Chevrolet Aveo (2011) review
by Richard Dredge (26 May 2011)
Having endured around 400 miles in an example of the original Aveo, spread over just two days, I can't claim to be a fan of Chevrolet's outgoing supermini. It was cheap, spartan, slow and not especially good value. Little more than a lightly refreshed Daewoo Kalos, it was only ever meant to be a stopgap until this all-new car arrived.
Starting with such a low baseline (perhaps I'm being a bit harsh here), the new car couldn't fail to be a significant improvement. First impressions are favourable, as the new Aveo looks rather funky with its intricately designed tail lights, quartet of circular headlamps and tapering waistline that gives it a muscular, modern stance.
Although the Aveo will be offered in saloon form in other markets, the UK will get a five-door hatchback only; an eminently sensible move, thanks to our antipathy towards three-box small cars.
As with the outgoing model, Aveo buyers will be able to choose between 1.2- or 1.4-litre petrol engines. Some markets will also get a 1.6-litre petrol variant, and although it's not currently set to come to the UK, it may well do so if enough potential buyers clamour for it.
What's definitely on its way is a 1.3 turbodiesel with a five-speed manual box; we didn't get to sample it on the launch as Chevrolet has yet to build any, but by the time the first Aveos reach Chevrolet showrooms in September or October, diesels will have started rolling off the production lines. This is the same engine already found in various Vauxhalls, and while it's unlikely to make a sportscar of the Aveo, it should provide a reasonable balance of performance and economy.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine certainly doesn't offer sportscar urge, but once you've wound it up to motorway speeds the car will sit quite happily. Refinement isn't bad either, although road and engine noise can get intrusive if you're accelerating on coarse surfaces. In everyday driving it should be fine.
Unsurprisingly, the 1.4-litre engine gives the car more go, but the difference isn't all that pronounced. While the 1.2-litre four-pot produces 86bhp and 85lb/ft of torque, the corresponding figures for the 1.4 are 100bhp and 96lb/ft. It shouldn't be any surprise that the two engines feel much the same, as Chevrolet claims the 1.2 variant offers a 107mph top speed with 0-62mph in 13.4 seconds compared with the 1.4's 110mph and 12.2 seconds.
As with the outgoing Aveo there's an automatic gearbox available, but only with the 1.4-litre engine. While the set-up won't excite enthusiast drivers, as it can be a bit hesitant, the sort of person considering an Aveo 1.4 auto is unlikely to be burning up the motorways much. If the car rarely escapes the city limits, it'll be perfectly adequate, even if things can be a little jerky, though the CO2 emissions of 159g/km aren't especially low for such a small car.
Indeed, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions aren't a strong point for the Aveo generally. The outgoing model emitted 130g/km and managed 51mpg in 1.2-litre form; the new model manages 129g/km and 51mpg. It's much the same for the 1.4-litre car; power, torque, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are barely altered over the outgoing model, which is disappointing.
However, the new Aveo is bigger and heavier than its predecessor, better equipped and rather safer with ESP as standard on all models. The interior is certainly much better than before, although it's still cheap in places; Chevrolet has tried to draw a parallel between the Aveo and the Corvette, with its "dual-cockpit" dash – but let's just say that the connection won't be made too readily.
It's a neat enough design, though, with decent ergonomics and an unfeasibly large number of cubby holes, but the instrument pod that mixes digital with analogue, as in the Spark, is nothing short of bizarre, while many of the plastics are hard or flimsy.
The cabin would be tight for a quartet of six-footers, but they could be accommodated at a push. Try to fit in a typical family with small children though and there won't be any space issues.
The ride is one of the car's best features, while the handling is good too; there's plenty of grip, but ultimately a Fiesta is more entertaining.
For what's rather a small car the Aveo offers ample practicality. Boot space is on a par with rivals; you've got 290 litres available with the rear seats in place or 653 litres with them folded.
What can't be confirmed yet are trim levels, prices or standard equipment; these are still to be set as the first cars won't be delivered for another four or five months. The suggestion is that the start price will be around £9500 for the 1.2. However, it's unlikely that Chevrolet will skimp on the standard equipment.
At this stage, Chevrolet's assumption is that the lion's share of Aveo sales will be accounted for by the 1.2 LT – the smallest engine in mid-range trim. Assuming that sells for a little over £10,000, Chevrolet will find a tough adversary in the Fiesta, but for those after a reliable, well-equipped and unusual small car, the Aveo might be just the ticket.
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