The Chevy Cobalt is built on GM's Delta platform, which it shares with the new Saturn Astra and European-market Opel Astra. But with its single-bar grille and bowtie emblem, it looks like a proper Chevrolet small car right down to its shoes and socks.

Body panel fits are extremely tight. So tight, in fact, that there are no rubber trim gaskets around the compound complex headlamps.

The coupe bears a resemblance to the Cavalier it replaced, though it shares nothing else with it. The sedan features a more modern roofline sweep. The SS coupe and sedan models have a small rear spoiler, while the SS Supercharged coupe carries a huge, tall rear spoiler than says it's a serious sport compact.

Cobalt is longer, wider and lower than most of its direct competitors and its interior dimensions and trunk capacity are comparable for the class.