cavalier should be part of their list. An impressive list of standard safety features set it apart from many compact competitors. Cavalier includes one of the industry's most economically-priced, four-passenger, easy-to-operate convertible tops featuring a glass rear window. |