Better than its previous self, still not as good as the competition
By Thom Blackett
|
February 14, 2007
Introduction
Chevrolet Aveo – Review: Ponder the past 30-plus years of automobiles, and it’s clear how much has changed. There’s technology that adds levels of safety and entertainment never imagined in the ‘70s, complete vehicle types which had yet to be dreamt of, and a focus on efficiency and environmental impact that was in its infancy. But through it all, one fact has remained constant – Chevrolet has yet to prove that it can build the best subcompact car. The Korean-sourced 2007 Aveo is a fine sedan, admittedly bettering its predecessor with dressed up style and improved driving dynamics, yet it still lags behind rivals such as the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, suggesting that as much as some things change, others shall remain forever constant.
What We Drove
For this evaluation, the powers that be at General Motors loaned us a bright blue 2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT sedan with an as-tested price of $16,650. Sounds like a pretty penny for the brand’s cheapest ride, but what was delivered to our lot was the primo, totally tricked out Aveo. OK, not quite, but it did have $2,635 in options. Among them were a four-speed automatic transmission ($850), a power sunroof ($725), antilock brakes ($400), leatherette upholstery ($250), a rear spoiler ($225), fog lights ($110), and steering wheel-mounted audio controls ($75). Add all that and a $565 destination charge to our tester’s $13,450 base price, and viola, you’ve got an economy car ready to break the $17,000 barrier.
Performance
One can only ask so much of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, especially one saddled with a four-speed automatic transmission. However, the Aveo did its best to satisfy by expeditiously getting up to cruising speed, providing just enough power for occasionally overtaking slower cars on the highway, and doing so with a level of refinement that was on par with others in the class. Sure, more power is almost always welcome, but the Aveo is an economy car built for those on a budget with efficiency on the mind. In that light, it underperformed; we achieved only 23.8 mpg in mixed driving.
Handling
We’re not sure how engineers do it, but the Aveo, like other cars we’ve tested, succeeds in blending a somewhat firm straight line ride with noticeable body roll in the corners. No, that’s not a good thing. When trudging through traffic or cruising down the highway, the ride feels stiff, as bumps and expansion joints are roughly translated into the interior, but then turn on to an off-ramp and the suspension and 185/55R15 Kumho tires give way too easily. Since Aveo buyers aren’t looking for sports-car handling (and if they are, they’re misguided), the body roll is acceptable, but a softer ride in routine driving is in order.
Visibility
With millions of large, heavy SUVs and trucks on the road, small cars need to be big on visibility. Sure, the bright blue paint of our tester helped us to be seen, but more importantly, the generous side mirrors and extensive side glass helped us see people and vehicles outside. Visibility also benefits from retractable rear headrests and relatively narrow B- and C-pillars. The A-pillars are a little too wide.
Fun to Drive
With the exception of the Honda Fit and arguably one or two others, the economy car segment is light in the fun-to-drive area, and the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo in no way changes that. There’s enough power to handle the daily commute, a front seat area good enough to keep a driver comfortable, and a price that puts this sedan in just about every car buyer’s budget. However, none of those attributes contribute one iota to the fun factor, of which the Aveo, not surprisingly, is short on supply.
Front Comfort
With the emergence of numerous new models, the point has been proven that small cars are not necessarily uncomfortable cars. Add the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo to that list. Though our tallest editor found the front seat bottoms to be too short, other more vertically-challenged drivers described the front buckets as spacious. The seat back has a gentle, comfortable curve, and the side bolsters, while hardly aggressive, are sufficient for this daily commuter. A tilt steering wheel and folding, padded driver’s armrest help to ensure the driver will find a suitable position. There’s also a height-adjustable driver’s seat, but since it utilizes a dial instead of a lever, can be hard to operate, especially with the weight of the driver on top.
Rear Comfort
Except for a lack of knee room, and head room that’s on the low side, the rear seat area of the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo is a fine place to travel. The seatback is permanently set at a comfortable recline angle, the seat bottom is flat but soft, and outboard headrests are padded and adjustable. There’s gobs of foot room, and the front seatbacks are soft, so even those with long legs won’t have hard plastic rubbing against their knees. But a little more room would be a welcome addition, as would some padding on the doors, a second cupholder, and maybe a fold-down armrest (we don’t think that’s too much to ask for in an economy car running almost $17,000).
