The Cavalier has been a consistent top seller and great value-for-money since it was first introduced. The early Cavalier was built on the compact front-wheel-drive J-body platform that it shared with a number of GM products, including the infamous Cadillac Cimarron. The 1992 Cavalier was the first economy car to offer anti-lock brakes as part of a standard equipment package.

The first major redesign of Cavalier came in '95. Besides a sleek new look, the highlight of the all-new body structure was the repositioning of road wheels further apart. Its wider track and longer wheelbase allowed more interior space and made it a more stable and better handling vehicle. It also came with standard driver and passenger air bags standard, yet another first in the small economy car class.

The '95 Cavalier came in coupe, sedan and convertible body styles and base, LS and Z24 trim levels. A 120 horsepower 2.2 litre was the base engine and a 145 horsepower 2.3 L high-output DOHC engine was an option. The transmission choices were 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic and 4-speed automatic. Fuel consumption with the base engine and the manual transmission is 10.1 L/100 km in the city and 6.1 L/100 km on the highway.

Always a price leader, even as a used vehicle, the immensely popular Cavalier naturally fits into 'safety-in-numbers' category. Good basic transportation - and parts and servicing are never a problem. The practical Chevrolet Cavalier is a good value-for-money and a safe bet, for the budget conscious used car buyer.