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| The new Aveo Sedan should ensure that Toyota and other car makers don't walk away with the subcompact segment. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
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| Sophisticated. Classy. Stylish. These are words normally not associated with the old Aveo's exterior. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Chevy Revises Aveo Sedan with Premium-Inspired Exterior and Interior
After two and a half successful years of providing over 140 different countries with the efficient subcompact Aveo, General Motors, in collaboration with its Korean GMDAT arm, have unveiled a facelifted version for the new year. The spiritual successor to the Suzuki-designed Metro, Sprint, Firefly and Swift, was shown in a new, vastly improved form at this year's Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, giving the world a high-value car in the face of steadily increasing oil prices and high operating expenses.
Originally designed by ItalDesign, the Aveo's first update comes from Chevrolet's in-house stylists, who've freshened the subcompact to better suit Chevrolet's brand image. The new car features a refined look that sports a bigger, chunkier chrome-plated grille with the prominent golden bow-tie logo front and centre. The new car also sports a new V-shaped hood, with wider, brighter clear-lensed headlamps, new bumpers with available foglamps.
"Customers will recognize the Aveo sedan as a 'smart buy' that delivers on Chevy's Total Value Promise," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "With its good looks, enjoyable driving experience and 'big car' personality, it is a great addition to Chevy's new lineup of small vehicles."
The visual update to Chevrolet's tall-bodied city car also includes a new character line that stretches from the nose to tail along its sides, as well as more pronounced fender flares. At back, the tail features new triangular-shaped lamps with clear-lenses. Impressively, these changes give the Aveo Sedan a distinctively European look, which may appeal to those who find the Yaris and other Asian subcompacts too organic looking. Despite its more complex and ritzy looking exterior, extensive wind tunnel testing has dropped the car's coefficient of drag from 0.35 to 0.33 cd.
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| Wow! The new Aveo is sure to surprise with is completely re-worked, upscale-looking interior. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
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| The new, optional 6-disc CD player also offers a plug-in jack for iPods and other MP3 players. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
The new Aveo also has a completely redesigned interior. It's impressive how Chevrolet was able to turn the cabin around from being cheap, and poorly built to one that's visibly appealing. The new dashboard features round air vents, a dash-top clock, rubberized plastics, and a new centre console with revised HVAC controls and a flush head unit for the stereo system. Depending on trim level, buyers can brighten the Aveo's interior with faux aluminum, wood, or carbon fiber accents.
At the same time, Chevrolet is trying to push the Aveo upscale from a position likened to being at the bottom of the food chain, by plumping up its equipment list. Available in base LS and upscale LT trims, Chevrolet's smallest car can be optioned out with big-car features like leatherette seating surfaces, a six-disc CD stereo system with MP3 jack, power glass sunroof, remote keyless entry, and a multi-function steering wheel with cruise control. This is in addition to the basics, like power windows, six-way adjustable seats, power mirrors and keyless entry.
"Customers will also be pleased with unexpected features, such as a standard radio input jack for iPods and an array of options, ranging from a power sunroof and six-CD changer sound system, to steering-wheel mounted audio and cruise controls," added Peper.
The Aveo's safety equipment list is also quite long. Dual two-stage front airbags are standard, and like the Hyundai Accent side airbags are also included in base fare. The Chevy also joins the Accent in offering four-channel ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution as an option, although the Accent offers optional rear discs. The Aveo list goes on to include LATCH child-seat attachment, front seatbelt pretensioners and a five-star NHTSA safety rating - something that you won't find on very many spec lists.
