Chevrolet Cavalier
The Chevrolet Cavalier is a line of compact cars produced by Chevrolet. Serving as the replacement of the Chevrolet Monza, the Cavalier was the second Chevrolet model line to adopt front-wheel drive. Three versions of the Cavalier have been sold, including three generations sold in North America from model years 1982 to 2005, a version produced by SAIC-GM for China from 2016 to 2021, and a SAIC-GM version produced for Mexico since the 2019 model year.
Chevrolet Cavalier | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
Production | 1981–2005 2016–2021 (China) |
Model years | 1982–2005 2016–2021 (China) 2019–present (Mexico) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact car |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
Platform | J-body (1981–2005) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Chevrolet Monza |
Successor | Chevrolet Cobalt (United States and Canada) Chevrolet Optra (Mexico) and Chevrolet Aveo |
The Cavalier was among the inaugural vehicles of the GM J platform. One of the first "world cars" of General Motors, the J platform was developed for use by each North American GM division (with the exception of GMC), alongside international models for Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden. Though sharing chassis underpinnings, J-body cars from Europe and Australia used slightly different body designs and different powertrains; in Europe, the Vauxhall Cavalier and Opel Ascona were marketed as mid-size cars. Initially a divisional counterpart of the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Pontiac J2000, the Cavalier was primarily marketed alongside the Pontiac Sunbird (renamed the Pontiac Sunfire for 1995).
The 1982-2005 Cavalier was produced by multiple GM facilities across North America. For 2005, the Chevrolet Cobalt replaced the model line in North America.