The 2007 Chevrolet Aveo sedan has been updated,
although it still relies on the basic mechanical underpinnings from the 2006
model year. What is attractive about the front-wheel-drive Aveo is the price, and for an economy car, a surprisingly handsome interior, in the case of the
fancier LT model. The Aveo's role in motoring life is sensible,
day-to-day transportation including a ride that is aimed at comfort and not
sporty driving. Transmission choices are either a five-speed manual transmission
or a four-speed automatic.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimate is
26/34 (27/37 manual) miles per gallon City/Highway with the automatic.
In frontal and side-impact crash tests
conducted by the federal government the Aveo did well.
What the Aveo has going for it is price, a
relatively handsome interior and a ride that is comfortable for a small car.
Trims and Style
There are two versions of the Chevrolet Aveo sedan.
The LS is the base model and includes air
conditioning; variable-speed wipers; 14-inch wheels; AM/FM stereo;
height-adjustable driver's seat; rear-window defogger and 60/40 split fold-down
rear seat.
The LT adds power windows and door locks;
remote/keyless entry; AM/FM/compact disc player; power/heated outside mirrors;
cruise control; 15-inch aluminum wheels and a 60/40 folding rear seat.
Safety features include seat-mounted air bags for
front seats and seat-belt pretensioners for the front seats.
Driving the Aveo
General Motors reworked the suspension on the Aveo,
although the basic mechanical underpinnings are still based on the 2006 model.
Spend some time in the Aveo sedan and it becomes clear that GM has created a
comfortable small car with decent handling.
The Chevrolet Aveo is front-wheel drive, and like
many front-wheel-drive cars it feels nose heavy, which means there is a slight pause when
the driver turns the wheel and asks it to make a big change in direction. The
hesitancy isn't unusual, nor is it threatening; it just means that the Aveo is
not the kind of quick-to-react playmate one finds in the Honda Fit (which is
also front-wheel drive).
Try to go a bit faster through a moderately tight
turn and the Aveo's body leans quite a bit. The noise and vibration from the 1.6
liter engine is nicely controlled for a four-cylinder engine.
Cabin Features for the '07 Aveo
The big surprise with the interior of the Chevrolet
Aveo LT was the handsomeness of the Charcoal Deluxe seat fabric, which shames the
manufacturers of some more expensive vehicles. This combines well with a tidy and
sensible layout to minimize its economy-car status.
The driver's seat is height adjustable which is a nice
feature for driver's short and tall. One problem with the front seats is that
the bottom seat cushion is a bit shorter for those with long legs; this cuts some
occupants a little short on thigh support.
According to the automakers specifications, an advantage the Aveo has over
the Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris is more legroom.
The Aveo's trunk is rated at 12.4 cubic feet.
Chevy Aveo Design
The 2007 Chevy Aveo has a new appearance and a
more aerodynamic shape, one of the benefits of which is to reduce wind noise at
highway speeds. The Aveo is about the same length
as the Toyota Yaris but it is almost a foot shorter than the Honda Fit.