What was Tested: 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
Base price: $9,995.
Mileage: 26 mpg city/36 mph highway.
Engine: 1.6-liter dual overhead cam 4-cylinder.
Where built: Bupyong, Korea.
You look at the exterior of the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo and you swear it's too small for anyone over four feet tall to fit inside - either the front or back seats. And cargo space in the rear - shoot, it's got to be totally non-existent. Looks like there's about a foot of space, maybe less, from the outside.
Well, looks can be deceiving.
I've finding that out more and more with every small sub-compact that I've driven lately. What looks ultra small is very, very surprising on the inside and in the cargo area. How can they put that much room in a car that small, for Pete's sake?
I know, I know, the 'ol move the tires out farther and stretch as much as you can out of that sheet metal.
It's been done with the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo, and done well, too. This entry-level vehicle is a breath of fresh air and full of value for the money you'll pay.
Sounds like I've been touting small cars and their wonderful features lately. Well, with gas prices the way they are lately - although they are dropping just a tad - sounds like a good way to spend your hard-earned bucks. You'll get anywhere between 26 mpg in the city to 36 mpg on the highway, depending on the transmission you choose. Not bad.
I still don't like small cars because of the safety you'll sacrifice - I'm talking about the chance of getting creamed by a huge SUV or a larger, full-size vehicle, but it's a risk you've got to take sometimes, I guess.
There are two Aveos to choose from, a four-door sedan and a five-door. These sub-compacts will seat five adults and are available in three different trim levels, depending on your pocketbook: Special Value, Base and LS.
Powered by a 1.6-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine affording you 103 horsepower, the Aveo is peppy enough for a small vehicle like this. It's available with a four-speed automatic that features a hold control - allowing you to stay in the appropriate gear on slippery roads or hills.
I drove the five-speed manual. It was difficult to shift, took its time getting up to snuff and the feature that you have to lift up a level on the shift knob to get it into reverse was more than a pain in the reverse. Annoying, to say the least. Maddening to say the most.
The Aveo was styled and created in Giorgetto Giugiaro's well-known Italdesign studio in Turin, Italy. The styling of the Aveo is more than pleasing to the eye, lending itself to invisible lines, rounded corners that flow into just about infinity and a high roofline that gives it the appearance that it's a little larger than it really is.
The front treatment, with its wrap-around headlamps, turn signal lamps, front air dam that sports the familiar bow tie and rear air intake makes a bold statement, looking like it has command of the road. Fenders on the side are flared for added sportiness.
The interior of the Aveo isn't tight, and can accommodate four - not five - adults comfortably. I'm talking about taking a few people out for a night on the town, with full regalia including coats and purses and umbrellas. It would be tight for five.
You have to know, however, that the Aveo has the roomiest interior of any vehicle in its class, which is a plus. There's also a higher H-point (head-to-toe) ratio than others in its class as well.
There are features on the Aveo that you won't find in most sub-compact vehicles in this price range - all of which allow more comfort than you would expect. There's a standard tilt steering wheel, seats with recline, seat height and headrest height adjustment and a 60/40 split folding rear bench seat with built-in headrests that also feature grocery bag hooks.
The interior instrumentation is easy to read and understand and is very basic. You'll find a tach, speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, fuel gauge and coolant temperature gauge. There's a center storage tray, ashtray, 12-volt outlet and clock in the center console.
Some of the creature comforts you'll find in the Aveo include AM/FM stereo, tinted glass, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, remote fuel coor and trunk release, day/night rearview mirror, vanity mirrors up front, and dual front cupholders that don't hold large cups.
I have a bone to pick on the trunk release. Okay, there's a trunk release on the interior of the vehicle, located just left of the driver's seat. There's also a remote keyless entry that allows you to lock and unlock the doors. But you've got to use the key to open the trunk from the outside of the vehicle. There isn't even a latch if it's unlocked. You're forced to put the key in the keyhole to open the trunk. Mighty inconvenient, I'd say.
I didn't have any issues with the ride and handling of the Aveo. It whipped around corners and took bumpy roads and highway imperfections without so much as a whimper. I was never uncomfortable in the Aveo - but I never took it on a longer trip than 45 minutes or so. I don't see a problem with a long trip, but I never took it on one, so I can't comment.
I loved the styling, I loved the interior room and I loved the fact that this sub-compact is a great entry-level vehicle that's perfect for the college-bound kid or even a high school sophomore getting his/her first car. Great on mileage, great on economy. What more do you want?
