Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged & Dodge Caliber SRT4

Compared to most of our other sport compacts, Chevy and Dodge are newcomers to the game. The Dodge has a leg up going into its second generation SRT4, and the Chevy Cobalt SS got a big engine swap after only a couple of years on the market, but they are still both the newest entries to the sport compact scene in this group. Interestingly, the Yanks are playing the import game, with prices that will shock you considering how much they deliver for right around $25K. In fact, I'm not even sure it's responsible to be selling this much power this cheaply.

Then again, this type of car isn't exactly about responsibility, although when driven responsibly in a safe setting like a track or an autocross course, both have a lot to offer, and both return excellent fuel economy if you keep it in check  on weekdays. The Caliber has the edge in wheels and tires (hello, Goodyear Eagle F1s on shiny 19-inch rims), but it still might be a case of to much power. Despite being harnessed by engine management trickery (torque is limited to 214 in first and 245 in second), power gets lost and the car starts to wander around on quick launches as the traction control alternately brakes one front wheel and then the other. Despite the odd sensation, it's still faster than any compact 5-door hatchback has any right to be, and the practicality and loaded options list mean it is a steal. Of course, so is the Cobalt SS Turbocharged, making the switch from the 2007's supercharged 2.0 to the turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0L 4-cylinder first seen in the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline. Not only is it a huge jump from 205 to 260 horsepower, but torque also gains 60-lb-ft, up to 260 from 200. But the real magic of the Cobalt is how it handles all this power, practically banishing torque steer and delivering flat cornering without a punishing ride. But at the end of the day, both of these Americans show their economy car roots with ordinary interiors full of hard grey plastic, but for the price of entry, it's about what you should expect if you want your money spent purely on performance.