Consumer Reports Gives the Chevrolet Cobalt Below-average Ranking

General Motors—world’s largest automakersignificantly in terms of reliability and performance.
and maker of the popular GM cold air intakes ---“Is the car where it needs to be? No. But we
has recently issued a statement against theare making improvements, and they are
Consumer Reports’ below-average ranking ofsignificant.”
the Chevrolet Cobalt saying that the magazineJim Graham, President of United Auto Workers
has based its findings on old tests results andLocal 1112 commented that the magazine’s
does not in any way reflect the current models.ranking doesn’t match any of the research
It should be noted that the magazine has rankedbeing conducted at the Lordstown plant. He also
the Chevrolet Cobalt 11th out of 16 small carssaid that Lordstown workers for the past couple
with automatic transmissions. Consumerof months have been calling Cobalt buyers and
Reports’ Winter/Spring 2007 Superchart haspersonally asking them for any problems that
not included the Lordstown-built car among thethey are encountering with the brand. The
eight cars listed on the magazine’sworkers are also asking these same buyers what
“recommended buys”. The informationthey like and do not about their cars. “The
was released ahead of its annual issue which willpercentage of positive calls is much, much more
come out on March 6.than the percentage of negative calls.”
The Cobalt ranking that was released byGraham did not divulge the specific numbers.
Consumer Reports was based on theConsumer Reports’ Magazine has given the
performance test done by the magazine in 2005,Cobalt with a below-average score in terms of
in short it doesn’t reflect the improvementsreliability and overall satisfaction. The magazine has
done to the car since then, said Janine Froehan,also given the Cobalt with an average rating in the
spokeswoman for General Motors on qualityarea of accident avoidance. But in fairness to the
issues. The Chevrolet Cobalt was released in fallCobalt it has scored above average in crash
of 2004.protection with its side airbags and received an
Starting from the time the magazine tested theaverage score without the airbags.
Cobalt, Lordstown plant has already added a newThe magazine also highlighted the good points of
paint shop which has greatly improved the finishthe Cobalt like for its acceleration and ride. But
quality and reduced the noise by enhancing theunfortunately scored low for steering, engine
sealing of the car’s body, explained Froehan.noise, fuel economy, seat comfort and side crash
There are also added features included in theprotection without the curtain airbags.
2007 models such as a remote start andAll the other top-rated cars included in the
upgraded radio. Froehan has expressed herConsumer Reports’ Winter/Spring 2007
observation regarding the magazine’s qualitySuperchart were by far more expensive than the
rankings saying that it’s not accurate and areCobalt. The Cobalt tested by the magazine only
based on a three year average test plus it doescost $16,350 while the prices of the top six cars
not include updates on innovation or developmentsranged from $18,190 to $23,780. General Motors
that the vehicles included in the ranking tests havehas scheduled the production of Cobalt in
undergone.Lordstown through summer of 2009. Union
Froehan further stated that GM’s internalofficials are also hopeful that the plant will receive
monitoring reveals that the car improvedanother model to build.