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2004 Chevrolet Aveo Full Review
Date Published: 3/06/08
2004 Chevrolet Aveo Review
This new entry-level model sticks a Chevrolet badge on a car designed by the now-bankrupt Daewoo Motor Company, Ltd. Aveo is built in South Korea by GM Daewoo Automotive Technologies, formed by General Motors after it bought parts of Daewoo.

Aveo comes as a 4-dr hatchback and slightly longer 4-dr sedan; both are among the smallest, least-expensive cars sold in the U.S. A 103-hp 4 cyl is the only engine. Manual transmission is standard, automatic is optional. SVM, base, and LS models are offered. All come with a tilt steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, and split folding rear seat. Optional ABS and standard air conditioning are exclusive to base and LS models. Power windows and locks and heated mirrors are LS exclusives. Side airbags are unavailable.
News
As a 2004 newcomer, Aveo should have no major near-term changes. Chevy wants to keep prices as low as possible on these new entry-level minicars. That implies no significant upgrades to standard equipment and few new options other than sound systems, wheels/tires, trim, and other easy-change items.
2004 Chevrolet Aveo Road Test
Pros Cons
Fuel economy Acceleration
Maneuverability Handling
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
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
2004 Chevrolet Aveo Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 06/22/2004
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
SVM 4-door hatchback $9,455 $8,935 $540
SVM 4-door sedan $9,455 $8,935 $540
Base 4-door hatchback $11,245 $10,514 $540
Base 4-door sedan $11,245 $10,514 $540
LS 4-door hatchback $12,140 $11,351 $540
LS 4-door sedan $12,140 $11,351 $540
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
SVM
Powertrain
1.6-liter dohc 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Dual front airbags, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunk release (sedan).
Comfort and Convenience Features
Power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, AM/FM radio, digital clock, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, cargo cover (hatchback), rear defogger, rear wiper/washer (hatchback).
Appearance and Miscellaneous
185/60R14 tires, wheel covers.
Base adds to SVM:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, interior air filter, floormats.
LS adds to Base:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player.
Optional Equipment
Powertrain
Retail Price
Invoice Price
4-speed automatic transmission
Base, LS
$850
$765
Safety
Antilock brakes
Base, LS
$400
$360
Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
LS
$725
$653
Remote keyless entry
Base
$350
$315
Includes power door locks.
AM/FM/CD/MP3 player
Base
$300
$270
Premium sound system
LS
$250
$225
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear spoiler
Base/LS hatchback
$225
$203
Engine mobilizer
Base, LS
$100
$90
Engine-block heater
Base, LS, SVM
$35
$32
Alloy wheels
LS
$375
$338
2004 Chevrolet Aveo Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
Specification Chevrolet Aveo 4-door hatchback Chevrolet Aveo 4-door sedan
Wheelbase, in. 97.6 97.6
Overall Length, in. 152.8 166.7
Overall Width, in. 65.8 65.7
Overall Height, in. 58.9 58.9
Curb Weight, lbs. 2348 2370
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 42.0 11.7
Standard Payload, lbs. -- --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 11.9 11.9
Seating Capacity 5 5
Front Head Room, in. 39.3 39.3
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 41.3 41.3
Rear Head Room, in. 37.6 37.6
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 35.4 35.4
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
  dohc I4
Size, liters/cu. in. 1.6 /98
Horsepower @ rpm. 103 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 107 @ 3600
Availability Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
 
5-speed manual 27/36
4-speed automatic 26/34
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Test Chevrolet Aveo 4-door hatchback Chevrolet Aveo 4-door sedan
Front Impact, Driver 5 5
Front Impact, Passenger 5 5
Rollover Resistance NA 4
Side Impact, Driver NA 3
Side Impact, Rear Passenger NA 3
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Class Years/Miles Comments
Powertrain 5/60,000 Aveo only.
Bumper-to-bumper 3/36,000 --
Corrosion 6/100,000 --
Free roadside assistance 3/36,000 --
Free scheduled maintenance None/-- --
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in: South Korea
Drivewheels: front-wheel drive
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