The Chevrolet Aveo body was created in Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio in Turin, Italy. The Italian influence shows, especially in the smooth sedan.The sedan and five-door hatchback ride on the same relatively generous 97.6-inch wheelbase, but the sedan is 14 inches longer overall. Giugiaro used that extra length to make the sedan look more like a real car, and not so much like a toy.
The Aveo sedan is better looking than the Kia Rio. It's nose is simple and clean with tidy shapes. The headlights are horizontal and nicely rounded at the corners, underlined in amber by long, thin turn signals. The grille smiles at you with its bright crossbar and Chevy bowtie set against inconspicuous black mesh. Both front and rear bumpers are body colored and integrate well with the shape of the car.
As sleek little hatchbacks go, the Aveo five-door isn't quite as good looking as the Scion xA, but it holds its own. The taillights, chunky and efficient, have a nice physical edge to them. The roofline is rounded, sloping back to meet the optional spoiler over the liftgate. Character lines run from the front wheelwell to the rear, which may or may not add character. The fit of the body panels is visibly tight, something not usually seen in such a low-priced, entry-level car.