If Red Bull were blue

The overriding tactile quality of this car is one of heft and weight and substance. The electric steering boost is minimal, giving the car a thick-wristed feel at the wheel. The suspension bushings must be enormous, because -- unlike just about any small GM car I can think of -- there is a real heavily damped quality between the suspension and the chassis.

The clutch and the brake require no small amount of quadriceps to operate, and generally this car -- which weighs nearly 3,000 pounds -- feels caulked and screwed down and bolted up in a way that is quite reassuring. And when it comes to Chevrolet, I need reassurance most of all.

Automotive critic Dan Neil can be reached at dan.neil@latimes .com.

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2005 Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe

Base price: $21,995

Price, as tested: $24,585 (included $565 destination charge)

Powertrain: Supercharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, dual-overhead cam engine; five-speed manual transmission; limited-slip differential; front-wheel drive

Horsepower: 205 at 5,600 rpm

Torque: 200 at 4,400 rpm

Curb weight: 2,991 pounds

0-60 mph: 6 seconds

Wheelbase: 103.3 inches

Overall length: 180.3 inches

EPA fuel economy: 23 miles per gallon city, 29 mpg highway

Final thoughts: Pre-fab fast-and-furious