Acceleration is fairly brisk during takeoffs at around-town speeds. No Aveo has enough power for swift highway passing or short freeway on-ramps, but the car feels slightly quicker with a manual transmission. The manual's shifter is rubbery in action, and clutch action is very light. Automatic often hesitates to kick down for passing. The engine is quite smooth--better than many in its price class--and an Aveo cruises easily at 70 mph. Though reasonably easy on gas, EPA ratings aren't too impressive for such a small car, affirmed by real-world testing. An LS hatchback with automatic averaged 29.9 mpg in a nearly-even mix of city and highway driving. A manual-shift sedan averaged 29.3 mpg in mostly city driving. Based on those ratings, we'd expect averages in the mid- to high-20 mpg range with either transmission. On most bumps, the Aveo's suspension is impressively absorbent for a small car, with minor bobbing and pitching over irregular pavement. Petite size, responsive steering and a tight turning circle ensure nimble low-speed maneuvers. Body lean and noseplow increase rapidly as cornering speed rises. Good stopping power is evident with ABS, but the brake pedal on one Aveo suffered long, mushy travel. Engine, road, and wind noise is fairly well muffled--better than many in the class. Unlike many small, light cars, the Aveo copes rather well over smaller bumps. Only large, sharp bumps trigger pounding through the Aveo's suspension and body structure. Gauges are easy to read. The radio is mounted mid-dash and easily reachable, but tiny buttons and knobs are difficult to manipulate while driving. Small climate controls sit too low and far from the driver, demanding a long look away from the road. Markings on both are clear. Budget-grade plastics dominate the decor, which is hardly a surprise in this price league. Comfortable front seats are softer than in many entry-level cars. A tall body means passengers sit higher than in most small cars for a good view of the road; positioning is aided by standard height-adjustable driver's seat and tilt steering wheel. Head room is good, but tall folks might want more leg space. Visibility to rear corners is hindered by thick roof pillars in sedans; the hatchback's pillars are thinner. Rear head room also is good, but leg space is tight with front seats more than halfway back. The back seat is too soft for best comfort and rather flat, but high mounting means adults don't have to sit knees-up. In the hatchback, rear seatbacks fold without removing headrests, and seats flip forward to create a fairly flat load floor. But there's room for only a row of grocery bags. Sedan headrests must be removed to fold the seatbacks, which sit above the level of the trunk floor. Trunk hinges dip into the load area, but volume is on par for this class. Interior storage is meager, but aided by small bins in the console and dashboard.

Value for the Money
Surprisingly refined and likable, Aveo stacks up well against other budget-priced cars, such as the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio. Still, an unproven track record is a minus. Shoppers considering any of these models would be well advised to look at larger, more-established rivals if their budget permits. Recent Accents and Rios have curtain-type side airbags.