2007 Chevrolet Aveo Review

The Chevrolet Aveo is the Americanized version of the Daewoo Kalos. Introduced for the 2004 model year, the Aveo is a rebranded Daewoo Kalos, produced by General Motors' Korean subsidiary. It is currently Chevrolet's most economical model, competing with the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit. The LT trim, which comes standard with most of the LS' optional features is not available for the 2007 Aveo, although it is still offered for the sedan.

The BuyingAdvice Team Says:

The Chevrolet Aveo faces stiff competition from Asian automakers in the subcompact market. Fortunately, GM's new powertrain warranty makes the Aveo a contender, giving it a level of coverage that, in its class, is only outdone by the Kia Rio, but for $2,000 less. As far as entry level cars go, if you're on a tight budget, the Aveo just might be your best choice. With its low price, safety features, and the typically lower price for domestic replacement parts, the Aveo is a good choice for college students and new drivers.

What's New For 2007:

The Chevrolet Aveo has been redesigned for the 2007 model year and features several improvements. Externally, the Aveo is larger, with a chrome grille, updated headlights, and round tail lights. Mechanically, the suspension has been improved. The interior has been reworked, and now features a built-in arm rest and an auxiliary audio input jack for MP3 players. For 2007, the Aveo is available in two trims -- the Special Value (SV) package or the LS. Last year's LT trim has been discontinued. The SV is the more spartan trim, marketed as the lowest priced car in America, and lacking power windows and doors as well as air conditioning. The LS includes air conditioning, and a wide set of options, including cruise control, powered locks and windows, sunroof, keyless entry system, and a CD/MP3 player.

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Vital Stats

Starting MSRP:
$11,965

Rebates & Incentives:
no

Seats:
5

Gas Mileage:
27/34

Engine:
1.6L I4

Horsepower:
106@6400RPM

Torque:
105@3800RPM

Transmission:
5 Speed Manual

Drive:
FR/FWD

Fuel Capacity:
12

Fuel Type:
gasoline

Basic Warranty:
36/36000

Powertrain Warranty:
60/100000

Rust Warranty:
72/100000

What is the Predicted Reliability:

A related issue with all prior versions of the Aveo is inaccurate fuel gauges that report fuel in the tank when there is none, causing the car to stall or not start. Some owners reported not receiving the promised fuel efficiency, which may be caused either by a faulty chip or by the poorly geared manual transmission. Overall, expect the Aveo to have average reliability. Fortunately, the Aveo comes with General Motors' new warranty, which covers the powertrain for five years or 100,000 miles, and also includes roadside assistance and courtesy transportation for that period. However, the basic bumper to bumper coverage only lasts for three years or 36,000 miles.

Overall, the Aveo gets three out of five stars for overall quality from J.D. Power and Associates. An early problem that plagued the 2004 Aveo was suspension issues, resulting in vehicle noise. However, the problem has since been rectified by General Motors. The 2005 Aveo has a reported starting issue and it apparently was very easy to flood the engine, which happens when the engine receives an air-fuel mixture that is too rich for it to handle, causing the car to not start or stall.

Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Aveo five out of five stars for driver safety in a frontal crash, and four stars out of five for the front passenger. It garnered four stars for those in both in the front and rear seat in side impact crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Aveo an "Acceptable" in frontal tests, "Moderate" in side tests, and its worst "Poor" rating in rear tests. Side air bags, daytime running lights, and three point seat belts for all passengers come standard in all trims. Antilock brakes are available as an option in the LS trim. Traction and stability control are not available. There has already been a recall issued for the 2007 Aveo, due to fuel leaks that can result from a severe crash.

Pros and Cons:

Pros
+ Inexpensive base model
+ Excellent powertrain warranty
+ Good range of options

Cons
- Few standard features
- Poor IIHS crash test scores
- Fuel economy could be improved

Head-To-Head Competition:

The most obvious competitor to the Aveo is the Toyota Yaris. Coming in at about $200 less than the Aveo, the Yaris also offers much better city gas mileage (34 vs. 27 mpg), meanwhile offering the same horsepower as the Aveo. The next challenger is the Honda Fit, which is very similar to the Aveo in just about every respect, except it is $1,800 more expensive than the Aveo; it also includes more standard features for the money, including anti-lock brakes, a CD player, much more cargo capacity, and more fuel efficiency. Perhaps the closest competitor to the Aveo is the Kia Rio, which gets about five more miles to the gallon in the city than the Aveo and comes with a better warranty, which covers the entire vehicle for five years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain for ten years or 100,000 miles. The Kia Rio also costs about $900 more. The Aveo faces fierce competition, but its warranty, price, and available options give it a sturdy foothold in the market.

What Others Are Saying:

"Though it's been in Chevy's lineup less than three years, the Aveo has been redesigned for '07. Built in Korea by Daewoo, the Aveo is basic transportation, and its attractive pricing includes lots of standard features. Performance, however, is not on par with the subcompact leaders." - Car and Driver

"That jingling you hear isn't sleigh bells - it's actually the change left in your pocket after filling the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo's 11.9-gallon fuel tank. This is but one of the joys of driving Chevy's small-but-tall people hauler. The fact that it is (actually) not bad to drive is another." - TheCarConnection.com

"I was totally drawn in by the cute and appealing exterior of the Aveo. My problem comes when I start thinking about all the stuff beyond the superficial. I'm still waiting for an American manufacturer to come up with something that makes as much sense as a Honda Fit or a Nissan Versa." - Anita Lienert, The Detroit News

Read more about the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo at the Chevrolet manufacturer web site.

Published on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - Email to a friend

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