Overview & Reviews

The Chevy Aveo was one of the first representatives of a new generation of inexpensive small cars that dawned in the 2000s as car shoppers began changing their buying habits to reflect rising gas prices and tough financial times. Unlike the penalty boxes of old, these small cars would sacrifice little in terms of reliability, features or comfort.

Having said that, the Aveo paled in comparison to later competitors. Built in Korea by GM-owned Daewoo, the Aveo was uninspiring to drive and saddled with subpar interior quality. A penalty box it was not, but it wasn't an object of desire, either. Eventually, Chevrolet discontinued the Aveo and replaced it with the vastly superior Sonic.

Most Recent Chevrolet Aveo
The Chevy Aveo was available as a subcompact sedan or four-door hatchback called the Aveo5. Both debuted in 2004 and, apart from the subsequent minor face-lifts that occurred for the sedan in '07 and the hatchback in '09, didn't significantly change throughout its run.

From 2004-'08, every Aveo was powered by a 1.6-liter inline-4 that made 103 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. For '09, it was bumped up to 107 hp and 106 lb-ft, while for 2010 those figures were revised to 108 hp and 104 lb-ft. Transmission choices were always a standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic. Manual transmission gear ratios were altered for 2010 for improved fuel economy.

The Aveo's tall profile wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing when viewed from the outside, but it certainly paid dividends in terms of providing useful amounts of headroom and legroom. The Aveo's interior also provided a commanding view for all passengers, and a fully reclining front passenger seat and a 60/40-split-folding rear seat expanded cargo capacity. The sedan's trunk offered 12.4 cubic feet of storage space. The Aveo5 also had a fold-down rear seat, and it could carry up to 42 cubic feet of cargo.

In Chevrolet Aveo reviews, our editors found it to be the least appealing of contemporary subcompacts, particularly toward the end of its life. But as a used car purchase, the Aveo represents a pretty affordable way to get acceptable transportation. Strengths included a low price, ample headroom and logical control layout. Downsides included mediocre acceleration, an unrefined driving experience, subpar cabin quality and a sloppy gearshifter (this was the rare instance in the subcompact class where we would recommend the automatic). Shoppers will want to consider 2006 and later Aveos, as they have additional features such as side airbags, alloy wheels and cruise control.

User Reviews:

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  Great lowcost Money - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ulf187 - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a couple of weeks ago and I can say that Im impressed. Great design, good fuel economy and even quality build. Far more then I expected for this price. Even its 95 percent made by Daewoo.

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  NEW AVEO 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mohamed Mavrakis - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Dealer was very helpfull with Finance & Sticker Price Reduction to a reasonable Sale Price for both of us. You can Spec.Order Sunroof&Power doors.

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  Best Deal on the Road! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By intexas2 - January 29 - 8:21 pm

  Best deal on basic transportation, hands down! Drove out of the dealership with a brand new Aveo for $7250. Granted, this included a $2K GM Card rebate, but without it, I would have gotten it for $8250, a price including TTL. Performance is adequate, lots of room, and no power locks/windows that will break in a few years anyways. Great GM warranty. Build quality is very good. Engine is a bit weak youll need to downshift to make it up a steep hill. Gas mileage is good, not stellar. Appreciate the side-impact airbags. For the price, its unbeatable! Lots of 2007s still on dealer lots if you look.

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  Great Little Car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bob - January 28 - 4:19 pm

  Car is much more than expected. Must take into account cost and type of vehicle. All things considered it is a 10 in my book.Milege is better than rated 34 some city and more rural driving no highway. Have to give ten on mileage gets better than rated. Fit and trim inside and out is excellent. Better than other big name small cars I have owned. So far it is the best small car I have owned.

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  Great Little Car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Steve - January 28 - 2:41 am

  This little Chevy Aveo of mine Has been one of the trustworthy running cars I have ever owned . I now have over 40,000 miles plus on it , And its never been in the shop for repairs . Its been to the Mid-west from the west coast and back over the Mountains and this little car ran great even at speeds at 85-mph And this car gave me no pains at all. The only time my car has been in the shop was for an il change. This little car has a super great turning rate . One can do a U-Turn in a tighter spot than any other car I have ever known to do . This little car is fun to drive .

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  Thow away car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By notforchevy - January 27 - 12:25 pm

  Purchased brand new, never drove it hard. Took it on trips, always maintained the vehicle. 70k hits and the crank shaft position sensor goes out and the car wont start. 73k hits, the timing belt broke and now I have to pay $2000 for a new engine. Right when I got it back the transmission went out. Out of control

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  Excellent Little Car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By twh7458 - January 27 - 5:16 am

  This is definately the lest expensive new car on the market I could find, and one with excellent gas mileage. This car has allowed me to justify easily the purchase of a new car for driving back anf forth to work, about 23 miles one way. With GMs excellent warrantee, better than Honda FITs and other similar vehicles, I dont have to worry about paying for a tow truck if it breaks down, or paying for a loaner while it sets in a garage, this is part of the warrantee. I dont have to worry about those costly budget busting repairs to a used car, all covered under warrantee. I enjoy the ride especially when Im getting between 33 and 38 mpg, averaging 36 mpg! Purchased for under $10,000 !

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  The Good and The Bad - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By willie m - January 26 - 7:23 pm

  Wanted a solid commuter with modern options, and liked the look of the newly redesigned Aveo. No doubt, this is a small car, but it does feel pretty spacious on the inside. I got the LT with leatherette interior, and it is definitely a cut above your average domestic. The car feels solid and is easy to drive my only real concern is high winds on the interstate. Car feels like it might simply get carried up up and away. Also, long-term quality is a possible issue but I guess Ill just have to see on that one.

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  An unrecognized gem of a car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jerry - January 25 - 6:11 am

  I did my research on this vehicle before I purchased, so I knew what to expect. Great value for the money. I love the car, its lots of fun to drive and I highly recommend it. In regards to fuel economy, oddly the DOT estimates rate this car as 34mpg/24mpg. I have gotten 37 mpg highway and 33 mpg in mixed driving with the 5 speed manual transmission during the winter. I expect to get even better gas mileage during the warmer months. To maximize fuel economy, I would suggest to keep the tachometer at around 1,200-1,500 rpms when shifting gears, and accelerate smoothly, no jack rabbit starts. During highway driving, try to keep the speed between 55 and 60 mph and the tach around 2500 rpms.

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  Econo box? Not anymore - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By CLO - January 23 - 10:00 am

  A new entry-level car that really does feel upscale. I am continually surprised by the ride quality, low noise, and effortless cruising at 75 mph. The automatic transmission is velvet-smooth, and the interior is surprisingly roomy. The interior does not look expensive, but not gawdy and cheap, either. A fine car all around, backed by GMCs vast dealer network.