In 2000, the car gained a minor facelift consisting of bigger headlights and an improved grille, lost the "CHEVROLET" text badge at the trunklid and gained a new "CAVALIER" badge. Aesthetically, the Z24 trim received a ground effects kit and taller rear spoiler. Starting in 2001, the 3-speed automatic was dropped from the base models equipped with the 2.2-L, and the 4-speed automatic became the main offering across the entire lineup. Meanwhile, for 2003, the RS was replaced, across the board, by the LS Sport line, with the new Ecotec L61 motors (140 hp (104 kW) and 150 lb·ft (200 N·m) torque). In 2004, the 4-door Z24 Sedan was introduced, featuring the same mechanics.
The car also had a GM Eaton M45 Supercharger kit available for the Z24 trim; the upgrade increasing performance considerably due to a pressure of 4.7 PSI, resulting in approximately 40 hp (30 kW) and 40 lb·ft (54 N·m) of torque increase.
The third generation Cavalier had two facelifts: a minor one in 2000 and a major one in 2003. However, the car earned several low scores in crash tests by both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The IIHS gave the 1995-2005 Cavalier a "Poor" overall score in their frontal offset collision test. Most Cavaliers were built at Lordstown Assembly, although they have also been produced at other GM sites, until production ended on October 6, 2005.
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