2007 L.A. Auto Show: 2009 Chevy Aveo5
- Competes with: Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent
- Looks like: Chevy trying to look like Audi
- Drivetrain: 106-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
- Hits dealerships: Summer 2008
Chevy took some time to update the Aveo sedan last year, and now it's taken the scalpel to the four-door hatchback, the Aveo5. Obviously the front end has gotten some work done, with Chevy’s new corporate face plastered boldly up front. It slightly resembles the minicar concepts Chevy unveiled at last year’s New York auto show.
The interior gets the same updating the sedan did, and the engine is a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder with minimum power — around 106 hp. Efficiency is obviously the priority here, and the Aveo5 gets a near-10% bump in fuel economy: It’s now rated at 26/34 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission.
Base LS models come standard with an AM/FM radio and MP3 input jack, but no CD player. For that you need to pay for it as an option or upgrade to the LT model. More importantly, the Aveo5 comes with standard side airbags for front passengers, and a tire pressure monitoring system. More photos can be found below.
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Man, this thing is tragic.
The only thing I like is the speedo instruments aren't bad for a cheapo car!
I know I've dogged the Aveo (& GM) for a long time, but you bump that mileage another 10% through dual variable valve timing (or anything) and you've got yourself quiet a value. To pay for that added tech you can drop the tire pressure monitoring system. It's called a $0.99 tire pressure gauge...you're talking a bare bones vehicle here...why throw it in? You get it in the 38-40 mpg range for highway...I might buy this for my next commuter.
Actually looks much nicer than the current model. Sitll wouldn't buy it though ... reliablity has been real poor on the current one. Would rather wait for the new Fit or get an xD.
Are they serious with 4 speed automatic and 5 speed manual transmissions?
Spanky,
The tire pressure monitor system is mandatory from 08 and on.
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This thing is pathetic!
I would get a fit over this anyday!
As a prior owner of a 2004 Aveo; I have a soft spot for these cars. However, I'm not very fond of this new design. The mid-section is the same, the new taillights aren't as chunky or smooth looking as the old ones, and the front looks like it came from a larger car. The side profile picture really bugs me as the front isn't in proportion to the rest of the car. The interior looks like it has nicer quality, but I loved the cutesy-semi cicular theme in the old Aveo; it suited the car's non-threatening demeanor. Overall, not impressed by the looks like I was with the original, and I'm not sure if I'd want to buy it based on that.
I think GM could have done better than this. It looks like they tried to make it look agressive, but ended up makin it look like a buck-tooth rabbit(Not the VW, the actual animal.)
Nose looks terrible in profile, but I suspect it's the new anti-pedestrian regulations.
Say goodbye to low front ends.
Saw some interior photos on another site. Didn't see any cupholders which was interesting. This looks like a cross between an Geo Metro and a Honda Fit.
What a depressing-looking car. GM should have let the new Malibu designers have a crack at this thing.
What a depressing-looking car. GM should have let the new Malibu designers have a crack at this thing.
What a depressing-looking car. GM should have let the new Malibu designers have a crack at this thing.
This is a Daewoo after all, right?
I think the interior isn't bad for an econo car. Onstar will be standard for this model & 2 optional items not available on the Hyundai Accent: Cruise control & steering wheel radio contols.
Honestly, I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I like the front end and think they should have cleaned up the side profile to match it. They basically did the same thing they did with the minivans a couple years back...grafted a new nose on the same old body. I like the look of the Aveo sedan (which is a completely different small car here in Korea (same platform)), and wish they would have given the Aveo5 a bit more of that grown up styling. The new engine with better fuel economy is welcome.
Cody,
"They basically did the same thing they did with the minivans a couple years back...grafted a new nose on the same old body."
But wasn't that one of the reason why they are killed off in production?
J,
My point wasn't to agree with what they did, but to point out that they did a half-assed redesign and should have redesigned the flanks to match the new front. They could have at least created new door skins to make it less obvious, or they could have used the door skins from the sedan (if the sedan door panels fit on the inside, then the door skins would have fit on the outside).
This vehicle will not be killed off like the minivans due to this nose job. The GM minivans died because GM allowed for too much ground to be given between their vans and the competitors and were not willing to catch up when they "redesigned" them. I still think at least Chevy should sell a minivan, but GM's not asking my opinion...
The situation is not the same for the Aveo5. It's still very competitive against the Yaris and the other tiny vehicles with which it competes, and it wins the price game (which the GM minivans did not).
I definitely think it looks better (at least up front), but I personally would much rather spend $15K on a base Honda Fit (w/5A), Nissan Versa 5-door 1.8 S (w/4A & ABS), or Toyota Yaris 4-door (w/SAB, Power, & 4A). Heck, in the $16K range, I could get a Mazda3 4-door i Sport (w/4A & ABS/SAB/SAC), Scion xD (w/ESC & 4A), Honda Fit Sport (w/5A), Nissan Sentra 2.0 CVT (w/ABS), Nissan Versa 5-door 1.8 SL (w/CVT & ABS), Saturn Astra 5-door XE (w/4A & A/C), or Hyundai Elantra GLS (w/4A & A/C) -- all of which are far more appealing overall than the Chevy Aveo, IMO.
Cody,
It does win the price game up front, but over the years, I doubt that it still wins. Plus, the buyers have to put up with that cheap Daewoo interior. I would cough up some more dough up front for a better vehicle.
Between the rich kid toy Smart car and the Aveo, I prefer the Aveo, cheaper and more useful as I can use a hatchback. And it will be probably cheaper in insurance and maintenance.
The problem is that other so called cheap cars have usually a teasing bare bones model and the rest are very expensive.
J,
I don't know if I agree. For the money, the Aveo's interior looks pretty nice, and reviewers have said as much. I don't think that the interiors in the competition are that much better, if at all.
As for the cost of ownership over the years, this is basic transportation, so there's not much to go wrong. I guess the basic number you could look at outside of maintenance is fuel economy, and this new engine will lower the overall fuel cost, making this vehicle more appealing from that perspective.
I agree that spending a little more up front would get you a nicer car, but these cars aren't necessarily built for the type of people willing to spend a little extra. They're built for people on a budget who want a brand new car or for people who just want cheap, reliable basic transportation. Because of that point, I think these Chevys (GM-Daewoos) will continue to do well.
cody,
I can't quite agree on this: these cars aren't necessarily built for the type of people willing to spend a little extra.
You see, if they are willing to shell out that much money to get a brand new car, I don't see why they will settle for this instead of spending a bit more.
If they are really on a tight budget, they are way better off with a 1-2 year old used car(Better if it is a 3 years old)