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 Overall Value - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Michael25503 - April 2 - 4:24 pm

  I bought this vehicle primarily for fuel economy. I consistently get 36-40 mpg in normal driving. Babying it a bit has returned several 43-45 mpg tankfulls. Running it hard on the freeway (80+ mph) drops the mileage to the 30-33 range. Comfort is good for a car of this class - comparable to my old Honda Civic. I love the lumbar support in the drivers seat. The transmission is geared well to deal with the cars modest engine torque while coming up to speed and cruises well at highway speeds. I have not encountered any high speed or crosswind instability. Vehicle is built tight, and after 3500 miles, has proven to be quite reliable. Cornering and braking are better than I expected.

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  Family sedan at econobox price - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By John Waltz - March 25 - 4:51 pm

  A lot of internal space, very comfortable driving. Drives well with automatic and 2 adults + 3 kids + a lot of camping gear.

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  Very Good Compact! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ron Sedor - March 24 - 8:27 pm

  I own two of these cars, an 07 sedan and a 04 five door. I have been very impressed with the handling and ride quality of the 04. With some adroit shifting I have been able to achieve 32 mpg city/highway. I have had no problem traveling up a good sized incline in 5th gear.(altough many reveiwers say this is not possible). Altough the shifting may not be as percise as some of its Japanese counterparts, I personely perfer the longer shifter stalk in the Aveo. Altogether a very good subcompact.

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  Best Value - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Obsessed - March 24 - 10:00 am

  This is a very good first car, slow but good acceleration, good fit and finish, and great paint color (victory red). Only thing I dont like is no side airbages.

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  I Love My Aveo - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bruce - March 16 - 5:37 am

  I have 14,000 miles on my vehicle and I love it. The passenger compartment is roomy and extremely comfortable.All features and additions all have worked perfectly from day one. The heater and airconditioning are more than adequet. The car rides and handles well along with the suprising sound deadening insulation. You can actually hear your radio at high speeds. The mileage Ive gotten was also impressive, 28mpg cobination (city & highway), 33mpg highway (thats at 70mph to 75mph). Went on a trip within three days of purchase and found the trunk is more than large enough for its size. Im totally pleased with my Aveo.

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  Be aware! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By enigmaz - March 12 - 10:22 am

  Got this car for my wife over a year ago. Took it on a 1200 mile trip and was great! Gave us good mpg, comfortable, no problem. But now after a year found out that the headlights are going dimmer, fuel economy is terrible (lost about 7 mpg), nasty belt noise and the brakes do not respond as good (almost crashed twice). Also, the resale value is very bad. I guess its like a brand new broom. Works fine just the first couple of times.

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  Huge bang for your buck. - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Steve - March 9 - 9:14 am

  Solid car that achieves a lot for the money you are paying. Interior is a huge shock to GM owners accustomed to horrible interior design and quality. Aveo rivals current GM cars twice the price. Small car but extreme efficient in space especially with the hatchback system. Ride quality, wow its good, being firm enough but still soft to soak up pothole-ridden streets. You sit up high and so it feels almost like being in a mini-van instead of in a typical bathtub-like experience of typical econoboxes. Power is adequate for single driver but craves more with passengers. With a packed car, plan swift acceleration carefully as itll struggle. Exterior is a beaut. European traits show.

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  Its a mini-car. - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Zippy - March 4 - 12:10 am

  When gas went up, wife and I bought the yellow LT hatch. We wanted sunroof, ABS and fog lamps. We couldnt find one with all 3, so we settled w/ sunroof and ABS. We got the 5S since this engine needs every gear. Its cramped and underpowered but handles like a skate. With the back seat folded, the hatch has plenty of space. Its a very good commuter. South Korea has built a quality package for Chevy.

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  Glad I Got It! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Meggie022 - March 1 - 1:15 pm

  I bought this car because it was cheap, but I feel like I got a lot of car for the money. I rented a 2006 Malibu over the summer, and I think this is comparable in styling and driving (except for being only 4cyl). Its sharp and comfortable! Great visibility, and you feel like youre sitting high up. Love that it has an interior trunk and gas release. Good car for the money! I hope I find it reliable for years to come.

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  Its my Metro upgrade - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By PAUL STEINMAN - February 28 - 7:20 am

  People who ride in my backseat always comment on the roominess of the car. I would still be buying Geo Metros if they were available, as I got accustomed to 50 mpg. For a trade off, I am very happy with the Aveo.