When it comes to economical, small compact front wheel drive vehicles, Japanese brands are usually the leaders of the competition. The Chevrolet Cobalt however is one American small compact car that could compete fairly well against its Asian counterparts.

Aside from the fact that it has a very reasonable price tag, the car also benefits from its commendable fuel economy.

Offered either as a sedan or a coupe with multiple trims between them, the Cobalt offers enough variety for those looking for a decent economical ride. In addition, the 2008 Cobalt has also been graced with added safety features.

For 2008, the supercharged SS and SS Trims have dropped from the lineup. Instead, the “Sport Sedan” and “Sport Coupe” have become the SS trim equivalent of the Cobalt.

Among the ‘non-sport’ versions, the sedan is available with the LS, LT and LTZ trims. The Coupe on the other hand is available with the LS and LT trims.

The base engine is a 2.2 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 145hp. The LS and LT trims offers a choice of either the five speed manual transmission or the four speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission is the standard for the LTZ.

The Sport Versions are equipped with a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that delivers 171 hp.