Even as basic transportation, the Daewoo-produced Chevrolet Aveo fell so far short it became a byword for mediocrity. Handling lacks the agility native to most small cars, the steering is imprecise, and the body leans a good deal in corners. The 103-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivers just adequate performance and unimpressive fuel economy. The ride isn't too bad, though, and a tight turning circle makes parking easy.
Drivers sit fairly high with a good view and access is relatively easy. Fit and finish are OK, but nothing special.
Many Aveos came with antilock brakes, which is a rarity for this class. The hatchback has more cargo versatility, but the sedan has a roomier trunk. The 2011 models were the last. Average Retail Price Trade-in Price Reliability Verdict Owner Satisfaction View Local Inventory 2011 $3,825 - $4,300 $1,455 - $1,830.
4 out of 5 stars by crashbaby from Chicago,Il on Sun Apr 03 2011 I had my 2004 Aveo LS 5 door for 5 years before I crashed it. It was extremely fuel efficiant I filled it up once every 2 weeks and drive 30 miles round trip to work 5 days a week. I'm single so I didn't need a ton of room but the Aveo was able to hold a baby seat in the back when I babysat for a friend. It held everything I needed it to from groceries to luggage. I live in Illinois so I had to drive it through snow slush and ice alot and it always did well, I even drove it in a blizzard once and didn't slide at all. In November of 2010 I had the tires rotated and something happened that allowed for the wheel to come of the next day while I was driving at 50 MPH.
I swerved done the rode a bit eventually crossing the lane of oncoming traffic. When the car it the ditch if flipped end over nose and then rolled at least twice. The car came to rest on the drivers side. The air bags deployed and the front end was crushed. I was able to climb out of the car by myself using the seats as a ladder and walk away.
The only injury I sustained from the accident was a bruised and sprained shoulder. For a little car that everyone told me would never protect me in a crash I think it did pretty great. Don't let the size fool you this car can protect you in a crash! 5 out of 5 stars by curmudgeon from EUGENE, OR on Sun Feb 10 2008 Finally, I won't be scorned for owning a 'GO-CART'!!! Have reccomended purchase of this car to a best friend, and she is very happy.
Just drove from the Florida Keys to Oregon. Inexpensive, comfortable AND dependable: this is what transportation should be, Owned two Geo Metro's but this is really an upgrade, with rear-wiper, power locks, power rightside rearview mirror, heated rearview mirros, and still have a lot more power and good gas mileage. (I still miss the 50 mpg of the 3 cyl. Metro, but the four doors and extra room compensate. 5 out of 5 stars by Value Recognizer from Salt Lake City, UT on Thu Jan 18 2007 We have numerous cars available to drive and pretty much everyone's favorite is the Aveo. Ours is a 2004 with 40,000 miles.
Not one minutes trouble. I find it interesting that the experts haven't noticed the high owner satisfaction of these great little cars. We enjoy traveling in ours and are considering having cruise installed to make it that much nicer. We will probably buy another one!
2004 Aveo Recalls
Very roomy and the trunk on our sedan holds a ton of luggage. It's hard to keep it under 80 or 85 out on the open road and we don't feel tired when we arrive at our destination.
WE LOVE OUR AVEO. 4 out of 5 stars by Foundryman from Clinton, Illinois on Wed Jul 30 2008 Although I am only six two, my legs are short and my body is long, which makes sitting in most cars a head bumping experience. Not so with the Aveo. I have a good three inches of clearance. The seats could be a little more padded but they aren't too bad, and there is plenty of legroom for my wife's 36 inch legs.
The car is reliable and peppy and fun to drive, and, in a pinch, can haul fairly large objects with the fold down rear seats and the trunk slide thru. I like the styling of the four door sedan and I enjoy the creature comforts we got.
For $11,000, not bad. 5 out of 5 stars by festiboi from Long Beach, CA on Sat Jul 15 2006 Wanted to buy an Aveo as soon as they came out. GM was actually ahead of the game here with a roomy, tall, and stylish hatchback. Sure, it's a Daewoo built in Korea, but if anything, that makes it unique. The styling was out-of-the-ordinary when it came out and I get a lot of questions as to what it is. Recently it's getting more mixed in the crowd with the Fit, Scion, and Yaris on the road. But most people are still shocked it's a Chevy and think it's European.
I love the interior design, with the circle/arc theme in the dashboard, air vents, door handles, and the steering wheel. Almost has a Mini/New Beetle feel to it. The interior is very roomy upfront for my 6'5' frame and I always have plenty of headroom.
The backseat is a little cramped, but that's to be expected for a small car. Engine performance is peppy and decent in the city, although the engine struggles a little on hill. The handling is a little clumsy and the car leans a lot in turns.
The payoff is that the ride is soft and it takes a big bump to affect the car, very nice for a subcompact. Lastly, the cargo space is terrific with the snazzy flip-and-fold rear seat, very smart thinking! Reliability has been excellent with the only problems being a clock that can't keep time and a faulty fuel-cap. Overall, an excellent little car and considering the price, it's tough to beat. Our Take on the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo A Budget Model With Little Value Chevrolet Aveo LS There are several ways to look at the Chevrolet Aveo LS hatchback. Nearly all of them are bad. The most benign view is that it is a cheap ride, and it's built to perform, feel and stay that way.
2011 Chevy Aveo Problems
There is nothing special about it, nothing romantic or inviting. The Aveo LS is an appliance in much the manner of a toaster, washing machine or steam iron. You turn it on, and it takes you from place to place in splendid mediocrity. Ironing clothes, by comparison, would be an adventure. I had hoped to write something different. I am a big fan of small cars well done - automobiles such as the Mazda3, Mini Cooper, Nissan Sentra and the Nissan March.