2006 Chevrolet Aveo: America's Price Leader
The only thing American about the compact Aveo automobile is
it's Chevrolet name. Built in Korea [or in China] by GM Daewoo,
the Aveo is America's price champion coming in at just under ten
thousand dollars. That's right; you can still purchase a new car
in the USA for under ten thousand dollars excluding taxes,
dealer prep, and destination charges. Let's take a closer look
at Chevy's bargain basement people hauler.
Available as either a four door sedan or as a five door
hatchback, the Chevrolet Aveo fills an important niche in the
Chevy line up as an entry level econocar. Priced nearly five
thousand dollars less than Chevy's next most expensive model,
the Cobalt, the Aveo allows for Chevrolet to contend for a piece
of the youth market. The Aveo is expressly targeted to compete
against similar models from Scion, Kia, Hyundai, and Toyota.
So, exactly what do consumers get for their money, particularly
with a base model? For starters, the Aveo comes with tires, a
steering wheel, bumpers, and safety glass. Seriously, standard
equipment for the Aveo is a 1.6L I4 engine paired with a 5 speed
manny tranny. Air conditioning will cost you extra, but the base
equipment list does include an AM/FM radio, rear wiper, a cargo
cover, and side impact air bags for the driver and front seat
passenger. Option packages include better sound, air, an
automatic transmission, and a host of other accessories.
With a 97 inch wheelbase and a curb weight of nearly 2350
pounds, the Aveo certainly is a contender in the lightweight
category. Headroom of nearly 40 inches allows taller drivers
easier access, but one can only wonder if anyone would find the
Aveo all that comfortable to begin with based on the car's size
and the quality of the seating?
GM Daewoo [50.1% owned by General Motors] recently released a
new version of the Aveo [called the Gentra in Korea] that
currently is only available in Asia. The new Gentra/Aveo
incorporates a rounder exterior departing from the dated wedged
shape of the current Aveo. No official word as of this writing
if and when the new model will make its American debut.
While the Aveo is certain not to win many awards, it does
provide for consumers possessing limited means an affordable
mode of transportation. For Chevrolet, who was lacking a basic
home grown model, the Aveo brings in buyers who might have
otherwise bypassed Chevy dealers and headed directly to Scion or
Kia for their first car. Beyond that the Aveo is a truly
forgettable car and first time buyers may want to consider a
good used car instead.