Chevrolet

Aveo

The all-new Chevrolet Aveo is a fabulous five-door hatchback with plenty of appeal. Boasting smooth lines and a host of features, it offers great value driving from start to finish.

Test Drive

Chevrolet Aveo 1.3 (95PS) VCDi diesel Eco LT manual

We live in a day and age where we want it all. We expect a new car to feature eye-catching good looks, be loaded with creature comforts, offer excellent economy and performance, plus boast an attractive asking price.

Somehow, Chevrolet has met all those demands with its latest five-door hatchback – the all-new Aveo.

Instantly recognisable as a Chevrolet because of the iconic emblem sitting between the split front grille, the Aveo has tinted windows, a rear spoiler, exposed round headlights, rear door handles flush to the body giving a three-door coupe effect, two-tone door mirrors and plenty more besides.

These add up to a very snazzy, sporty and athletic stance.

And the impressive build quality is just as apparent inside too with gadgets and technical wizardry at every turn.

There is an almost simplistic, but very effective styling within the cabin. Chevrolet has used motorcycle design themes resulting in a large circular rev counter next to a digital speedo. There is a wraparound instrument panel flowing from the dashboard to the doors.

These features give the cabin a neat, uncluttered feel.

The Aveo has plenty of storage space – the boot can cater for 290 litres which can be increased to 653 litres thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

Elsewhere, there is a pull out under-seat tray and extra space beneath the boot floor. There is also a double glove-box – the smaller section housing the connections for iPods, smart phones and other modern day media devices.

Potential buyers can choose from four engines – a 1.2 (86PS) petrol unit, a 1.4 (100PS) petrol engine and two 1.3-litre VCDi diesel engines with power outputs of either 75PS or 95PS. There are three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ), a choice of transmissions and prices to suit all budgets starting from just £9,995 on-the-road.

On-board technology is plentiful even in the lower trim models, including cruise control, air con, a good audio system and electric windows.

Move up through the grades and you can incorporate steering wheel audio controls, 15-inch alloys, a Driver Information Centre, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps, Bluetooth connectivity and much more.

Chevrolet believes the real headline-grabber will be the 1.3 VCDi diesel Eco model which boasts some pretty impressive performance stats.

Quite often, a manufacturer claims a particular model can achieve incredible fuel efficiency and other such wonders. And quite often, their estimations are not accurate.

Chevrolet announced that its Eco model could achieve combined fuel economy of 78.4mpg and it did!

Admittedly, it was reached during a gentle 50-minute drive, but it certainly wasn’t at a snail’s pace.

The Aveo handled beautifully. It was agile, easy to manoeuvre, simple to park, boasted excellent all-round visibility, good acceleration, a smooth and responsive five-speed transmission and even a relatively quiet cabin with very little engine or road surface noise.

And when you add in all the financial bonuses that come with a car featuring 95g/km figures, then the Aveo is quite a catch.

Chevrolet has packed plenty of top notch safety specifications into the Aveo, such as an extra strong body shell, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control, electronic brake distribution, six airbags and even an energy-absorbing bumper to help protect pedestrians.

Sometimes, bigger isn’t always better and the Chevrolet Aveo is the prime example of that theory. It may be compact, but it is very big on style, appeal and performance.