Chevrolet Cavalier Engines by Year

Chevrolet's J-body Cavalier was sold from 1982 to 2005 and was one of America's best-selling cars. The Z24 used V6s until 1994 and twin-cam fours after that. The Pontiac Sunbird and Sunfire were its corporate twins.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

First generation (1982–1987): 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987

Second generation (1988–1994): 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994

Third generation (1995–2005): 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005

First generation (1982–1987)

The 1.8 and 2.0 fours and the 2.8 V6.

1982 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
1.8L / 112 inline-four (L46)	88 hp net	Cadet, Base, CL, Wagon

1983 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LQ5)	—	Cadet (1983-84), Base, CS, RS, Type 10, Wagon, Convertible

1984 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LQ5)	88 hp net	Cadet (1983-84), Base, CS, RS, Type 10, Wagon, Convertible

1985 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LQ5)	85 hp net	Cadet (1983-84), Base, CS, RS, Type 10, Wagon, Convertible
2.8L / 173 V6 (LB6)	125 hp net	All (optional)

1986 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LQ5)	85 hp net	Cadet (1983-84), Base, CS, RS, Type 10, Wagon, Convertible
2.8L / 173 V6 (LB6)	120 hp net	Z24, Convertible

1987 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LL8)	90 hp net	Base, CS, RS, Wagon
2.8L / 173 V6 (LB6)	125 hp net	Z24, Convertible

Second generation (1988–1994)

The 2.0 and 2.2 fours and the 2.8 and 3.1 V6s.

1988 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LL8)	90 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
2.8L / 173 V6 (LB6)	125 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS wagon (optional), Z24 convertible (1988-1989)

1989 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.0L / 121 inline-four (LL8)	90 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
2.8L / 173 V6 (LB6)	125 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS wagon (optional), Z24 convertible (1988-1989)

1990 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LM3)	95 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	135 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS wagon (optional)
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	140 hp net	See note

1991 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LM3)	95 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	140 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS convertible/wagon (optional)

1992 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	110 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	140 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS convertible/wagon (optional)

1993 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	110 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	140 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS convertible/wagon (optional), Any RS (1993+)

1994 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	120 hp net	VL, RS, Wagon
3.1L / 191 V6 (LH0)	140 hp net	Z24 (standard), RS convertible/wagon (optional), Any RS (1993+)

Third generation (1995–2005)

The 2.2 four, the Quad 4 and Twin Cam, then the Ecotec.

1995 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	120 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan
2.3L / 138 inline-four (LD2)	150 hp net	Z24, LS convertible

1996 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	120 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

1997 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	120 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

1998 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	115 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

1999 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	115 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan, VL
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

2000 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	115 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan, VL
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

2001 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	115 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan, VL
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

2002 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 133 inline-four (LN2)	115 hp net	Base, RS, LS sedan, VL
2.2L / 134 inline-four (L61)	140 hp net	LS Sport (2002), All (2003-2005)
2.4L / 146 inline-four (LD9)	150 hp net	Z24 (standard), LS sedan (optional), LS convertible (1996-1997), Z24 convertible (1998-2000)

2003 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 134 inline-four (L61)	140 hp net	LS Sport (2002), All (2003-2005)

2004 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 134 inline-four (L61)	140 hp net	LS Sport (2002), All (2003-2005)

2005 Cavalier engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
2.2L / 134 inline-four (L61)	140 hp net	LS Sport (2002), All (2003-2005)

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