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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  Leap of Faith - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Icandu - July 18 - 2:00 am

  The Chevy Aveo looks like a winner. Great styling and roomy. Believe it or not,the cabin,except for the front seat hip room which is a few MMs narrower, is roomier than a Corolla.The drive is good and the performance is fine. The fit and finish seems very good and after test driving the Aveo,the Kia Rio,and the Accent back to back,the Aveo came out a clear winner in all aspects.Especially the low noise levels compared to the other two.The car is built by Daewoo (lots of junky cars here) and sports a GM badge(just drive a new Cavalier and youll remember why you swore off GM so many years ago) Well see if GM lets us down this time,so far so good.

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  Excellent for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By steveinseattle - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Lets face it-- it only makes sense to rate this car compared to others in its price range... and in that context I am very pleased. Fit and finish is better than I expected, but the biggest surprise is the respectable ride and comfort. I got several extra rebates as a GM card holder, so the price was unbelievable!

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  Surprisingly solid so far - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By allosab - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Zippy, sleek, excellent no-frills get from point A to point B kind of car. Its a lot of fun to drive, for sure!

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  2004 Aveo (Automatic Hatchback) Review - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By MABPA - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I waited one month before writing this review to allow time to get a better perspective of my new 2004 Aveo, an automatic transmission, hatchback style. I find the size of the vehicle as desired, small on the outside, quite roomy (including rear seat leg room) on the inside. With the 60/40 split and "flip and fold" feature of the back seat, the car has a nice variety of storage options. My early estimate of fuel efficiency in generally moderate distance, rural, and somewhat hilly travel is about 32 mpg. The car is a fun vehicle for the "gentle" driver.

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  Chevys Done It Again! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Aveofan - May 26 - 10:00 am

  So far I have had no problems at all with my Aveo.For a compact car there is plenty of space.I love the design out side and inside.And for gas milage it is great.It dosent have all the extra features like power lock so that makes it affordable.

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  i am happy so far - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mark foster - March 7 - 10:00 am

  i only have about 900 miles so far,however i am happy with the performance,ride and gas millage.this car was purchased to save fuel,so far it is doing the job.i parked a 5.6L binz for this. at first i felt that i would be dissappointed with performance,not so,i hope the service and duriability will be as positive.because my past experiance with chevy service was extremely disapointing,but that was in 1970, i quit buying chevy after that time until now.soheres hopeing...

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  I love my Aveo, I named her Beulah - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Laura - March 2 - 1:10 am

  My car is great, she looks great!! If you are thinking about an Aveo Hatchback, go check it out in person! It makes a big difference. They are sharp! There is so much room in mine. I forget that Im in a small car. In other words, she looks good, she runs good, and shes great on gas. I love my Aveo, and her name is Beulah.

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  Just picked up my Aveo! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By groth12345 - March 1 - 7:20 am

  Having only driven 200 miles on my new Aveo, I can only say that for the cost it is a lot of car for the money. Very roomy (with high seating position adjustment) and enough pep with good handling. Also given the gas prices lately it will be easy on the wallet. The only problem I had was steering wheel shimmy caused by out of round tires on the front. They were rotated to the rear and now the problem is gone. The dealership will replace the tires.

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  More than I asked for - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Happycust - February 27 - 1:03 pm

  The LT with the manual transmission is a great car-period. Roomier than the VW Golf and the manual shifter is incredibly positive in its feel and throw. Build quality and finish are excellent. Controls are logical and well placed. The interior is spacious and comfortable, even the back seat will comfortably seat 2 six foot adults. The engine is smooth and quiet, with a wide power/torque band. Acceleration is very good. The car is fun to drive and very forgiving in its handling. Overall after the first month I have to admit that Im atonished at the value this car provides. The only drawback is that in 50MPH plus crosswinds the car can be tricky because of its small size/weight.

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  2004 Aveo - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By tinasboss1 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but good experiences with this little car.