Background: General Motors’ largest volume division continues updating its compact car marketing strategy. For years, Chevrolet depended on Cavalier to lure entry-level buyers into showrooms. During its tenure, Cavalier was available in coupe, sedan and convertible versions and served as an ambassador of sorts. Cavalier’s relatively low price appealed to younger buyers needing transportation. Entry level vehicles play an important role for all automakers. While profit margins remain razor thin, if the purchasing process is positive, brand loyalty can be established for years to come. Cavalier debuted in 1981. From 1998 to 2002, Chevrolet also marketed the dependable Prizm, a GM-badged car sharing an automotive platform with the compact Toyota Corolla. Chevrolet absorbed Prizm and two other Asian-influenced vehicles (the subcompact Metro and Tracker sport utility) when GM dissolved the Geo sub-division in 1997. General Motors created Geo in the late 1980s to battle the rising popularity of lower priced Asian-built products. Basically, Geos were Toyota and Suzuki vehicles rebadged with an American identity. Geos were sold mainly though Chevrolet dealerships until GM brought the marketing experiment to a merciful end. Chevrolet began an overhaul of its compact strategy with the debut of the 2004 front-wheel- drive Aveo. This new Korean-built subcompact is available in two bodystyles, a four-door sedan or five door hatchback. It’s the lowest-priced vehicle General Motors offers. This fall, Chevrolet introduces its second all-new small-car, the 2005 Cobalt. The arrival of Cobalt marks the end of the road for Cavalier, although a few 2005 model year Cavaliers will be built. Chevrolet debuted Aveo to the world at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show. The vehicle is built in Bupyong, South Korea, through GM’s recently acquired Daewoo subsidiary. Daewoo, one of Korea’s top-three automakers, hit hard financial times around the turn of the century. General Motors stepped in with cash in hand, grabbing many pieces of the car-assembly division, forming GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of which GM is the largest shareholder. Entry-level transportation has become a battle ground of late. Ford Motor Co. redesigns its entry level Focus in 2005 while Toyota goes one step further with the creation of an all-new Scion division aimed squarely at price-conscious entry-level shoppers. Scion has three offerings in the 2005 model year all starting under $16,000. Last week, Honda announced a new compact model will debut in the U.S. in 2006 priced lower than the popular Civic. The Scion trio and Ford Focus probably compete more on the level of the soon-to-arrive compact Cobalt. Aveo takes aim at lower-priced, high mileage competitors from Korea’s other two automakers: Hyundai and Kia. Kia’s lowest-priced car is the Rio while Hyundai counters with Accent.
Engine/trim level: The economical Aveo is powered by a 1.6-liter, dual overhead cam, 16-valve, inline four cylinder engine with multi-point fuel injection delivering 103 horsepower. With manual transmission, fuel economy is estimated at 27 miles per gallon city and 36 m.p.g. highway. With automatic transmission, figures check in at up to 26 m.p.g. city and 34 m.p.g. highway. Regular, 87-octane fuel is recommended in the 11.9-gallon tank. Both the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent are powered by a 1.6-liter inline engine cranking out 104 horsepower. Three Aveo trim levels are available: special value, base and uplevel LS. Five-speed manual transmission is standard while a four-speed automatic is optional in base and LS editions.
Price: Chevrolet supplied the Daily Herald with a bright red, up-level Aveo LS five-door hatchback with manual transmission and a starting price of $12,045. After adding in anti-lock brakes ($400) and rear spoiler ($225), the bottom line ended up at $13,210 with $540 destination charge. Chevrolet kept starting prices the same for both body styles. A LS sedan includes the same $12,045 price of the five-door model. Both base five-door and four-door sedan models start at $11,150. For those looking for basic transportation, Aveo offers a special value model starting at $9,995 in both body styles. The Hyundai Accent is one of the few low-priced Korean built cars available in a coupe body style. Accent also has a four-door sedan version with a $11,299 starting price with five-speed manual. The Kia Rio comes in four-door sedan and wagon body styles with a four-door sedan checking in at $9,740 with five-speed manual transmission. A Scion xA four-door hatchback, resembling a scaled down Toyota Matrix, starts at $12,480 with five-speed manual.
