The Cobalt’s signature model — the SS, coupe or sedan — has more engine power than Chevrolet’s larger sedans, the 2009 Malibu and Impala. It is, literally, the most powerful four-cylinder small car out there.

Not all small sedans have run-of-the-mill engine power. For 2009, Chevrolet adds a 260-horsepower, turbocharged Cobalt sedan that can rocket down the street.

The new-for-2009 four-door Cobalt SS joins the two-door Cobalt SS coupe in showrooms in what is literally the most powerful four-cylinder small car duo on the market. The most-powerful Honda Civic, the Si, gets 197 horses from its four-cylinder engine, while the Toyota Corolla’s top horsepower is 158, and the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V tops out at 200 horses.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a 2009 Cobalt SS — sedan or coupe — is $23,435. The SS comes only with five-speed manual transmission.

Pricing for the regular Cobalts — $16,000, more or less — is mostly on par with competitors. For example, the 2009 Ford Focus sedan starts at $15,690 with manual transmission. A 2009 Toyota Corolla with a 158-horsepower, four-cylinder engine starts at $19,480.

But buyers would have to go to something like a V-6-powered Mazda6 sedan, starting at $24,800, to get the kind of horsepower of a Cobalt SS. Back in the day, the SS would be labeled a “pocket rocket,” for its zooming starts and strong thrust of torque, which tops out at 260 foot-pounds at a quick 2,000 rpm.

Just be sure to work the gear shifter appropriately, or there can be noticeable turbo lag in this car. Also, be ready for when the power surges, because this car can zip down the pavement quickly.

Everyone inside the test car readily heard the 2-liter, Ecotec four-cylinder with direct injection and turbo. I wished the idle sound was less rough-sounding in the test car. The five-speed manual had a notchy and less-than-precise feel, which was disappointing in a performance-oriented model.

Fuel economy suffers, but not as much as some might think.

Where a 155-horsepower Cobalt with 2.2-liter four cylinder and manual transmission is rated by the federal government at 25 miles per gallon in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway, the Cobalt SS is rated at 22/30 mpg. Of course, these numbers reflect laboratory driving conditions, and in real-world driving where I zipped right along, the test car barely averaged over 20 mpg.

Chevy recommends premium fuel for the 13.2-gallon tank, so it could cost upward of $40 to fill at today’s prices.

The exterior of the Cobalt SS didn’t scream “sporty.” The front looked pretty much like a shrunken Malibu but with a mesh grille. Brembo brake calipers peeked out from behind the large alloy wheels and the rear spoiler wasn’t outlandish.

The SS sedan rode on 18-inch tires, and combined with a stiff, sporty suspension, transmitted nearly all road bumps to passengers. This kind of ride can grow tiring when you’re feeling the jiggle created by every manhole cover in the road.

Some of the Cobalt SS seems like a throwback to earlier days. There’s not much sound insulation, and I easily heard cars around me. The turn signals have an old-style, metallic, clickity sound. In the test car, the power window motors had a loud whine.

The center console has no covered storage area, though there are spots for four cupholders — two for front-seat passengers and two for people in the back seat.

The seats all had a spongy feel to the cushions. Because the front bucket seats in the SS are sculpted and form-fitting and are covered in a suede-like material, passengers may struggle a bit to get out of them.

In addition, I had a dickens of a time getting comfortably positioned in the driver seat. The manual seat controls allowed adjustment to the cushion height, but at the same time pushed my knees up and rear down, so my short legs had an awkward angle to reach the pedals.

Fit and finish weren’t quite up to par, as body gaps on the test car were a bit larger than those on Hondas and the plastic panel over the front-passenger air bag was loose. Under the hood, tape holding wiring inside a hose-like cover near the engine was giving way after just 1,621 miles. People drop down some to get inside the Cobalt, and views out the front are blocked when vans, trucks and sport utility vehicles are in front.

Not all safety equipment is standard on every Cobalt. For example, antilock brakes and traction control are a $400 addition to all but the SS.

Note, though, that the Cobalt comes with a lengthy powertrain warranty that’s good for five years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This compares with three years or 36,000 miles in many small-car competitors.

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

Base price: $15,010 for LS XFE coupe or sedan; $16,635 for LT models; $22,775 for the SS models

As tested: $23,435

Type: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger subcompact sedan

Engine: 2-liter, double overhead cam, direct injection, turbocharged, Ecotec four-cylinder engine with dual continuous variable valve timing, mated to five-speed

Mileage: 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway