I may be a little biased seeing as I own a car built off this same (Delta) platform

but from a performance perspective...these cars are very stout.
The Cobalt SS/TC is capable of 300+whp with just a tune and the SS/SC on the stock supercharger often sees 270-280whp numbers. Combine that with awesome brakes and a solid suspension setup and no N/A 86 is touching one of these cars in a straight line or road course IMO.
Oh and just to throw this out there, the Cobalt and Cavalier have absolutely nothing in common! lol