Acceleration

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
3	2	4.1

Fairly brisk on takeoff and around town. Feels slightly quicker with manual transmission, but no Aveo has enough power for swift highway passing or short freeway on-ramps. Easy 70-mph cruising, though. Manual has rubbery shift action. Automatic often hesitates to kick down for passing. Engine smoother than most in this price range.

Fuel Economy

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
8	7	6.7

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

Ride Quality

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.6

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

Steering/Handling/Braking

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.4

Petite size, responsive steering make for nimble low-speed moves. Body lean, noseplow increase rapidly with cornering speed. 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

All noise sources muffled fairly well, better than in many rivals. Unlike many small, light cars, only large, sharp bumps trigger pounding through Aveo's suspension, body structure.

Controls

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.5

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

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

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

Comfortable seats are softer than in many entry-level cars. Tall body allows seats to be set slightly higher, so drivers have good view of 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	3.6

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 behind rear seatbacks. But those fold without removing headrests, and seats flip forward to make a fairly flat load floor. Sedan's 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, with small bins in console and dash.

Value within Class

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
4	5	5.8

Chevrolet imports Aveo from its South Korean Daewoo subsidiary, and the car hasn't established a track record for reliability in the United States. We recommend that anyone shopping for a vehicle of this size consider a larger car from a more-established source. Given that, the likable Aveo is surprisingly refined for its price, and stacks up well against such budget rivals as the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio.

Total Score

LS sdn, man.	LS hatch, auto.	Class Average
42	45	48.6

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		34
Average Score		48
High Score		63