2009 Chevy Aveo5: Cheap to Buy, Drive

What’s it going to take to get you into a new car? If you shop strictly by price, the Chevrolet Aveo Sedan and redesigned Aveo5 hatchback will likely be at the top of your list. With a base sticker starting at just $12,625, Chevy’s entry-level subcompact offers a lot of value. Built for Chevrolet by GM Daewoo in Korea, the Aveo is engineered to be cheap to buy and inexpensive to operate.

That’s not to say the Aveo is a super efficient economy car. For a subcompact, fuel economy is reasonable, but not something to really brag about. According to the EPA, the manual transmission model will deliver 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. With the automatic, city economy drops to 25 mpg while offering 34 mpg on the open road. With the smallish 11.9 gallon fuel tank, fill-ups will come every 300 miles or so. Green Car recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2009 Aveo5 and we were able to squeeze mid-thirties mpg out of the manual transmission with a conservative driving style.

Running with the flow of traffic requires a driver to often rev the four-cylinder engine beyond the most efficient operating range. The Aveo5 is powered by a double overhead cam, 1.6-liter Ecotec four-cylinder producing 106 horsepower and 106 lbs-ft of torque. That peak horsepower is produced at a lofty 6,400 rpm with max torque way up at 3,800 rpm. There simply isn’t enough torque at lower rpm to short-shift for maximum efficiency and downshifts are often required. With the manual in fifth gear, 65 mph on the highway requires 3,000 rpm. The automatic is a four-speed gearbox that’s less efficient than the manual. Acceleration is adequate but a little planning is required for merging maneuvers. It takes 11.5 seconds to get from 0-60.

The Aveo5 is a very attractive package that’s been redesigned for 2009 with fresh, European inspired exterior styling and a contemporary, very functional interior makeover. For 2009, the Aveo5 is a tall-in-the-middle hatchback that feels quite spacious for the car’s overall footprint. We appreciated the straightforward controls and clean layout that greets you when sliding behind the wheel. This isn’t a car that will require reading the owner’s manual to figure out how to turn on the radio. Overall, it’s a comfortable cabin, but longer treks will let you know you aren’t driving a luxury sedan.

We found an above average amount of buzz and driveline harmonics transmitted through the steering wheel, shifter, and pedals. Fortunately, the Aveo5 is fun to drive. Handling is predictable with responsive steering and good road feel. The Aveo5 has MacPherson struts in the front and a semi-independent torsion beam axle in the rear with coil springs. The ride is compliant and comfortable, which is pretty good considering the Aveo5’s 97.6 inch wheelbase.

Chevrolet is hoping to sell about 70,000 Aveos in the North American market in 2009. This is a world car platform that GM sells in more than 120 countries around the world, primarily under the Chevrolet brand. As an entry-level car, the Aveo line is important because has the highest rate of first-time buyers of any GM vehicle. This platform is also the highest volume Chevy model in Europe.

Like all GM vehicles, the Aveo5 comes with OnStar as standard equipment and GM’s 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, two unexpected features in an entry-level subcompact. If you are in the market for basic transportation that won’t break the bank, the Chevy Aveo is well worth consideration.

The Good: Inexpensive to own and operate
The Bad: Okay fuel economy, feels underpowered
The Rating: 6 (out of 10)