Toyota Cavalier: features, specifications, features

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

Japanese automakers often promote their models in export markets, especially the US, under local brands and even created new ones for this purpose. However, reverse cases are also known, which include the Toyota Cavalier discussed below.

General Features

This car is a Japanese version of the third generation Chevrolet model of the same name. It was created to circumvent export restrictions as part of a collaboration between Toyota and GM. The car was produced in the USA and delivered to Japan from 1995 to 2000. It should be noted that this model under the Chevrolet brand was sold there even before the advent of the Toyota counterpart.

Body

The car retained from the original sedan and coupe. The dimensions of the first one are 4.595 m long, 1.735 m wide and 1.395 m high. The wheelbase is 2.645 m. The coupe is longer and wider by 0.005 m and lower by 0.04 m. The curb weight is approximately 1.3 tons.

Different from the American counterpart of the Toyota Cavalier are extended front fenders, orange direction indicators, fender repeaters, and power folding mirrors. During restyling in 2000, the front bumper, optics, hood, and color list were changed. The TRD division offered a body kit with a spoiler in the domestic market. Due to its American origin, the car has a very specific design that distinguishes it from both Japanese and European cars.

Engines

From the original Chevrolet range, two engines were used in the Toyota Cavalier. Both are 4-cylinder GM units with DOCH cylinder heads from the Quad 4 family.

LD2. This is a 2.3 liter engine with a capacity of 150 hp. With. and 200 Nm. Used in the first year of production

LD9. 2.4L 150HP engine. With. at 5600 rpm and a torque of 210 Nm at 4400 rpm. Replaced LD2 in 1996, hence most examples are in Toyota Cavalier 2, 4L engines

Transmission

The car in question has a front-wheel drive layout. From the Chevrolet range, Toyota received only a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Chassis

Suspension is represented by an independent McPherson-type design in front and a semi-independent torsion beam at the rear. Front brakes - ventilated disc, rear - drum. 14-inch wheels in size 195/70 borrowed fromPontiac Sunfire.

Interior

In both body styles, the Cavalier has a 5-seat interior layout. It differs from Chevrolet with a right-hand drive, leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearshift lever, parking brake, upholstery of the trunk lid, folding armrest of the rear sofa. The seats usually have colored trim. When restyling changed the center console.

Cost

Despite its small size, the Cavalier did not fit in the width and displacement of the engines in the Japanese regulations for compact cars, so it was assigned to the same class as the Mark II. Prices start at 1.81 million yen for the sedan and 2 million for the coupe. Due to increased maintenance costs, a significant portion of the Cavalier was resold as a Japanese model primarily to Australia and New Zealand. Thus, the car turned out to be unpopular, which was due to three factors. Firstly, in quality it was inferior to Japanese cars. Secondly, at that time the economic recession began. Thirdly, the above problem with sizes has affected.

Currently, the price on the local secondary market for unbeaten cars starts from 100 thousand rubles and reaches about 200 thousand

Reviews

As noted, during production, consumers did not appreciate Cavalier due to the inconsistency of quality with Japanese counterparts. Despite this, local owners are generally satisfied with the car. They positively assess the dynamic capabilities due to a relatively powerful engine for such a small mass, an unusual design,reliability due to simple design, low fuel consumption, cheap maintenance, comfort and spaciousness of the cabin, smoothness and speed of automatic transmission.

Reviews on the stiffness of the suspension and handling are contradictory: many owners note good handling at high stiffness, others, on the contrary, consider the Cavalier to be rolled, which does not correspond to the dynamic capabilities. The disadvantages include low quality plastic, poor sound insulation, low ground clearance, lack of an oil dipstick in the gearbox. As for malfunctions, cases of engine overheating are often noted. In addition, damage to the gearbox is possible due to the low location and fragile body. Finally, there are problems with electronics. Due to the rarity of the car, it is difficult to find spare parts in the absence of non-original analogues, therefore, in some nodes, parts from other cars are used, and many spare parts have to be ordered. At the same time, original parts are cheap. In addition, the Cavalier has different European bolt sizes than Japanese ones.

CV

The Toyota Cavalier is an American model under a Japanese brand with slight design differences. Despite the fact that it is inferior in quality to Japanese cars, Cavalier is a bright and at the same time hassle-free car. The car with an unusual design has good dynamics, thanks to its low weight and good gearbox performance. At the same time, it is very economical. The simple design ensures reliability. Due to the rarity, parts have to be ordered, but they are cheap.