Interior Noise
Southern California is plagued by grooved, concrete highways that could make complainers out of the deaf – they really are that bad. So when we drove the Aveo on said highways, we weren’t entirely shocked to discover good doses of road and tire noise. When we drove Chevy’s least expensive car on smooth paved roads, the tire and road noise lessened dramatically, though not to the point of disappearing. Furthermore, by cutting out much of the road and tire noise, our ears were better able to notice the wind noise. Whatever the road surface, the high-strung four-cylinder engine’s song is always readily heard, yet its refinement is no better or worse than most others in the segment.
Loading Cargo
With the split rear seat folded down, the Aveo sedan will accommodate longer cargo, though the painted steel on the rear seatbacks are sure to get scratched after a little use, and the folded seats don’t create a flat load area. Front seats must be pushed forward to allow the rear seatbacks to fold. The trunk opening is large, but the liftover height is a bit tall, and the old-school hinges fold down and can damage cargo. On the plus side, the trunk is lined, including the lid, and should swallow all a couple of adventurers need for a weekend away.
Build Quality
It may have a relatively low starting price, but the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo is put together rather well. Outside, we noticed a slight variation in the gaps around the hood, and the rear doors sat just a hair shy of flush against the rear quarter panels, but that was basically all we could find fault with. Inside, we didn’t find any obviously loose panels, and the usual suspects (A-pillar covers, center console) were intent on maintaining their grip. The main culprit, unfortunately, was visible to most everyone riding in the Aveo – multiple matte black pieces formed the area around the radio, all of which were a little off-kilter.
Materials Quality
Chevy supplied us with an Aveo that we thought was only available in weird dreams. Our LT featured a light woodgrain on the dash and doors that actually looked better than what we’ve seen in some luxury cars (though not many), leatherette seats, and faux alloy and chrome accents throughout. OK, so the leatherette left a lot to be desired, but at least it was soft and didn’t feel like 1970s vinyl. The wood, for its part, wasn’t fooling anyone with its authenticity. Plastics were low-rent in places, but the dimpled dash cap had a ever-so-slight soft feel, the swiveling vents felt quite durable, and the radio knob (though not the air conditioning) had a comfy rubber grip.
Styling
Odd is one way to describe the Aveo’s styling. No, it’s not homely, but the narrow and tall shape, along with the shrunken Chevy corporate face and disproportionately large bowtie badge make for an interesting appearance. Some may like it, others not, but chances are few will simply hate it, and that may be perfect for shoppers seeking inexpensive, albeit visually vanilla, transportation. The interior is a bit more memorable thanks to some faux alloy-rimmed gauges, an attractive sloped dash, and a well integrated instrument panel. On the other hand, the clock sitting atop the dash by the windshield is found only after trying to check the time on the radio face first.
Storage
These days, an increasing number of road trippers may be considering EPA-rated efficiency as a deciding factor when choosing appropriate transportation. That could lead to the Chevy Aveo, a little sedan with its share of storage provisions. Snacks and cell phones will fit into the pockets on the front doors, while foldable maps and whatever Johnny Law shouldn’t see can go into the ample glovebox. In addition, there are pockets on the back side of each seat, a sunglass holder next to the driver’s head, and a rear cupholder. Two cupholders pop out of the lower dash, but in doing so, block off a deep cubby that may likely be holding your garage door opener, cell phone, or emergency heart medication.
Infotainment Controls
Radio operation doesn’t get much simpler than this. The LT version we drove featured an MP3 input jack, a rubber-gripped dial knob for volume and power, and large, legible buttons for presets, mode, scanning, and more. Really, anyone who couldn’t manage this setup need not be driving. For an extra $75, we enjoyed steering wheel-mounted radio controls for power, mode, seek, and volume. They’re all housed in one collective unit behind the left side of the steering wheel, and while effective, the cheap plastic they employ is not pleasant to the touch.
Climate Controls
On the previous page, we suggested that the Aveo’s radio was about as simple as simple gets. We lied. In actuality, the Aveo’s climate control system makes the radio look like a collaborative project between NASA and Einstein. To keep occupants comfortable, the Chevrolet Aveo uses three dials – one for temperature, one for fan speed, and one for mode – and three buttons dedicated to a/c, recirculating the cabin air, and activating the rear defrost. Each of the buttons and dials feels up to the challenge of repeated use, though we’d prefer a rubber grip on the center dial to match the one used on the radio.
