Clever Chevy – Chevrolet Aveo

Aveo prices start at £10,535 – although they can be picked up for under this psychological five figure barrier – and come with a choice of five engines; two petrol versions of 1229cc and 1398cc and three diesel variations, all of 1248cc. The larger capacity petrol and diesel models boast six-speed gearboxes, which, as well as providing excellent performance, also have an excellent payoff in economy. Our test car was the diesel VCDi Eco with five ratios to play with, and even for this, Chevrolet asserts a combined MPG figure of 78.4 for this particular Aveo. Even if you’re using it around town a lot – the natural habitat for a car like this – that only drops to 67.2mpg, while on long distance motorway trips, the claim is for an impressive 85.6mpg. Frugality like that is enough to make you overlook the slightly noisy diesel motor that becomes a little thrashy at higher speeds, although the car still feels comfortable and relatively unstressed at motorway speeds. It’s both peppy and responsive – not something you can say about every compact diesel car – with handy acceleration when roused. However, it’s around town where it really comes into its own, with a hefty amount of torque meaning you won’t spend most of your time continuously shifting up and down during low speed crawls. We found it perfectly happy to potter along at 40mph in top gear, without feeling that it was labouring.

One slight handicap in the urban jungle is the small back window and thick rear pillars which compromise visibility somewhat. But such is the price of crash safety these days, and those worried about protecting themselves and their passengers will be reassured to hear that the Aveo gets a five star NCAP safety rating, the highest in its segment.

Those who appreciate a car that offers driving charisma as well as safety, economy and practicality will find a lot to like about the Aveo too; the rigid chassis makes for dynamic and well-balanced handling. Corners can be attacked with enthusiasm if that’s your wish, adding to the hot hatch impression. However, the ride remains compliant and soft, with most road knocks soaked up easily enough before they trouble any occupants.

The overall impression of the Aveo is of a well-thought out small family car packing a surprising amount of character into its neat and trim shape. That’s hardly surprising, given Chevrolet’s desire to grow itself in Europe – it is trying hard and, with the Aveo, it has done a very good job. This is one Chevy that deserves to do well in the UK.

Verdict: 15/20

The biggest thing the Aveo has going for it is its handsome looks; few small cars have such a striking and distinctive appearance. But beyond this, it’s well-specced, economical, cheap to run (with a VED rating of A), spacious enough to suit a small family adequately and charismatic enough to make driving it engaging and enjoyable, even in diesel form. Visibility could be better and some aspects of the trim appear a little cheap, but for there’s much more to like with the Aveo then there is to dislike. Plus, of course, it’s a Chevy, still one of the more evocative names in motoring. Just don’t expect there to be a V8 version.

SPECIFICATION

Chevrolet Aveo LT 1.3 VCDi Eco
Engine: 1248cc, four- cylinder, diesel
Power: 94bhp@4000rpm
Torque: 140@1750-2500rpm
Top speed: 108mph
0-60mph: 11.7secs
Fuel economy: 78.4mpg (combined)
CO2: 95g/km VED Rating: A (£0)

MANUFACTURER

www.chevrolet.co.uk

DEALER

WH Brand Ltd,
77 Broadgate,
Whaplode Drove,
Near Spalding,
PE12 0TN

Tel: 01406 330265

www.whbrand.com

For more information on the Chevrolet range visit the website www.chevrolet.co.uk