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2010 CHEVROLET AVEO GM Sub-compact looks Agile
Mike Blake,
Monday, January 11 2010
Chevrolet's economy subcompact Aveo was
introduced to the American market in 2004 and by 2006, the hatchback Aveo 5
joined it on the line. The original Aveo was a rebadged version of the Daewoo
Kalos, and much of its engineering was based on the Pontiac Wave.
Marketed to those who valued fuel economy and
a low sticker price, Aveo has been slow to gain a wide purchase base. To
address flat sales, GM has increased horsepower for 2010 slightly (from 106hp
to 108hp), added a new exterior color: Wintergreen Metallic, made a rear
spoiler standard on Aveo5 2LT and installed lower numeric fourth and fifth gear
ratios on the five-speed manual transmission to increase fuel economy by
reducing engine rpm at higher speeds.
One more change in the wind is a potential
name change. Since Aveo sales can use a boost, GM is contemplating a name
change to something more hip … Agile seems to be the front runner, but Viva is
also gaining some consideration. Then again, in 2011, an all-new Aveo may be
out there on the market again under its own name, but with some cool design,
power and interior upgrades.
Competing in the tough fuel-efficient,
inexpensive sub-compact market, Aveo does everything expected in those two
areas, with the base LS model starting at $11,965 (my test 1LT had a base price
of $14,100, but incentives brought that figure lower), and the Aveo is EPA
rated at 27mpg in the city 35mpg on the highway for the manual transmission.
Considered boxy by some, the Aveo has appeal
to environmentalists, young buyers, high school and college students and those
older drivers who have long commutes every day and tired of filling their
20-gallon SUV tanks every few days. Another audience is those hip performance
and style enthusiasts who see Aveo as a blank canvas just asking to be souped
up with powerful engines, upscale interior packages, top-of-the-line sound
systems, eye-catching exterior paint schemes, dubbed wheels and video screens
everywhere imagined.
But the base vehicle, for the base crowd
stands on its own. Manufactured in Bupyong, South Korea, the front-engine
front-wheel-drive 5-passenger subcompact is the smallest, lowest-priced vehicle
in the GM arsenal. Aveo measures 97.6-inch wheelbase 169.7 inches long, 67.3
inches wide and 59.3 inches high on a 97.6-inch wheelbase, stepping on the
scales with a light 2568-lb. curb weight.
Under hood is an Ecotec 1.6-liter I-4 engine,
mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic – my test
vehicle was outfitted with the manual. The system puts out 108hp and 104
lbs.-ft. of torque. As expected, acceleration is sluggish but steady. During a
gray fall day, I was able to push the Aveo from zero to 60mph in 10.8 seconds,
and had a single quarter-mile test of 18.3 seconds before rain shut down the
track.
Rated at 27/35, a week of tests garnered an
average of 30.3mpg, with about 70 percent of the mileage accrued on the
highway.
The driving experience was in line with other
vehicles of this genre. The ride was very noisy with engine and road noise
invited into the cabin. Acceleration at speed is hesitant and an occasional
downshift is necessary to regain composure during long ascents. The Macpherson
struts up front with offset coil springs and 17mm stabilizer bar and
semi-independent rear torsion beam axle with coil springs power rack and pinion
steering made for a relatively smooth ride, though quick steering maneuvers are
best left to other vehicles.
Inside, you get a surprising amount of
comfort and room. The sightlines are good and with seating for 2 up front and 3
in row two the cabin measures 39.3 inches of front headroom, 37.4 in row two;
41.3 inches of front legroom and 35.4 in the rear, with 53.6 inches of front
shoulder room and 52.8 in the second row.
The low-frills interior is decked out with
cloth seats, but you also get remote keyless entry, power windows and door
locks, cruise control and satellite radio. Also standard were air conditioning
CD/MP3 player, six-speaker audio system and outside, 14-inch steel wheels.
Safety features include standard front-seat
side airbags are standard on all trim levels, but side curtain airbags and
Stability Control are not available. Antilock brakes are optional on the LT
models with automatic transmission and were not installed in my manual test
vehicle.
The base 1LT is priced at $14,100, and my
test ride was upgraded with the power and convenience package ($425) : remote
keyless entry, power door locks, power windows and content theft-deterrent
system; and destination charges of $720, for an MSRP of $15,245. But with a
$1500 cash-back incentive offered at the time of my test, bottom line was
$13,745.
The sun roof $795 and rear spoiler $225 would
be a nice addition and body-side moldings and chrome could add another $600. An
automatic transmission would add $925 and 4-wheel ABS could then be added (not
available with the 5-speed manual) for $440.
Even with all the additions, you could drive
away with a relatively sporty and “agile” Aveo for about $16,600 plus tax and
license.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR
magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's
been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally
for about 30 years.
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Chevrolet's economy subcompact Aveo was
introduced to the American market in 2004 and by 2006, the hatchback Aveo 5
joined it on the line. The original Aveo was a rebadged version of the Daewoo
Kalos, and much of its engineering was based on the Pontiac Wave.
Competing in the tough fuel-efficient,
inexpensive sub-compact market, Aveo does everything expected in those two
areas, with the base LS model starting at $11,965 (my test 1LT had a base price
of $14,100, but incentives brought that figure lower), and the Aveo is EPA
rated at 27mpg in the city 35mpg on the highway for the manual transmission.
Under hood is an Ecotec 1.6-liter I-4 engine,
mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic – my test
vehicle was outfitted with the manual. The system puts out 108hp and 104
lbs.-ft. of torque. As expected, acceleration is sluggish but steady. During a
gray fall day, I was able to push the Aveo from zero to 60mph in 10.8 seconds,
and had a single quarter-mile test of 18.3 seconds before rain shut down the
track.
The low-frills interior is decked out with
cloth seats, but you also get remote keyless entry, power windows and door
locks, cruise control and satellite radio. Also standard were air conditioning
CD/MP3 player, six-speaker audio system and outside, 14-inch steel wheels.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR
magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's
been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally
for about 30 years.
