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2008 Chevrolet Aveo Performance Review

November 4, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 4 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

as entertaining as televised ice fishing
Car and Driver

lacks both power and fuel efficiency
Edmunds

zippy
Kelley Blue Book

better than a Yugo
USAToday

All 2008 Chevrolet Aveo models have a 103-hp, 1.6-liter engine that, from inside the cabin, is remarkably refined, but performance is barely adequate with the five-speed manual and sluggish with the four-speed automatic carrying anything but a light load and on level roads.

All but one of the sources consulted by experts at TheCarConnection.com have come to the same conclusion: the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo is no Audi--and it's not even a '60s-vintage VW bug in terms of performance. The exception was Kelley Blue Book, referring to the "surprising capabilities of the [Chevrolet] Aveo LT's zippy little 103-hp engine." The reviewer didn’t elaborate upon them or specify what exactly those "capabilities" are.

USAToday uses faint praise to damn this subcompact Chevrolet; 2008’s Aveo is compared to the long-gone Yugo, while calling the Aveo "barely adequate for surviving cutthroat driving common in modern 'burbs." They do acknowledge that the manual transmission does permit one to keep rolling in this miniature machine and even "stir...up a little fun in the process," noting that "it's a lot more satisfying to drive an underpowered car hard than it is to drive a powerful car gingerly." The Detroit News called its four-speed automatic “ancient.”

The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo doesn't handle particularly well either; it's not confidence-inspiring in tight corners, possibly due to pronounced body lean.
“The Aveo's responses are competent, albeit with demerits for underassisted steering and long braking distances,” Car and Driver reports. “Its ride quality is acceptable.”

Motor Week tested the brakes on this Chevrolet; 2008 Aveos take 139 feet to come to a complete stop from 60 mph with the stock vented front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. This source recommends that prospective buyers order the anti-lock braking option.

Car and Driver is another source that doesn't exactly heap praise on this particular Chevrolet; 2008 versions are better than previous Aveos, but people demand more today. "The threshold of acceptability for basic is a lot higher than it's ever been," they add. Car and Driver also remarks on the Aveo’s “decent fuel economy — 26 mpg city, 34 highway for this automatic-equipped model,” but observed only “24 mpg.” The Detroit News echoes that, reporting the Aveo’s “gas mileage is only average.”

Conclusion

The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo doesn’t perform well, even in fuel economy, where it should excel.

PERFORMANCE | 4 out of 10Expert Quotes:as entertaining as televised ice fishingCar and Driverlacks both power and fuel efficiencyEdmundszippyKelley Blue Bookbetter than a YugoUSAToday All 2008 Chevrolet Aveo models have a 103-hp, 1.6-liter engine that, from inside the cabin, is remarkably refined, but performance is barely adequate with the five-speed manual and sluggish with the four-speed automatic carrying anything but a light load and on level roads. All but one of the sources consulted by experts at TheCarConnection.com have come to the same conclusion: the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo is no Audi--and it's not even a '60s-vintage VW bug in terms of performance. The exception was Kelley Blue Book, referring to the "surprising capabilities of the [Chevrolet] Aveo LT's zippy little 103-hp engine." The reviewer didn’t elaborate upon them or specify what exactly those "capabilities" are. USAToday uses faint praise to damn this subcompact Chevrolet; 2008’s Aveo is compared to the long-gone Yugo, while calling the Aveo "barely adequate for surviving cutthroat driving common in modern 'burbs." They do acknowledge that the manual transmission does permit one to keep rolling in this miniature machine and even "stir...up a little fun in the process," noting that "it's a lot more satisfying to drive an underpowered car hard than it is to drive a powerful car gingerly." The Detroit News called its four-speed automatic “ancient.” The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo doesn't handle particularly well either; it's not confidence-inspiring in tight corners, possibly due to pronounced body lean. “The Aveo's responses are competent, albeit with demerits for underassisted steering and long braking distances,” Car and Driver reports. “Its ride quality is acceptable.” Motor Week tested the brakes on this Chevrolet; 2008 Aveos take 139 feet to come to a complete stop from 60 mph with the stock vented front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. This source recommends that prospective buyers order the anti-lock braking option. Car and Driver is another source that doesn't exactly heap praise on this particular Chevrolet; 2008 versions are better than previous Aveos, but people demand more today. "The threshold of acceptability for basic is a lot higher than it's ever been," they add. Car and Driver also remarks on the Aveo’s “decent fuel economy — 26 mpg city, 34 highway for this automatic-equipped model,” but observed only “24 mpg.” The Detroit News echoes that, reporting the Aveo’s “gas mileage is only average.” ConclusionThe 2008 Chevrolet Aveo doesn’t perform well, even in fuel economy, where it should excel. 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO STYLING | [6 out of 10] Cars.com: "clean, reasonably fresh...but not as distinctive as before" Edmunds: "dowdy styling" Jalopnik: "short on style" Motor Week: "look[s] far more substantial and upscale than one might expect" The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo elicits mixed ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Priced at less than $11,000, including destination, for the SVM hatchback model, the Aveo5 is one of the cheapest vehicles available in the U.S., although base models of the Rio, Accent, and Yaris are in the same price range. The Rio and Accent, which are mechanically related to each other don't feel quite as roomy, are much more fun to drive than the Aveo, although they have a bit more engine noise from inside the cabin. The Fit and Yaris feel peppy, light, and nimble on the road, though both can also be noisy inside. The Yaris hatchback is quite tight on passenger space, while the Fit is cavernous and has an innovative Magic Seat arrangement, along with best-in-class safety. Of them all, the Versa drives most like a larger vehicle, in a positive sense, with a smooth, settled ride on the highway, as well as a roomy interior. Nearly all of these vehicles get better fuel economy than the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo.

Next Steps:

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See the Chevrolet Aveo in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

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