Chevrolet Aveo5

It seems like the entire world is downsizing, and at least here in North America not enough automakers have caught

The new Aveo5 offers a bold new look that appears much more upscale than anything else in the class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

onto the reality of the situation. While most offer compact models, the hottest selling segments right now, not enough are servicing the lowest end of the market, where first-time new car buyers shop. Chevy has been taking care of such buyers for years now, first with its Suzuki-built subcompact models and now with its Korean-built Aveo.

For 2009, Chevy has changed the Aveo’s face dramatically, as well as the rest of the car. It’s a bold new look that for some takes a little getting used to. For such a small car, its grille is expansive, reaching from its sloping hood right to the lower lip of its front air dam, and just aft of the front fenders a classy chrome engine vent garnish offers up an upscale look than is hardly normal in this segment. It’s almost radical for such a small car to be so big in personality, but I think that this rather daring move will pay off for Chevrolet. After all, just because you’re buying an entry-level vehicle, doesn’t mean it has to look or feel entry-level, right?

Inside, Chevy follows this theme with a nice, comfortable yet sporty cabin. I was able

Unique taillight design offers a different take on the subcompact monobox shape. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

to drive a number of trim levels, and appreciated how the designers and product planners tried to give the car a richer appearance than the outgoing car and in some ways nicer than some others in this class. Little details, like aluminum-look steering wheel trim, faux aluminum around the automatic shifter if so equipped, and a really attractive chronograph-style gauge package with aluminum bezels. Another bonus is the Aveo’s extremely high-quality audio interface, as good as this segment gets and better than some cars in the larger and more compact class. It comes with a single-CD player and an AM/FM radio, of course, plus an auxiliary port for your iPod, and can be had with XM satellite radio too. Also, OnStar can be had, one of the more useful creations in autodom. And probably more important, the Aveo5’s seats are really supportive, and I really like the two-tone cloth and high-quality fabrics. The ones in the rear are just as nice and totally flexible with a new flip-and-fold system that makes the most of the space on hand. And a few little details were a surprise to me, such as the

Stylish engine vent garnish is not the usual fare in the B-segment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

inclusion of a sunglass holder opposite to the passenger’s grab handle, while the twin cupholders that pop out from the centre stack really hold your drinks in place.

I wouldn’t go so far to say that the Aveo5 is sporty when it comes to driving dynamics, but it’s not slouch either. Chevy equips it with a fiery 107-horsepower 1.6-litre dual overhead cam four-cylinder with variable valve timing and dual cam phasing, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic with Hold Control. A new exhaust system, quiet-tuned with a four-in-one sheet metal manifold, cuts back on noise, vibration and harshness levels, important in a class of cars with small displacement engines often criticized for being buzzy and unrefined.

The

Flexible seating system and lots of cargo space. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Aveo5 handles corners quite well considering its smaller 14-inch steel wheels and 185/60R14 shoes as standard, but again I wouldn’t be calling it particularly sporty. You can get larger 15-inch alloy rims on 185/55R15 tires if you want to gain a little more high-speed control, but that’s not the car’s mission. Really, this is an A-to-B vehicle that Chevy has made a little nicer than average, to give it greater appeal in the market.

Chevy offers a special Security Package that really sets the Aveo5 apart from some others in this class. It includes driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbags as well as antilock brakes, so your ride can be as safe as many larger cars, while still enjoying the benefits of small car fuel economy. To that end, the Aveo5 is a true miser, only willing to use 7.9 L/100

A good choice in the subcompact class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

km in the city and 5.7 in the city, when the manual car is employed, or 8.2 and 5.8 respectively with the four-speed automatic. That’s an eight-percent improvement over the outgoing car, by the way, which is a positive step in the right direction. According to Chevy, it can travel up to 643 km (400 mi) between fuel stops. Not too shabby.

And really, fuel economy is one of the Aveo5’s biggest drawing cards, well that and its amazingly low price of entry at $13,770, before discount… and GM has been discounting a lot lately. The outgoing version was selling for a mere $9,995 over the summer, and while the newly revised version might not go so cheaply, maybe your local Chevy retailer has a deal that’ll fit your pocketbook. Certainly now is the time to buy a new car, as pencils have never been sharper.

Specifications (2009 Chevrolet Aveo5):

• Base Price Range (MSRP): $13,770 – $15,995
• Body: 5-door hatchback
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 107-hp, 106 lb-ft of torque, 1.6L DOHC 16-valve I-4
• Transmission: 5-spd manual (opt. 4-spd auto)
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 189 / 1,189 L (7.0 / 42.0 cu-ft)
• Wheels: 14-inch (opt. 15-inch)
• Tires: 185/60R14 (opt. 185/55R15)
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive, 60/160,000 powertrain
• Direct Competitors: Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent Hatchback, Kia Rio5, Pontiac Wave G3,
• Website: www.chevrolet.ca

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(MX0) 4-Speed Automatic Transmission

(R6P) Premium Paint

(B37) Floor Mats

(CF5) Sunroof

(D52) Rear Spoiler

(JM4) Anti-Lock Brakes

(PDC) Aveo Sport Pacakge

(KPK) Oil Pan Heater

(C60) Air Conditioning