The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt saw few changes to the fun little car first introduced in 2005. As the replacement for the late, great Chevy Cavalier, the '06 Cobalt is an entry-level compact that makes a great first car.

Offered in a range of trims (LS, LT, LTZ, and SS) the 2006 Cobalt is available in both sedan and coupe bodystyles. The Cobalt was designed to compete with relatively low-priced imports like the Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Spectra, leaving the Chevrolet Aveo to compete with the very low-priced, very bare-bones offerings.

One aspect of the '06 Chevy Cobalt that may disappoint Cavalier loyalists is its relatively sparse assortment of standard features. If you're buying the base LS trim and want ABS, front-side and side-curtain airbags, or OnStar service, you're going to have to pay for the options. Standard features are more plentiful on the LT, LTZ, and SS trims, but there are some surprising omissions.

The baseline engine for the '06 Chevrolet Cobalt is a 2.2-liter inline-4 that puts out 145 horsepower; the SS models have a 171-horsepower, 2.4-liter dual-overhead-cam inline-four, and the SS Supercharged boasts a 2.0-liter, 205-horsepower supercharged four-cylinder that delivers 200 lb.-ft. of torque. All of these mills offer plenty of power to get the lightweight (under 2,800 pounds curb weight) Cobalt around with ease.

And when it comes to fuel efficiency, the 2006 Chevy Cobalt delivers, with EPA estimates ranging from 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway to 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, depending on engine.