Standard features: The Aveo special value edition, being the one checking in under $10,000, comes with the least amount of standard stuff but does include: AM/FM stereo, intermittent wipers, rear window defogger and power rack-and-pinion steering. Those seeking air conditioning need to step up to base models. Compact disc players with MP3 playback capability are optional in base but standard in LS. Other LS standard features include power door locks, power windows and heated outside rear view mirrors. A power sunroof and rear spoiler are optional in LS editions.
Inside: A great Aveo attribute is more-than-ample head room throughout the vehicle. Many compact offerings boast this claim, but Aveo does this better than just about anyone. Aveo accommodates two riders in back (don’t try three as recommended in the owner’s manual) and seats in the rear are raised a but higher than front seats, a design known as ‘theater-style’ seating. Between the front cloth bucket seats is the hand-operated parking brake; no flip-top storage bin is present. When more cargo room is required, seat backs fold down directly on the cushions in a 60/40 split once pull knobs on top of the seat backs disengage the seat. The uplevel LS includes a higher level of cloth fabric. Four medium-sized , circular air vents are positioned on the dashboard. The simple, yet easily readable mostly analog instrument panel consists of two circular gauges: the left side incorporates the tachometer, along with fuel gauge and temperature inserts. The right side speedometer incorporates a digital odometer along the bottom. The ignition cylinder is found on the right side of the steering column. Interior handles are high up on the door frame (not adjacent to the arm rest) and are circular in shape. Headlights operate from the turn signal stalk while a right-side stalk is home to front and rear windshield wiper controls. The digital clock is viewable by everyone since it’s located high and deep atop the central dashboard. The rectangular stereo system with extra small pre-set buttons adorns the top of the center console with three easy-to-grab dials controlling the ventilation system below. Towards the bottom are two cup holders that pull out from the dashboard. A floor-located pull lever left of the driver’s seat unlocks the outside fuel door. With the back seat up, the hatch area can accommodate grocery bags and a small number of items. A temporary spare tire stows under the flat cargo floor.
Exterior: Aveo’s styling cues come from the Italdesign studios in Turin, Italy. Our hatchback test version incorporates more cutting-edge style lines than the more traditional looking sedan. While many automakers opt for a cat’s eye headlight housing, the five-door Aveo chooses a more rectangular look that wraps slightly around to the fender. Chevrolet’s familiar bow tie is positioned between the lights. Flush-mounted, body-colored door handles adorn all four doors. The square fuel tank door is on the passenger-side rear fender. Hatchback models have a rear door hinged at the top that opens from the bottom up as one unit. The glass rear window with wiper does not open independently. The fourteen-inch all-season tires look rather diminutive when compared to the rest of the body. Alloy wheels come optional in base and LS editions.
Warranty: Aveo’s drivetrain warranty is good for five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). The basic warranty, covering many other items outside of the powertrain excluding routine maintenance items is good for three years or 36,000 miles. Roadside assistance is the same duration as the basic warranty. The rust and corrosion coverage is good for six years or 100,000 miles. The powertrain coverage is better than many other GM models which generally average three years/36,000 miles, but does not match the 10-year extended powertrain warranty from Hyundai and Kia.
Safety features: Single-stage front air bags, an impact-absorbing frame, daytime running lights and rear child safety locks come standard. Anti-lock brakes are optional on base and LS editions, but not offered in special value editions. Side and head air bags and traction control are not offered. By comparison, Hyundai’s accent does not offer anti-lock brakes but does include standard side air bags.
Final thoughts: Not everyone holding a valid Illinois driver’s license can afford a $60,000 Cadillac Escalade, so it’s refreshing to know automakers are investing time and effort in the high-volume compact and sub-compact arena. While Aveo is new to the U.S. audience, it has been on sale in other parts of the world, but sold with other names. For a subcompact, the Aveo five-door has a goodly amount of interior headroom. The engine runs smoothly without any hesitation or loud rumbling sounds sometimes associated with small four-cylinder engines.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 97.6 inches
Overall length: 152.8 inches
Overall width: 65.8 inches
Overall height: 58.9 inches
Curb weight: 2,348 pounds |