|
|
|
|
Chevrolet Cavalier
|
| |
|
| |
The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact automobile produced from 1982 to 2005 by General Motors. Built on the company's J platform, the Cavalier was one of the best-selling cars in the United States throughout its life.
Cavalier replaced the Monza, which was available as a 2-door coupe, a 3-door hatchback and a 3-door wagon (using the same body as the discontinued Vega wagon, the model it replaced).
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Chevrolet Cavalier' Start a new discussion about 'Chevrolet Cavalier' Answer questions from other users |
Recent Posts
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact automobile produced from 1982 to 2005 by General Motors. Built on the company's J platform, the Cavalier was one of the best-selling cars in the United States throughout its life.
Predecessors
The Cavalier replaced the Monza, which was available as a 2-door coupe, a 3-door hatchback and a 3-door wagon (using the same body as the discontinued Vega wagon, the model it replaced). The inexpensive Chevette was retained even as sales declined, and was formally replaced by even smaller captive imports. Both previous platforms had conventional rear-drive layouts while the new design could compete on the same level with more efficient front wheel drive offerings, such as the Dodge Omni and Honda Civic. Ford and Chrysler also introduced new front drive compacts. The largely successful mission of capturing the bulk of domestic compact sales would fall on the Cavalier's 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan and 4-door station wagon, the relatively short-lived 3-door hatchback (which replaced the Monza 2+2 Sport 4-door hatchback) and, in later years, a 2-door convertible. The small Cavalier even helped fill in lagging sales of the compact Citation (a Nova replacement).
First generation
The Cavalier first went on sale in early 1981 as a 1982 model with front-wheel-drive, a choice of two four-cylinder pushrod engines, and coupe, sedan, hatchback, and station wagon body styles.
1983 Cavaliers offered electronic fuel injection, and a V6 engine became available in 1985, uncommon for a compact car. 1985 also brought minor styling changes.
The Cavalier was largely identical to the Pontiac Sunbird. Before the Pontiac brand was officially introduced in Mexico in 1992, Cavaliers sold there featured Sunbird body panels, as opposed to US-spec Cavalier panels. From 1993 on, the sibling marques were both offered, as in the United States.
Second generation
1988 Cavaliers were redesigned with fresh styling and modified engines. The hatchback disappeared from the line, but the other bodystyles continued. The exterior and interior were freshened in 1991.
Third generation
The Cavalier was redesigned for 1995 with expanded dimensions and styling that was a departure from the two boxier previous generations. The wagon was discontinued, but the coupe, sedan, and convertible body styles returned. This model is very similar to the Pontiac Sunfire, being the only difference the taillights and the Sunfire's sportier fender.
The Cavalier was facelifted in 2000 and in 2003. The convertible disappeared after 2000.
The Cavalier was replaced by the Chevrolet Cobalt in 2005.
Safety
The third-generation Cavalier earned several low scores in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also, IIHS fatality risks statistics rated the Cavalier among the "Highest rates of driver deaths," with 150 (4 door) to 171 (2 door) driver deaths per millon registered vehicle deaths. Average for the Cavalier class (small) was 103(4 door) to 134(2 door) driver deaths per millon registered vehicle deaths.
The IIHS gave the 1995-2005 Cavalier a Poor overall score in their frontal offset collision test.
2005 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (coupe):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver: *safety concern*
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (sedan):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver: *safety concern*
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
Production
Most Cavaliers were built at Lordstown Assembly, although they have also been produced in South Gate, California (1982 model year only), Lansing Car Assembly (1996-1998 coupes), Lansing Craft Centre (1996-2000 convertibles), Janesville Assembly, Ramos Arizpe, and Leeds Assembly.
United States sales figures
- 58,904 - 1982
- 268,587 - 1983
- 462,611 - 1984
- 383,752 - 1985
- 432,101 - 1986
- 346,254 - 1987
- 322,939 - 1988
- 376,626 - 1989
- 310,501 - 1990
- 326,847 - 1991
- 225,633 - 1992
- 251,590 - 1993
- 254,426 - 1994
- 151,669 - 1995
- 261,686 - 1996
- 315,136 - 1997
- 238,861 - 1998
Sources: Edmunds.com (1992-98), Autoworld.com (1999 estimate)
Engines used
- 1.8 L inline-4 OHV
- 2.0 L inline-4 OHV
- 2.2 L inline-4 OHV
- 2.2 L inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI"
- 2.2 L inline-4 DOHC "Ecotec"
- 2.3 L inline-4 DOHC (1995 Z24 only)
- 2.4 L inline-4 DOHC (Z24)
- 2.8 L MPFI (available in American Z24 and RS (Rally Sport) models from 1986 to 1989, and in Mexican models until 1994)
- 3.1 L V6 MPFI (Available in Z24, RS (Rally Sport) and Wagon models from 1990 to 1994)
Years used
- 1982-1985 GM inline-4 OHV 1.8 L I4
- 1986-1989 GM inline-4 OHV 2.0 L I4
- 1986-1989 2.8 L MPFI V6
- 1990-1994 3.1 L MPFI (191 in³) V6
- 1992-1997 GM inline-4 OHV 2.2 L (134 in³) I4 LN2
- 1995 Quad-4 2.3 L (138 in³) I4 LD2
- 1998-2002 2.2 L GM inline-4 OHV "2200 SFI" LN2
- 1996-2002 LD9 2.4 L (146 in³) I4
- 2002-2005 Ecotec L61 2.2 L (134 in³) I4
Toyota Cavalier
As part of a wider effort to avoid additional restrictions on exports to the US, the third generation model was briefly sold in Japan by Toyota under an agreement with GM, badged as the Toyota Cavalier. Aside from the fact that it was right hand drive, the Toyota Cavalier also featured a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel, wider front fenders, amber turn signals for Japanese regulations, power folding rear mirrors, side turn signal repeater lights on the front fenders, and carpeting on the inside of the trunk lid. Interior seats were often flecked with color, and the rear seat had a fold-down armrest. The Toyota Cavalier was entirely produced by GM in the USA and sold from 1995 - 2000. 1996-2000 Toyota Cavaliers came equipped with the 2.4L LD9 engine, while the 1995 used the 2.3 liter quad 4.
While all Chevrolet-badged Cavaliers received a facelift for 2000, the Toyota did not and used the same basic design for the 2000s as it did for the 1995-1999 models. The only exception to this is the colors available, the interior trim colors and the tail-lights.
A fair number of these vehicles are re-exported as Japanese used cars, most notably to New Zealand. Production of the Toyota Cavalier ceased in June 2000.
TRD made a body kit and rear wing for the Cavalier, available exclusively in Japan.
External links
|
| |
|
|
