What engine is in the Chevy Cobalt?
The Chevy Cobalt used several Ecotec four-cylinder engines during its production run from 2005 to 2010. The standard engine was a 2.2-liter Ecotec, with a larger 2.4-liter Ecotec option for more power, and the high-performance Cobalt SS models employed a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec. Horsepower and torque varied by year and trim.
Understanding the Cobalt’s engine lineup requires looking at how Chevrolet positioned the car across its trims. The base model emphasized efficiency, the mid-level trims offered a modest power bump with the 2.4-liter, and the SS versions pushed performance with a turbocharged (and in earlier iterations, supercharged) 2.0-liter Ecotec. Below is a concise guide to the engines you’d typically find in the Cobalt over its production span.
Engine options by trim and year
Before listing the engine options, note that exact output can vary by year and market; the following reflects common configurations across the model's lifecycle.
- 2.2-liter Ecotec inline-4 (base) — This was the standard engine for most Cobalt models, delivering roughly 140–145 horsepower with around 150 lb-ft of torque, used from the start of production and carried through many mid-range trims.
- 2.4-liter Ecotec inline-4 (optional upgrade) — An upgrade option on higher trims, producing about 170–173 horsepower and around 160 lb-ft of torque, available during the later years of the lineup.
- 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec (Cobalt SS, high-performance variant) — The Cobalt SS models used a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec, with output commonly cited near 260 horsepower (and torque around 260 lb-ft) in the late-2000s variants.
In brief, the base 2.2L Ecotec was the workhorse for economy-focused models, the 2.4L offered a practical power boost for more spirited driving, and the Cobalt SS’s 2.0L turbocharged engine delivered the performance edge the lineup aimed to offer.
Notes on high-performance variants
Two distinct high-performance approaches appeared in the Cobalt’s SS lineage. Early SS models leaned on a supercharged 2.0-liter Ecotec setup in some markets, while later, the SS lineup widely adopted a turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec delivering around 260 hp. Exact specifications and availability varied by model year and market, so checking the specific car’s engine code and window sticker is recommended for precise figures.
Regardless of the variant, the Cobalt’s engine family centers on the Ecotec four-cylinder family, configured to balance efficiency with the option for spirited driving in the higher-end SS trims.
Summary
The Chevy Cobalt’s engine lineup evolved from a standard 2.2-liter Ecotec, to an optional 2.4-liter upgrade, and culminated in a high-performance 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec for the SS models. Production spanned 2005 through 2010, with horsepower ranging from roughly 140 hp in base trims to about 260 hp in the turbocharged SS variants.
