2007 Chevrolet Aveo Review

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Performance

One can only ask so much of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, especially one saddled with a four-speed automatic transmission. However, the Aveo did its best to satisfy by expeditiously getting up to cruising speed, providing just enough power for occasionally overtaking slower cars on the highway, and doing so with a level of refinement that was on par with others in the class. Sure, more power is almost always welcome, but the Aveo is an economy car built for those on a budget with efficiency on the mind. In that light, it underperformed; we achieved only 23.8 mpg in mixed driving.

Handling

We’re not sure how engineers do it, but the Aveo, like other cars we’ve tested, succeeds in blending a somewhat firm straight line ride with noticeable body roll in the corners. No, that’s not a good thing. When trudging through traffic or cruising down the highway, the ride feels stiff, as bumps and expansion joints are roughly translated into the interior, but then turn on to an off-ramp and the suspension and 185/55R15 Kumho tires give way too easily. Since Aveo buyers aren’t looking for sports-car handling (and if they are, they’re misguided), the body roll is acceptable, but a softer ride in routine driving is in order.

Visibility

With millions of large, heavy SUVs and trucks on the road, small cars need to be big on visibility. Sure, the bright blue paint of our tester helped us to be seen, but more importantly, the generous side mirrors and extensive side glass helped us see people and vehicles outside. Visibility also benefits from retractable rear headrests and relatively narrow B- and C-pillars. The A-pillars are a little too wide.

Fun to Drive

With the exception of the Honda Fit and arguably one or two others, the economy car segment is light in the fun-to-drive area, and the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo in no way changes that. There’s enough power to handle the daily commute, a front seat area good enough to keep a driver comfortable, and a price that puts this sedan in just about every car buyer’s budget. However, none of those attributes contribute one iota to the fun factor, of which the Aveo, not surprisingly, is short on supply.