As driving enthusiasts, we understand that not all cars are intended to be driven hard and fast, and subcompacts definitely fall into that category. So we've moved from subcompact to subcompact, understanding that 12-second saunters to reach highway speed are part of the game. But the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 isn't just subcompact slow. Accelerating, stopping and turning become as awkward as a middle school dance as you negotiate uncommunicative controls and wimpy mechanicals. It's a driving experience that places the 2009 Chevy Aveo5 at least five years behind its competitors in terms of refinement.
The Aveo5 plays the subcompact game very well on paper, in pictures and sitting in the driveway. Its recent redesign has breathed some much-needed style into the car. The spec sheets look competitive with the rest of the class. Inside, the interior has been finished with well-chosen materials and excellent precision. Unfortunately, when you pull out of the driveway, the 2009 Aveo5 reveals itself to be an awkward and uncomfortable reminder of small cars past.