Small, fuel-efficient cars are looking pretty good right about now. One worthy candidate is the Chevrolet Aveo, a subcompact sedan that debuted in 2004. The good news is that even though it’s an econobox it sacrifices little in terms of features or comfort. Aveo is built in Korea by Daewoo, a division of General Motors. And while Aveo was originally targeted at first car buyers, with the exorbitant price of a gallon of gas, it now has a following among both the young and the old alike.For the record, Aveo was significantly refreshed last year, so it makes sense that there have been no significant updates to the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. Under the hood purrs a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated a modest 103 horsepower. The throttle is electronic, which allows more precise control of engine rpm, which in turn pays big dividends in reduced exhaust emissions and a more pleasurably feel for the driver. A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment. Optional is a four-speed automatic ($925) with electronic-hold for surer-footed second-gear starts on slippery pavement.
Mileage will bring tears of joy. Acceleration won’t make you frown. Clearly, this is a compromise car, one where you’re willing to go slower in return for spending less on the purchase price and every week thereafter at the gas pump. Coasting down hills and going easy on the throttle I had no problem getting 29 mpg in the real world. So what kind of range might we expect? With a full tank of gas it’s about 290 miles until bone dry. Cheap gas, 87 octane, no problem. Personally, I am so distraught over the price of fuel I lovingly embrace cars like the Aveo.
Aveo boasts what’s known in the automotive industry as theater-style seating, or where the seats are mounted a bit higher than normal. Doing so provides a commanding view for driver and passengers. The driver seat is height-adjustable and there’s a tilting steering wheel. This sedan is relatively tall, which lends the good headroom and okay legroom. Though, when cargo-carrying is a priority, consider the hatchback version instead. Visibility suffers somewhat from the thick roof pillars, a common malady on many makes and models of cars these days. The safe driver solution is to more carefully look before changing lanes or pulling out into traffic. The front passenger seat fully reclines and the 60/40 split folding rear seat enables carrying long items between the trunk and passenger compartment. In the back seat leg room is undeniably tight. Sound levels are typical for a car of this class. At highway speeds you will hear the engine, tires and wind. Trailering is not recommended.
Two different sedan trim levels are offered: the LS and the LT. Standard equipment on the LS includes intermittent windshield wipers, a tire pressure monitor, and air conditioning with air filtration. Mirrors and windows are manual. Fabric is cloth. The tires are P185/60R-14s all season. The spare tire is a compact. Cruise control is optional. You’ll want it.
Moving up a couple grand to the LT adds remote keyless entry with theft deterrent, power windows and door locks, cruise control, and a six speaker premium sound system with MP3 player. Fabric is premium cloth, with leatherette an option. LT rolls on P185/55R-15s all season tires.
Major options include a sunroof, fog lamps, a trunk mounted spoiler, an engine block heater, and appearance accents. The most interesting of the accessories is the roof-mounted bike carrier. Its dual-locking, quick-release system holds one bicycle. Additional carriers may be added for more bikes. Similarly there’s a ski carrier good for up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards. Both the bike and ski carrier require a roof rack and utility bars.
For safety sake both front-seat and seat mounted side impact airbags are standard. Antilock brakes are one of the must-have options. In National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration crash tests, the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo earned a five-star rating (the best possible score) for protection of front occupants in frontal impacts and four stars for occupants in side impacts. Then, in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal offset crash tests Aveo received a score of Acceptable, one spot from the top.
The bumper to bumper warranty term runs for three years or 36,000 miles, with corrosion projection of six years or 100,000 miles. Powertrain coverage runs for five years or 100,000 miles and is fully transferable. Finally, take good care of an Aveo, change the oil and filter regularly, and it will give many years worth of economical service.
Wheelbase 97.6 inches
Engine 1.6L I-4
Horsepower 103 @ 5800 rpm
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Fuel capacity 11.0 gallons
Curb weight 2542 pounds
Mileage 24/34 mpg
Base price $12,830
As tested $14,805
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