Driving Impressions

We found the 106-horsepower Aveo delivered adequate acceleration. The four-speed automatic we tested was fairly quick to respond and the acceleration was adequate. The Honda Fit has more power and weighs less, however, and the Aveo requires more space to complete a pass on a two-lane road. But there shouldn't be any problems merging onto a busy freeway, even with a passenger. We've always been more impressed with the Chevrolet Aveo's ride than its handling. The Aveo irons out most bumps with ease. Sharper bumps rarely affect passenger comfort. Like many front-wheel-drive cars, the Aveo feels nose heavy when driven hard, and it doesn't offer the responsive handling found in the Honda Fit. Try and go fast through a moderately tight turn and the Aveo's body leans quite a bit. That's part of the price to pay for a comfortable ride, particularly on a broken surface. It is also the Aveo's way of reminding the driver that it wasn't designed to be a sporty car. The steering has a light feel and it's a bit numb, but not annoyingly so. It's about par for the course for an economy car, though much less direct than in the Fit. We found that the brakes felt natural, but the use of rear drums is old technology. ABS is optional and we highly recommend it. The noise and vibration from the 1.6-liter engine is nicely controlled for a four-cylinder engine. The exception is when the driver slams the accelerator pedal to the floor and holds it there. Then things get a noisy, especially at the higher engine speeds. Road noise is also rather intrusive, as sharp bumps create audible banging noises. You can also really hear the rain plunk on the roof in a storm, evidence that Chevrolet hasn't used much sound deadening material.

Final Word

The Chevrolet Aveo works well around town and for commuting. It offers an attractive price, a pleasant interior, a comfortable ride, and fuel efficiency. We found the Aveo5 hatchback particularly useful for its cargo utility and it's styling has more personality. Bottom line, the Aveo is good, basic transportation. Christopher Jensen contributed to this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from New England; John F. Katz reported from Pennsylvania; Kirk Bell reported from Chicago.