119 out of 119 people found this review helpful.
Getting into the 2005 AVEO with style and efficiency.
Date of Review: Apr 21, 2005
The Bottom Line: If you are tired of sucking cash out of your credit cards at every fuel stop, then the Aveo might be right for you.
Sweltering winds mixed with the pleasant warm sunrays from above are delightful signs that highlight the beginning of a wonderful summer. Along with a change in the weather, perhaps there's been a change in your personal situation - - like the rising gas prices at the pump. If so, park your big gas-guzzler and think about trying Chevrolet's 2005 Aveo. The well-mannered, fuel efficient, easy to drive Aveo takes you, were you want to go without the fuss.
Strong and sensual isn't a typical combination used to describe a small economy car. It's usually uncomfortable and cheap or small and campy. Well, Chevrolet breaks the rules with the 2005 Aveo. The Aveo may not look like it has some kick to it, but its 1.6 liter engine is top-notch giving you all the juice you need to keep up in traffic. I had not problems driving on the highway or streets of Atlanta. This cars impressive fuel economy is definitely something to write home about. It has an EPA fuel economy rating of 27 city miles per gallon and 35 highway miles per gallon.
When compared to other economy cars I think you get a lot of bang for your bucks. The shiny white exterior merges flawlessly with the corresponding light gray interior, offset by the vehicles large windows. The Aveo special value sedan is a 4-door, which offers extended amenities within its swanky cabin set for 5 occupants. The 60/40 split flip and fold rear seats provide optimal spacing. The roomy high trunk also makes this care an extremely practical cargo carrier. We packed our baby's stroller, weekend bags in the trunk and still had room for a few grocery and shopping bags.
This vehicles strongest selling point is its mixture of economy and convenience. While this car only offers 103-horsepower, and has a conceivably small frame, it can go up to 120 miles per hour easily. We had not problem keeping up with traffic. The car handled well and felt comfortable on the highway. It was edgy when driving the city streets handling the road with a fair amount of agility and accuracy. The car felt firm and agile when driving it around corners. The black P185/60R-14 inch, all-season tires, hugged the pavement well. Overall the vehicles ride and steering was comfortable through out the day. The only change in ride we experienced was during a brief off-road jaunt; it was here when the Aveo was not up to task. This is not an SUV, as it was unable to soak up some of the big hits, which means in my opinion drivers may experience some tightness in handling when driving on winding stretches or bumpy dirt roads.
Family shoppers will be happy with this vehicles best-in-class five-star frontal crash safety rating. In addition there are a lot of other safety features packed into the Aveo. The vehicle features daytime running lamps and a three-point safety belt system with front belts that adjusts to height. Initially I thought the seat belts were tight and unforgiving until I adjusted the height. The tweed cloth seats were comfortable with adequate driver and passenger legroom.
The major pro's for me with this car was its excellent handling, easy take off and fuel efficiency. The only con's noted was the vehicles off road handling, and low-grade interior. Inside, the simple body the drivers cabin initially seemed awkward. The basic instrument panel has two small protruding gauge pods showing the speedometer and tachometer. The other instrumentation, which includes the trip odometer, fuel and coolant temperature gauges with lighting (dimmer) control, and the digital clock is set in the back. While the layout was functional when driving, it felt uncomfortable at first, and the controls initially seemed too close to the windshield.
Fortunately, the controls are all conveniently close at hand for the driver, however there is an adjustment period as you become familiar with the cockpits layout. There was also some concern about the basic materials used in the cockpit as it appeared to be made from a low-grade plastic. The Aveo sound systems dual front and rear coaxial speakers were awesome, offering lots of ambient sound, but the cheesy black plastic electronically tuned AM/FM stereo receiver was simplistic and limp.
Final Thoughts:
We rented the Aveo from Enterprise Leasing while our primary vehicle was being serviced. There's nothing special or gimmicky about this car it's fairly plain; but it gets you were you are going. It is easy to park getting in and out of tight spaces like a politicians promises. Getting started is as easy as 1, 2, and 3, simply turn the key, buckle your seatbelt and you are off. Around town, the Aveo is quite docile, and drives with ease. When you open it up on the highway, you here the throaty engine growl as it holds its place on the road.
Overall, the cars handling equals that of other compact cars on the market, however it's the cars sticker price, and safety rating that makes this one lead the pack. The Chevy Aveo comes with a five-year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty and has a base price of $9455.00.
If you would like additional information about the engine and other specifics, please visit www.chevrolet.com/aveo
