The Chevy Aveo subcompact rides on relatively small wheelbase, but its tall cabin height, good fuel economy and competitive base price make this a lot of car for the dollar.
The five-passenger Aveo is available as a sedan and a hatchback. The hatchback that we tested is badged the Aveo5. Redesigned in 2009, and carried over to 2010, the reworked Aveo5 hatchback's most notable styling features are a larger grille and more aggressive headlights.
Both versions of the Chevy Aveo are powered by 1.6-liter inline-4 cylinder engine. It generates 108 horsepower and 105 pound feet of torque sent to the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel economy for the Aveo ranges from 25 miles per gallon city, up to 34 miles per gallon highway.
The Aveo is available in Base LS, 1LT, and 2LT trims. We drove the 1LT Aveo5 hatchback. It featured 180-watt 6-speaker stereo system with AM/FM/CD player, sound auxiliary jack, 60/40 split fold rear seats, and tilt steering wheel as standard equipment.
The selected Power and Convenience Package added remote keyless entry, power doors and windows, and a theft-deterrent system.
Standard safety features include driver and front passenger front and side impact air bags, daytime running lamps and tire pressure monitoring system.
Initial base MSRP for the 2010 Chevrolet Aveo is $11,965 for both the sedan and hatchback. A nicely equipped 1LT model will cost around $17,000, while a fully loaded Aveo will top out at just under $20,000. The Aveo is backed by GM's generous 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The long list of available features and the great fuel economy numbers make the 2010 Aveo and Aveo5 strong contenders in the competitive bang-for-your-buck subcompact economy car segment.