Acceleration

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
3	2	4

Moves away alertly from a stop. Good around-town response. Feels slightly quicker with manual transmission, but with either transmission, Aveo strains to merge onto fast-moving freeways. Easily cruises at 70 mph, but can't pass on highway without significant effort. Manual has rubbery shift action. Automatic kicks down for passing with some hesitation. Engine smoother than most in this price range.

Fuel Economy

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
8	7	6.6

Test automatic-transmission LS hatchback averaged 29.9 mpg in near-even mix of city/highway driving. Expect slightly better with manual transmission.

Ride Quality

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.4

Impressively absorbent for a small car on bumps big and small. Some minor bobbing and pitching over irregular pavement.

Steering/Handling/Braking

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.3

Small size, responsive steering make for nimble low-speed moves. In turns, body lean, and noseplow increase rapidly as speeds rise. Both models tested had ABS and good stopping power, though one example suffered long, mushy brake-pedal travel.

Quietness

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4

Engine, road, wind noise fairly well-muffled; better than many in class. Unlike many small, light cars, it takes a large bump to trigger pounding sensation through Aveo's suspension, body structure.

Controls

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.6

Gauges easy to read. Low-mounted audio system a bit of a reach, and adjusting undersized climate controls can divert attention from road, though both clearly marked.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5.1

Comfortable seats softer than in many entry-level cars, and, by virtue of tall body, mounted slightly higher, too, for good view of the road. Driver positioning aided by standard height-adjustable seat, tilt wheel. Good head room, but tall folks might want more leg space. Visibility to rear corners hindered by thick roof pillars in sedan; hatchback's pillars are thinner.

Room/Comfort (rear)

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
3	3	3.9

Good head room. Leg room tight with front seats more than halfway back. Seat rather flat, but high mounting means adults don't sit knees-up.

Cargo Room

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
2	6	3.9

Hatchback has room for just a row of grocery bags with rear seatbacks in place. Seatbacks fold without removing headrests, and seats flip forward to create fairly flat load floor. Sedan trunk volume par for class, though lid hinges dip into load area. Sedan's rear headrests must be removed to fold seatbacks. Interior storage meager, but aided by small bins in console and dash.

Value within Class

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
3	3	5.6

The surprisingly refined and likable Aveo stacks up well against other budget-priced cars, such as the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio. An unproven track record is a minus. And shoppers considering any of these are advised to check out larger, more-established rivals, if budget permits.

Total Score

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
41	43	48.4

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		34
Average Score		48
High Score		64