Chevy has replicated the formula, and applied it to the Cobalt. This time around, it’s called XFE, acronym for Xtended Fuel Economy. Or is it Xtra Fuel Economy? Whatever, it’s part of a shuffling of the Cobalt lineup for 2009. The previous 2.2L Ecotec I-4 put out 148 hp and was EPA rated at 24 city/32 highway mpg with a manual transmission. The 2009-spec 2.2L four gets a bump to 155 hp, and its EPA numbers increase to 26 mpg city/37 mpg highway - not insignificant. The previously optional 171-hp, 2.4L four has been dropped, as has the Sport model it came in. The turbocharged SS is unchanged.
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The rest of the XFE treatment is about as simple as Ford’s ‘70s approach. Raise the final drive ratio (numerically lower) approximately 10%, switch to 15-in. tires with a harder compound and less rolling resistance, and add an upshift light on the IP that encourages the driver to shift to a higher gear under low-load, cruising situations. The XFE treatment is offered only with a manual transmission (all Cobalts for 2009 ordered with a 5M trans are XFEs—it’s not a stand-alone package), although you can choose it in two- and four-door bodystyles. Automatic-transmission-equipped Cobalts will get the same engine, sans the other XFE measures.
We appreciate that Chevy isn’t gouging you too much for privilege of saving some gas money. A 2008 Cobalt LS coupe with manual transmission bases at $15,070. The ‘09 LS XFE starts at $15,670—$600 more. Figuring that prices generally rise 2-3% between model years accounts for $300-$450 of the price increase. The few extra bucks over that pay for the reengineering job, the upshift light, and the obligatory XFE badges. Theoretically, different gear ratios and a revised tire spec shouldn’t cost any more, but the difference is small enough and the mileage improvement is meaningful.
If you’re about style and excitement, this isn’t your ride. But if you are looking for a straightforward compact that gets better mileage, and thus emits less CO2, than it used to, the Cobalt XFE is no bad thing.
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