Rental report: Chevrolet Cobalt

I've got two big complaints about the American rental car industry.

First, they rent cars that I would almost never buy. Of the dozen or so vehicles I've rented in the last few years, only one has been something I've owned in the past—and even then, I didn't actually buy that Camry as much as my folks handed it down to get me through school. It was a decent car, but definitely not my style.

Second, they universally rent cars with automatic transmissions.

I understand the reality behind both of these problems. I'm into unusual cars, and I don't really expect a rental company to be buying anywhere in my shopping list. And automatic transmissions actually make a ton of business sense: managing inventory is easier without that additional variable that could preclude customers who can't drive a stick; automatics are more difficult to damage; and slushboxes do an awful lot to discourage more, ahem, spirited driving.

But that doesn't mean that I have to like it. I loathe automatic transmissions, especially in cars like my rental Chevrolet Cobalt.

See, the Cobalt—much like many other small economy cars—doesn't really have the right engine for an automatic. It's a 2.0L err, 2.2L four-cylinder unit that makes insufficient torque to be genuinely driveable with this gearbox. Accelerating at speed nearly always requires a downshift, and the torque converter lets out enough slack at speed (ostensibly for efficiency) that there's always a noticeable lag before the downshift even starts.

The handling, on the other hand, is susprisingly decent. The sweeping 50mph arterial roads of Irvine have given me a few opportunities to exercise the grip offered by the Cobalt, and it stays decently composed when pushed beyond the comfort zone. The FF layout means it's nowhere near exciting, but it doesn't wallow and shimmy like many of the other cars I've rented in the past.

But don't despair—there's plenty of shimmy left in the dashboard, which despite only 800 miles of service, has developed creaks in the switchgear and—annoyingly—the plastic trim in the steering wheel. I chalk this up to typical rental car abuse. Now, I've picked on GM interiors for ... well, for an eternity, because the design and materials have been decidedly sub-par. The last few years have seen a turnaround, and I'm pleased to say that the Cobalt interior is satisfactorily designed and barring the rental-car creaks, is made of materials that aren't at all awful. The ergonomics are pretty good and there's nothing glaringly out of place.

...except for the emergency brake. I'm not sure if this is an artifact of that accursed automatic transmission or if all Cobalts (manual and auto) are fitted with this combination brake and armrest, but it's designed in a way that completely discourages the driver from using the handbrake. Even though this is an automatic, I use the handbrake religiously, and every time I do I have to raise the armrest to deal with it. I realize this sounds like a load of whining but it really is obnoxious.

Armrest notwithstanding, this car drives and feels a lot like the Focus I got a few months ago, which is absolutely expected for two cars aimed at precisely the same market. Now, I lamented the new Focus because it lost the soul of the original model—but I can't really do the same with the Cobalt since its predecessor was one of the most loathesome cars ever built, the Cavalier. In nearly all ways, the Cobalt is a serious step up from the aging Cav. But for both the Focus and the Cobalt, the result is about the same: a few nagging issues and an unengaging driving experience. They won't ever be my first choice for a new set of wheels, but they're absolutely decent economy cars, and fit that bill pretty well.