2008 Chevrolet Aveo - Styling Review

See more photos

Shopping for a new Chevrolet Aveo?

SEE LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS

The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo elicits mixed responses from reviewers. Some like it, while others dislike it, but there's no real love or hatred regarding its exterior and interior styling.

There are two different styles available with this Chevrolet; 2008 Aveo sedans are newer and distinct from the Aveo5 hatchback, which follows a more dated design.

Cars.com, while acknowledging its "clean, reasonably fresh design," compares it to "a shrunken Malibu with Ford Fusion taillights." On the other hand, Jalopnik, calling the Chevrolet Aveo "short on style," states that "there's nothing wrong with the Aveo's exterior styling (but...nothing right about it either)." In their comparison to a refrigerator and a "late 90's snooze -- er, sedan," the folks at Jalopnik have consigned the little car that couldn't to the gray area of "ho-hum."

Detroit News also laments the failure to incite passion with this Chevrolet; 2008’s redesign has failed to create a machine that stands out from the subcompact crowd. The conclusion here: "If only it didn't look so generic." Motor Week is a bit kinder in its review, praising its unexpectedly "upscale" looks, but still acknowledging that it "is not as cute as rivals Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris." Conversely, the Detroit News calls it “cute and appealing.”

Inside, Cars.com notes that there’s an “open feel” to this Chevrolet; 2008 Aveos can be outfitted with “imitation leather seats, simulated wood trim and metallic accents, clearly an effort to move the Aveo upscale,” they add. “In many places, it succeeds.”

Experts at TheCarConnection.com note that the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo sedan actually bears more than a passing resemblance to its bigger brother, the Chevy Malibu--which, despite its somewhat generic appearance, gets much higher ratings on styling.