Is the Chevy Cobalt SS front or rear wheel drive?
The Chevy Cobalt SS is front-wheel drive.
The Cobalt SS lineup, produced by Chevrolet from 2005 through 2010, was built on GM’s front-wheel-drive platform. Across its variants, Chevrolet did not offer all-wheel drive. The SS badge was applied to two primary configurations: a relatively higher-output, naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine version, and a later high-performance model with a forced-induction 2.0-liter engine—but both variants sent power to the front wheels.
Drivetrain overview by Cobalt SS variant
Here's a concise look at how the Cobalt SS variants were powered and driven from the factory.
- Cobalt SS (2005–2007): Front-wheel drive with a 2.4-liter inline-four, tuned for higher output than the standard Cobalt; typically paired with a manual transmission in enthusiast trims.
- Cobalt SS Supercharged (2008–2010): Front-wheel drive powered by a forced-induction 2.0-liter inline-four, delivering substantially higher power than the base SS; still paired with a manual transmission in most configurations.
Regardless of variant, Chevy did not offer all-wheel drive for the Cobalt SS, and the cars were known for their sporty suspension tuning rather than traction advantages afforded by AWD.
Why this matters for performance and handling
Front-wheel-drive layouts in compact performance cars like the Cobalt SS typically deliver predictable, if torque-steer-prone, handling with strong front-end grip under acceleration. Buyers choosing an SS variant historically valued responsive steering and light, nimble dynamics over the all-wheel traction advantages of some competitors.
Summary
In short, the Chevy Cobalt SS is front-wheel drive in all of its iterations. Across its two main variants—the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter and the supercharged 2.0-liter—the drivetrain stayed front-driven, aligning with Chevrolet’s compact-performance engineering of that era. If you’re shopping for a Cobalt SS today, expect a front-drive compact with sporty handling, not an AWD setup.
