Chevrolet continues its push into the UK. As yet, the famous American brand remains a bit-part player in the British car market but their products are getting better.
The Aveo takes on established rivals including the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Kia Rio and Skoda Fabia.
Prices start at £10,295 for the 1.2 litre petrol in basic LS trim and the car I drove, the lower powered of the two diesels, cost £12,345.
It has value in its favour that’s £1,000 cheaper than a Skoda Fabia Greenline and more than £2,000 cheaper than a comparable Fiesta Econetic.
The 74hp diesel engine is economical but slow, with 0-62mph taking more than 14 seconds. Another £450 buys a 95hp version which trims the 0-62mph dash down to a more respectable, if still unhurried, 11.7 seconds.
It might be worth stretching to this one as not only is it quicker but, with an official mpg figure of 78.4, it is, on paper at least, more frugal than the 74.3mpg lower powered model. Both models’ emissions are below the 100g/km limit where you start paying VED.
The Aveo’s looks are love-or-loathe. Its squat stance and a front end that was described by one reviewer as an “Alien Versus Predator” face won’t be to everyone’s taste.
However, it has a certain pugnacious presence and the fact that not many will be sold over here means it will stand out from the crowd.
The ride is surprisingly comfortable but the Aveo is let down badly by excessive cabin noise. At 60mph and above voices need to be raised for conversation and the weedy little stereo has to be cranked up almost to the max in order to hear the radio.
Steering is fine but the body leans and rolls in cornering and it’s a far cry from the much more agile Fiesta.
Inside there is more room than in most superminis. The rear seats have room for two adults, although three would be a squash, and the boot is a decent 290 litres comparable with the Fiesta and Corsa.
The range starts off with LS trim, which has electric front windows, air-con and remote central locking. The mid-range LT adds Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and phone, alloy wheels and an aux-in socket for the stereo.
At the top of the range is the LTZ, which gets a much needed better stereo, parking sensors and automatic headlights.
In the cabin there is a noticeable dip in quality compared to some of the Aveo’s better rivals, such as the Fiesta, Rio and Fabia.
Everything feels sturdy, however, and I’m confident the Aveo will stand up well to the trials of family life. A five-year, 100,000-mile warranty helps with peace of mind. And, while the Aveo is a cheap option, Chevrolet hasn’t cut corners on safety equipment.
Stability control, six airbags and ABS are standard on every model, as are three-point seatbelts on every seat and Isofix mountings on the outer rear seats. All this helped the car achieve a five-star crash rating from Euro NCAP.
Overall, the Aveo is not an easy car to love. Dynamically and from engineering and quality standpoints, it lags behind its rivals.
However, Chevrolet is closing the quality gap and the Aveo is a decent option for those on a budget.