What vehicle replaced the Chevy Cavalier?
The Chevrolet Cobalt replaced the Cavalier.
The Cavalier, Chevrolet's longtime entry-level compact, was produced in North America from 1982 through 2005. For the 2005 model year, Chevrolet introduced the Cobalt as its direct successor, bringing a modernized design and updated engineering to the lineup. In the United States, the Cobalt was eventually phased out in favor of the Cruze around the 2011 model year, with the Cruze serving as Chevrolet's core compact sedan for several years and continuing in some markets into the late 2010s.
Replacement and timeline
The transition from Cavalier to Cobalt marked a shift to GM's newer Delta platform for Chevrolet's compact cars, reflecting a broader industry move toward more modern, efficient designs in the mid-2000s. The Cruze later supplanted the Cobalt in the United States around 2011, establishing a new global compact for Chevrolet that lasted for many years.
Additional context
In other markets, variations and timing differed, but the direct American-market lineage is Cavalier → Cobalt → Cruze, with the Cruze remaining Chevrolet's primary compact sedan as GM continued to update its global lineup.
Summary
The Chevy Cavalier was directly replaced by the Chevrolet Cobalt for the 2005 model year, and, further down the line, the Cruze took over as Chevrolet's main compact sedan starting around 2011 in the United States, reflecting GM's shift to modern, globally aligned compact cars.