Secondary Controls
Sticking with tradition, the 2007 Aveo’s power window controls are located on the door panel, with a window lock button added to the driver’s door. Power mirror controls are on the left dash, which after the door panel, is the second place most people look. What we couldn’t find were any power door lock switches, so we used the button on the keyless remote, which in addition to a button on the driver’s door, is also where you go to release the trunk. That keyless remote isn’t really a remote, rather the trunk release and power door button are on the upper plastic part of the ignition key, a great feature for those who don’t want to carry a bulky remote.
Competition
The subcompact class continues to grow as buyers opt out of their thirsty SUVs and large vehicles, trading down for cars with more favorable fuel economy ratings. In addition to the Aveo, shoppers can consider the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris.
2nd Opinion – Buglewicz
Chevrolet Aveo – Buglewicz’s Opinion:
The Aveo’s a pretty nice little car, unless you actually drive it. I wish it wasn’t so, because it’s a nice looking car inside and out. But the details are where it comes up short. Our test car struggled up to speed, had trouble going in a straight line, and had a steering mechanism so non-linear it may have been designed by Nautilus. Sure, our $16,650 test car was loaded, and with some nifty options, too. But that kind of scratch will get you into a Fit or Yaris…or even a Civic or Corolla. At its base price, the Aveo might be more of a bargain, but even with the plentiful options, it just isn’t up to snuff. --Keith Buglewicz
2nd Opinion – Perry
Chevrolet Aveo – Perry’s Opinion:
Leave it to Chevy to build a decent looking car that finally competes in its class on style and build quality but then spirals into oblivion the instant you step on the accelerator. It’s a shame too, because the Aveo has some style and feels like a quality product, both of which have been hurdles for Chevy in this class. What kicks this car to the curb is the totally underpowered 103-hp engine Chevy expects consumers to accept. The reality is they might be drawn to the looks and impressed with quality but will leave the test drive shaking their head as they lay down their cash on a competing model. --Ron Perry
2nd Opinion – Wardlaw
Chevrolet Aveo – Wardlaw’s Opinion:
Attention to detail is critical to success, yet many companies overlook its importance in favor of squeezing every ounce of quarterly profit out of their products and people. GM, however, is recognizing the importance of attention to detail, and Chevrolet’s Aveo proves it. What was an awful excuse for a modern economy car is now rather agreeable thanks to a new interior, a more upscale design, and other refinements. Leg space is tight for taller people front and rear, and dynamic flaws that reveal themselves only when the car is asked to perform more than commuter chores include vague steering, meager passing power and weak brakes. Otherwise, when used strictly for commuting, the new-and-improved Aveo makes sense. --Christian Wardlaw
For this evaluation, the powers that be at General Motors loaned us a bright blue 2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT sedan with an as-tested price of $16,650. Sounds like a pretty penny for the brand’s cheapest ride, but what was delivered to our lot was the primo, totally tricked out Aveo. OK, not quite, but it did have $2,635 in options. Among them were a four-speed automatic transmission ($850), a power sunroof ($725), antilock brakes ($400), leatherette upholstery ($250), a rear spoiler ($225), fog lights ($110), and steering wheel-mounted audio controls ($75). Add all that and a $565 destination charge to our tester’s $13,450 base price, and viola, you’ve got an economy car ready to break the $17,000 barrier.
Performance
One can only ask so much of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, especially one saddled with a four-speed automatic transmission. However, the Aveo did its best to satisfy by expeditiously getting up to cruising speed, providing just enough power for occasionally overtaking slower cars on the highway, and doing so with a level of refinement that was on par with others in the class. Sure, more power is almost always welcome, but the Aveo is an economy car built for those on a budget with efficiency on the mind. In that light, it underperformed; we achieved only 23.8 mpg in mixed driving.
Handling
We’re not sure how engineers do it, but the Aveo, like other cars we’ve tested, succeeds in blending a somewhat firm straight line ride with noticeable body roll in the corners. No, that’s not a good thing. When trudging through traffic or cruising down the highway, the ride feels stiff, as bumps and expansion joints are roughly translated into the interior, but then turn on to an off-ramp and the suspension and 185/55R15 Kumho tires give way too easily. Since Aveo buyers aren’t looking for sports-car handling (and if they are, they’re misguided), the body roll is acceptable, but a softer ride in routine driving is in order.
Visibility
With millions of large, heavy SUVs and trucks on the road, small cars need to be big on visibility. Sure, the bright blue paint of our tester helped us to be seen, but more importantly, the generous side mirrors and extensive side glass helped us see people and vehicles outside. Visibility also benefits from retractable rear headrests and relatively narrow B- and C-pillars. The A-pillars are a little too wide.
