MPG-o-Matic Chevy Aveo5 Review Summary: The five-door 2009 Aveo5 and its four-door sedan sibling fill the entry-level slot in Chevy’s line up. With highway gas mileage in the mid-thirties, a comfortable interior, flexible cargo capacity, and low base model sticker price, the Aveo5 is worth a look.
The Chevrolet Aveo competes with the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Nissan Versa among others in the subcompact market. Available as both a sedan and five-door hatch dubbed the Aveo5, the South Korean-built Aveo defines the entry-level in Chevy’s line up.
Under the hood, all Aveos are fitted with a 1.6 liter DOHC 16-valve Ecotec four cylinder engine, producing 106 horsepower (HP) and 105 foot pounds of torque.
The official gas mileage estimates for the 2009 Aveo are 27/34 miles per gallon (MPG) with the 5-speed manual transmission and 25 city/34 highway with the optional 4-speed automatic transmission.
In hundreds of miles of driving, we were only able to squeak past the official estimates for our auto-equipped bright blue 2009 Aveo5, scoring an average of 35.5 MPG on the Interstate highway, with 29 MPG combined. Given the overall dimensions, we had expected more.
While 0-60 performance isn’t the Aveo’s strong suit, you can make do, perhaps more easily out in the country then in traffic.
The Aveo’s base sticker price of just over $12,000 is its shining attribute. Our Aveo5 test unit rolled in style with the top of the line 2LT package which, along with optional alloy rims, anti-lock brakes, automatic transmission, and leatherette seats, pushed the sticker price to nearly five thousand dollars above the least expensive LS base model.
We found the highly adjustable seats to be one of the best features in our test unit. Seat bottom height and lumbar support controls made for a comfortable commute.
The 2LT is the only Aveo to feature a Drivers Information Center display that provides average fuel economy and driving range functions. We were disappointed over the lack of a real-time fuel economy gauge and found the average fuel economy display to be somewhat laggy.
All of the Aveo audio systems provide an auxiliary input jack in the dash. The LT and 2LT have upgraded head units and steering wheel controls. There are two power outlets, one next to the hand brake and the other beneath the climate controls. 2LT amenities include power windows and locks, fog lamps, heated mirrors, 15-inch steel wheels (and covers) and lower profile tires.
The Aveo5’s 60/40 split flip and fold rear seat allows for a good bit of interior flexibility. With the rear seat folded, the Aveo5 provides 42 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
If we were considering an Aveo as a commuter car, the base model might just get the nod, as the price differential between models could buy a whole lot of aftermarket customization and personalization. Hands-free Bluetooth and a more beefy audio system would be at the top of our list. One downside to this approach is that air conditioning (A/C) is a dealer-installed option with the LS base model. (A/C is included with the LT and 2LT packages.)
– by Daniel Gray
I have a Chevy Aveo5 with automatic transmission and it only gets 17 miles per gallon. It’s a 2009 and I’ve had it around 4 months. Could the dealer fix this problem or am I just out of luck? Thanks, D
Took my Aveo hatchback 5 speed manual on vacation for three weeks and lowest tank was 35.1 mpg and best was 38.2. I bought it used at a great price right at the start of the vacation. Put over 3000 miles on it over the 3 weeks and got to drive it in all sorts of roads, highways, and conditions, through towns,etc. Absolutely love it!