Lone Star Chevrolet

• Introduction  »
• Interior / Walk Around  »
• Driving Impressions  »
• Summary

Driving Impressions

The Aveo works well around town and for commuting. Its 108 horsepower is a few less than what's served up by the Fit, which also weighs slightly less than the Aveo, increasing its advantage.

However, the four-speed automatic in the Aveos we tested was fairly quick to respond and the acceleration was adequate. The Aveo would be a bad choice for a tight pass on a two-lane road, but with a little thought and planning there shouldn't be any problems merging onto a busy freeway, even with a passenger.

We've always been more impressed with the Chevrolet Aveo's ride than its handling. The Aveo irons out most bumps with ease. Sharper bumps rarely affect passenger comfort. Like many front-wheel-drive cars, the Aveo feels nose heavy when driven hard, and it doesn't offer the responsive handling found in the Honda Fit. Try and go fast through a moderately tight turn and the Aveo's body leans quite a bit. That's part of the price to pay for a comfortable ride, particularly on a broken surface. It is also the Aveo's way of reminding the driver that it wasn't designed to be a sporty car.

The steering has a light feel and it's a bit numb, but not annoyingly so. It's about par for the course for an economy car, though much less direct than in the Fit. We found that the brakes felt natural, but the use of rear drums is old technology. ABS is optional and we highly recommend it.

The noise and vibration from the 1.6 liter engine is nicely controlled for a four-cylinder engine. The exception is when the driver slams the accelerator pedal to the floor and holds it there. Then things get a noisy, especially at the higher engine speeds. Road noise is also rather intrusive, as sharp bumps create audible banging noises. You can also really hear the rain plunk on the roof in a storm, evidence that Chevrolet hasn't used much sound deadener.

Go to Summary