Fun to Drive
With the exception of the Honda Fit and arguably one or two others, the economy car segment is light in the fun-to-drive area, and the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo in no way changes that. There’s enough power to handle the daily commute, a front seat area good enough to keep a driver comfortable, and a price that puts this sedan in just about every car buyer’s budget. However, none of those attributes contribute one iota to the fun factor, of which the Aveo, not surprisingly, is short on supply.
Front Comfort
With the emergence of numerous new models, the point has been proven that small cars are not necessarily uncomfortable cars. Add the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo to that list. Though our tallest editor found the front seat bottoms to be too short, other more vertically-challenged drivers described the front buckets as spacious. The seat back has a gentle, comfortable curve, and the side bolsters, while hardly aggressive, are sufficient for this daily commuter. A tilt steering wheel and folding, padded driver’s armrest help to ensure the driver will find a suitable position. There’s also a height-adjustable driver’s seat, but since it utilizes a dial instead of a lever, can be hard to operate, especially with the weight of the driver on top.
Rear Comfort
Except for a lack of knee room, and head room that’s on the low side, the rear seat area of the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo is a fine place to travel. The seatback is permanently set at a comfortable recline angle, the seat bottom is flat but soft, and outboard headrests are padded and adjustable. There’s gobs of foot room, and the front seatbacks are soft, so even those with long legs won’t have hard plastic rubbing against their knees. But a little more room would be a welcome addition, as would some padding on the doors, a second cupholder, and maybe a fold-down armrest (we don’t think that’s too much to ask for in an economy car running almost $17,000).
Interior Noise
Southern California is plagued by grooved, concrete highways that could make complainers out of the deaf – they really are that bad. So when we drove the Aveo on said highways, we weren’t entirely shocked to discover good doses of road and tire noise. When we drove Chevy’s least expensive car on smooth paved roads, the tire and road noise lessened dramatically, though not to the point of disappearing. Furthermore, by cutting out much of the road and tire noise, our ears were better able to notice the wind noise. Whatever the road surface, the high-strung four-cylinder engine’s song is always readily heard, yet its refinement is no better or worse than most others in the segment.
Loading Cargo
With the split rear seat folded down, the Aveo sedan will accommodate longer cargo, though the painted steel on the rear seatbacks are sure to get scratched after a little use, and the folded seats don’t create a flat load area. Front seats must be pushed forward to allow the rear seatbacks to fold. The trunk opening is large, but the liftover height is a bit tall, and the old-school hinges fold down and can damage cargo. On the plus side, the trunk is lined, including the lid, and should swallow all a couple of adventurers need for a weekend away.
Build Quality
It may have a relatively low starting price, but the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo is put together rather well. Outside, we noticed a slight variation in the gaps around the hood, and the rear doors sat just a hair shy of flush against the rear quarter panels, but that was basically all we could find fault with. Inside, we didn’t find any obviously loose panels, and the usual suspects (A-pillar covers, center console) were intent on maintaining their grip. The main culprit, unfortunately, was visible to most everyone riding in the Aveo – multiple matte black pieces formed the area around the radio, all of which were a little off-kilter.
Materials Quality
Chevy supplied us with an Aveo that we thought was only available in weird dreams. Our LT featured a light woodgrain on the dash and doors that actually looked better than what we’ve seen in some luxury cars (though not many), leatherette seats, and faux alloy and chrome accents throughout. OK, so the leatherette left a lot to be desired, but at least it was soft and didn’t feel like 1970s vinyl. The wood, for its part, wasn’t fooling anyone with its authenticity. Plastics were low-rent in places, but the dimpled dash cap had a ever-so-slight soft feel, the swiveling vents felt quite durable, and the radio knob (though not the air conditioning) had a comfy rubber grip.
Styling
Odd is one way to describe the Aveo’s styling. No, it’s not homely, but the narrow and tall shape, along with the shrunken Chevy corporate face and disproportionately large bowtie badge make for an interesting appearance. Some may like it, others not, but chances are few will simply hate it, and that may be perfect for shoppers seeking inexpensive, albeit visually vanilla, transportation. The interior is a bit more memorable thanks to some faux alloy-rimmed gauges, an attractive sloped dash, and a well integrated instrument panel. On the other hand, the clock sitting atop the dash by the windshield is found only after trying to check the time on the radio face first.
