It would seem I rustled up some snakes when I said the 2009 Cobalt LS XFE should usurp the title of most Fiendish front-driver out there from its more potent sibling, the SS. In what universe could that be true, right? After all, the LS’s 2.2-liter four-pot seems anemic at just 155 horsepower when lined up against the SS’s lethal turbo 2.0 with over 100 extra ponies. Then there’s the interior. While the SS serves up amenities like power windows and locks, keyless entry and a premium sound system, the LS is the epitome of bare bones. You have to roll up your own windows for god’s sake. Then again, all those creature comforts weigh something, right? Not just something. GM’s managed to put the SS at a full 200 pounds heavier than the LS XFE. See where I’m going? Hop the jump to hear what else makes the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LS XFE worth looking into.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the lack of poundage in the base Cobalt is going to put it neck and neck on the drag strip with its turbo’d brethren. The XFE designation means this car is built to be a fuel sipper, not a track heathen. Even with the hefty 2.2-liters of displacement, the EPA rates the car at 25 mpg city and an amazing 37 mpg highway. That totals out to about 30 mpg combined, but even with my hanging out in the upper reaches of the tach we managed 32 mpg combined, 42 highway. That’s not just good, it’s fantastic. GM has graced the LS XFE with a shift light that serves as a nagging angel on your shoulder – prompting you to shift before 2,000 rpm and reminding you of all the baby seals you’re killing by keeping the fun needle pointed right. It’s hard to say what kind of fuel economy you could pull down if you swap gears when the light prompts you to.

So it gets good great fuel economy. There’s a reason everyone on the planet’s not hopping behind the wheel of a Prius, even if it gets 50 mpg. It’s boring. When you look at the Cobalt’s EPA numbers, you expect driving manners akin to a damp refrigerator box, but that’s not what you get. When equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission, the car’s actually entertaining enough to put a smile on your face. Hard shift into second from the tach’s stratosphere and the car will grab rubber all day long. With 150 lb-ft of torque, the engine comes alive at around 4,500 rpm thanks to GM’s variable valve timing. Keep the engine speed up and you’re rewarded with a pleasing pull for nicking apexes. The brakes are stout and not easily overwhelmed and the independent suspension is planted and confidence-inspiring, even with low-rolling resistance tires. Part of that solid stance is thanks to GM’s work to balance the car, even going so far as to stick the battery in the ass-end.

When you aren’t hammering on the car’s powerplant, the Cobalt LS XFE is quiet and capable. The inline-four barely makes a peep in traffic and the interior is quiet enough at interstate speeds, though the five-speed manual transmission can be clunky and difficult to get into first gear occasionally. Visibility is good from the captain’s chair and most of the controls are well-sorted and easily accessible. The car also benefits from a mafia-sized trunk with center pass-through. Outside, the Cobalt could use some updating, especially toward the car’s nose. Out back, the round tail lights and tall trunk make for a profile that’s different without being outrageous. In our tester, 15 inch steelies with plastic wheel covers don’t do much for the car’s looks.

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