2004 Chevrolet Aveo Review

Chevrolet's new entry-level car carries the Chevy nameplate, but is a snappy little South Korean car for budget-minded motorists.

The Aveo was designed by South Korea's bankrupt Daewoo Motor and is made in that country by an outfit formed by General Motors after it bought parts of Daewoo. That's not unusual in today's upside-down auto world, with many car producers owning parts of other automakers. GM has introduced other Daewoo models with the Suzuki badge because it owns a stake in that Japanese automaker.

The Aveo is available at approximately 4,100 Chevy dealers across the country. It succeeds the Cavalier as Chevrolet's entry-level car because the Cavalier will be replaced for 2005 with the new, larger, more upscale Chevy Cobalt. The Aveo is supposed to lure many young, first-time, new-car buyers to Chevrolet, with hopes that they'll eventually move up to the Cobalt and other higher-priced Chevy vehicles.

The Aveo was designed by Italy's prestigious Italdesign studios, with clean lines and short front and rear overhangs for maximum interior room. It won't win beauty contests, though, because it's a small, functional car that is tall, narrow and upright.

The Aveo has decent fit and finish, and comes as a four-door hatchback and as a sedan that's about 14 inches longer than the hatchback, at 166.7 inches.

The Aveo with the lowest sticker price is the SVM four-door hatchback and sedan with a trunk. Both list for $9,455 and have a fair amount of equipment, including power steering, bucket seats, tilt wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, AM/FM radio, rear defogger, split-folding rear seat and a rear wiper-washer.

The SVM comes only with a five-speed manual transmission, which allows the best acceleration but has a rubbery action. The mid-range Base and top-line LS versions have an optional ($850) four-speed automatic that saps some power but is responsive. The automatic is preferable to the manual with its imprecise shifter; the automatic's gated shifter is notchy, although it lets a driver shift manually.

The Base four-door hatchback and sedan cost $11,150 and add air conditioning.

I tested the top line LS sedan, which also comes as a hatchback. It adds desirable items such as heated, fold-away mirrors, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and power windows and locks with remote keyless entry.

Among the few Aveo options are desirable $400 anti-lock brakes for the Base and LS. There's a $225 rear spoiler for the Base and LS and a $725 power sunroof and $375 alloy wheels for the LS.

The only engine is a small 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 103 horsepower. It's smoother than most engines in the entry-car price class, but gets noisy when pushed. Performance is lively to 60 mph, but 65-75 mph passing times on the highway are average. However, the engine doesn't work hard during steady 65-70 mph cruising.

Fuel economy is a strong point -- the Aveo provides an estimated 26-27 mpg in the city and 34-36 on the highway. Only 87-octane fuel is required.

The Aveo's size and weight make it nimble. The steering is decent and the turning circle is tight. Handling is OK, although handicapped by small 14-inch wheels. The ride is supple and the brakes work well, controlled by an easily modulated pedal.

Despite its size, the Aveo is impressively roomy. It comfortably carries four 6-footers in its fairly quiet interior.

An especially high roof allows plenty of headroom, and the upright seating provides a commanding view of surroundings.

Cargo space is modest with the rear seat in its normal position. The sedan's rear seat folds flat to provide more cargo room, while the hatchback's rear seat folds flat and flips forward to offer an impressive 42 cubic feet of cargo space.

The interior has an upscale look one might not expect in a low-priced car. Although soft, front seats are supportive. The white-on-black gauges can be easily read, although radio controls are small and a bit hard to reach for those with short arms. Climate controls are large.

The driver's outside mirror has a manual control, but there's a power passenger-side mirror. Sun visors are tiny.

2004 CHEVROLET AVEO

Prices
$9,455-$12,045

Likes
Roomy interior. Decent ride and handling. Responsive automatic transmission. Tall seating.

Dislikes
Moderate highway acceleration. Rubbery manual shifter. Small radio controls.