Storage
These days, an increasing number of road trippers may be considering EPA-rated efficiency as a deciding factor when choosing appropriate transportation. That could lead to the Chevy Aveo, a little sedan with its share of storage provisions. Snacks and cell phones will fit into the pockets on the front doors, while foldable maps and whatever Johnny Law shouldn’t see can go into the ample glovebox. In addition, there are pockets on the back side of each seat, a sunglass holder next to the driver’s head, and a rear cupholder. Two cupholders pop out of the lower dash, but in doing so, block off a deep cubby that may likely be holding your garage door opener, cell phone, or emergency heart medication.
Infotainment Controls
Radio operation doesn’t get much simpler than this. The LT version we drove featured an MP3 input jack, a rubber-gripped dial knob for volume and power, and large, legible buttons for presets, mode, scanning, and more. Really, anyone who couldn’t manage this setup need not be driving. For an extra $75, we enjoyed steering wheel-mounted radio controls for power, mode, seek, and volume. They’re all housed in one collective unit behind the left side of the steering wheel, and while effective, the cheap plastic they employ is not pleasant to the touch.
Climate Controls
On the previous page, we suggested that the Aveo’s radio was about as simple as simple gets. We lied. In actuality, the Aveo’s climate control system makes the radio look like a collaborative project between NASA and Einstein. To keep occupants comfortable, the Chevrolet Aveo uses three dials – one for temperature, one for fan speed, and one for mode – and three buttons dedicated to a/c, recirculating the cabin air, and activating the rear defrost. Each of the buttons and dials feels up to the challenge of repeated use, though we’d prefer a rubber grip on the center dial to match the one used on the radio.
Secondary Controls
Sticking with tradition, the 2007 Aveo’s power window controls are located on the door panel, with a window lock button added to the driver’s door. Power mirror controls are on the left dash, which after the door panel, is the second place most people look. What we couldn’t find were any power door lock switches, so we used the button on the keyless remote, which in addition to a button on the driver’s door, is also where you go to release the trunk. That keyless remote isn’t really a remote, rather the trunk release and power door button are on the upper plastic part of the ignition key, a great feature for those who don’t want to carry a bulky remote.
Competition
The subcompact class continues to grow as buyers opt out of their thirsty SUVs and large vehicles, trading down for cars with more favorable fuel economy ratings. In addition to the Aveo, shoppers can consider the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris.
2nd Opinion – Buglewicz
Chevrolet Aveo – Buglewicz’s Opinion:
The Aveo’s a pretty nice little car, unless you actually drive it. I wish it wasn’t so, because it’s a nice looking car inside and out. But the details are where it comes up short. Our test car struggled up to speed, had trouble going in a straight line, and had a steering mechanism so non-linear it may have been designed by Nautilus. Sure, our $16,650 test car was loaded, and with some nifty options, too. But that kind of scratch will get you into a Fit or Yaris…or even a Civic or Corolla. At its base price, the Aveo might be more of a bargain, but even with the plentiful options, it just isn’t up to snuff. --Keith Buglewicz
2nd Opinion – Perry
Chevrolet Aveo – Perry’s Opinion:
Leave it to Chevy to build a decent looking car that finally competes in its class on style and build quality but then spirals into oblivion the instant you step on the accelerator. It’s a shame too, because the Aveo has some style and feels like a quality product, both of which have been hurdles for Chevy in this class. What kicks this car to the curb is the totally underpowered 103-hp engine Chevy expects consumers to accept. The reality is they might be drawn to the looks and impressed with quality but will leave the test drive shaking their head as they lay down their cash on a competing model. --Ron Perry
2nd Opinion – Wardlaw
Chevrolet Aveo – Wardlaw’s Opinion:
Attention to detail is critical to success, yet many companies overlook its importance in favor of squeezing every ounce of quarterly profit out of their products and people. GM, however, is recognizing the importance of attention to detail, and Chevrolet’s Aveo proves it. What was an awful excuse for a modern economy car is now rather agreeable thanks to a new interior, a more upscale design, and other refinements. Leg space is tight for taller people front and rear, and dynamic flaws that reveal themselves only when the car is asked to perform more than commuter chores include vague steering, meager passing power and weak brakes. Otherwise, when used strictly for commuting, the new-and-improved Aveo makes sense. --Christian Wardlaw
Photos courtesy of Ron Perry