Considering that the Cobalt is intended to appeal to
conservative audiences, the interior is surprisingly
progressive. Used to be that General Motors' (Chevy's
parent) idea of progressive styling was rounded cartoon-like
buttons and switches; thankfully the Cobalt has adopted
the industry trend towards more streamlined forms differentiated
by color and texture. The effect is nice enough that
one can forgive the thin, shiny, and obviously very
inexpensive plastics that make up the pieces. Harder
to forgive are the seats. They feel thinly padded and
poorly cushioned, and no one who rode in or drove my
test car found them the least bit comfortable. Nor was
much attention was given to tactile feel of the buttons
and switches. If you twist the A/C dials in a Toyota,
you'll find they have a smooth, fluid motion, offering
just enough resistance and settling firmly into their
detents. Not so the Cobalt: Each dial feels ratty and
cheap in its own unique way. That said, the driving
position and the ergonomics are quite good, and the
Cobalt is easy to see out of, easy to drive and easy
to park. While the cost-cutting is evident, at least
you know the money wasn't wasted; the Cobalt offers
a hefty load of standard equipment.
