2009 Chevrolet Aveo

As fuel economy became a hot issue early in 2008, reacting to the sharp increases in gasoline prices, Detroit's three major automakers seemed to be caught short. Each had been concentrating hard on SUVs and trucks, paying scant attention to smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. Chevrolet is something of an exception, with a pair of smaller, fuel-efficient passenger cars in its lineup. In addition to the compact Cobalt, Chevrolet since 2004 has offered a subcompact Aveo.

Aveo Styling

Small cars with domestic-brand badges are nothing new, of course. Several turned up after the fuel crisis of the 1970s. Some remained on sale into the 1980s and even beyond. As the emphasis on power and performance reasserted itself, helped by again-low gasoline prices, small cars tended to be viewed as also-rans. While attracting small but enthusiastic groups of partisans, such models as the Chevrolet Metro, Ford Festiva, and Dodge Colt were largely ignored both by the consuming public and the automakers' marketing folks. Now, suddenly, small cars are making a comeback.


Initial Aveo styling was credited to the Italdesign Giugiaro studio in Turin, Italy. Built in South Korea by GM Daewoo, Aveos come in two body styles: four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. The latter model, dubbed Aveo5, gets a fresh exterior and interior appearance for 2009, along with a new spoiler. Up front is Chevrolet's global front-end design, including a Malibu-inspired grille.

Power and Economy

Periodic power boosts are standard fare these days, even for subcompact cars. For 2009, the Aveo gets a slightly stronger engine to replace the prior 103-horsepower unit, but Chevrolet says fuel efficiency remains unchanged. The new 1.6-liter Gen 3 Ecotec four-cylinder engine, with variable valve timing and a 106-horsepower rating, is standard on all models. With manual shift, the Aveo gets an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel-economy estimate of 27 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway. An automatic transmission drops the city figure to 25 mpg.


A five-speed manual transmission is standard. The optional four-speed automatic incorporates "Hold" control, which lets the driver stay in a higher gear temporarily. The revised driver information center includes an outside-temperature display and a fuel economy/driving range function.

Safety Features

Seat-mounted side-impact airbags are standard, but antilock braking is an option–and not available at all on the least-expensive model. Though the base sedan is a stripped-down model, with a manual transmission and no air conditioning, Aveos can be reasonably well equipped. XM satellite radio is available. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob are included with leatherette seating. All radios include an auxiliary input jack. GM's Oil Life monitoring system is standard.


In NHTSA frontal crash testing, the Aveo sedan earned a five-star rating for the driver and four stars for the front passenger. Side-impact testing produced a four-star score for front occupants but only three stars in the rear. The Aveo five-door hatchback scored better: dual five-star ratings for frontal impacts, and four stars for each occupant in side-impact testing. The Insurance Institute for Highway (IIHS) gives the Aveo an Acceptable rating for frontal impact, but Marginal in side-impact testing.