Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 LS 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The interior of the cabin hints at ideas taken from other Chevrolet models. The seat trim uses quality fabric and the remaining interior trim has stylish look to it giving a quality feel throughout the cabin. Seats are supportive and there’s plenty of headroom and four adults can be accommodated comfortably. In the rear it’s even possible to get three people – if they’re not too tall. The steering wheel adjusts for both height and reach and it’s not difficult to find a good driving position, although front visibility isn’t always the best due to the front pillars which, depending on your driving position, can sometimes obscure the view of what’s around a corner.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine performs competently but has to be coaxed hard for overtaking. This engine is most at home in busy town traffic and city streets, accelerating impressively from 0-30mph with ease. Delivering 85bhp and 84lb-ft of torque, this 4-cylinder, 16-valve unit gets the Aveo 1.2 LS from 0-62mph in 12.8seconds and on to a top speed of 106mph. The 1.2-litre option has proved to be the most popular option and really there’s not much benefit to be had by opting for the bigger engine as the performance is only slightly better.

The Aveo is not for drivers looking for an exhilarating experience behind the wheel, but as a car to get you from place to place in comfort and without drama – it excels. Some body roll is evident when cornering but it has plenty of grip and always feels sure-footed. Even when cruising at motorway speed the Aveo is refined and hushed, with only a little wind noise around the front pillars.

The Aveo certainly looks bang up-to-date with its edgy, angular looks giving it real presence on the road and a distinctive look when side by side with some of its rivals.

It’s equipped pretty much as you’d expect for a car in the super-mini class. Standard kit includes central locking, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, an immobiliser and CD+MP3 connectivity. If you’d like it in metallic paint, then it set you back another £375.

Upgrading to LT trim gets you a trip computer and more stylish exterior trim and alloy wheels. The LTZ option adds 17-inch alloy wheels and fog lights upfront.

Quite a bit of thought has gone into the Aveo’s interior in terms of its practicality. It’s spacious and comfortable. Boot space is a decent 220 litres with the seats in place and 980 litres with them folded, which is equal to its main competitors. A storage area under the floor and load securing hooks add nice practical touches.

Euro NCAP gave the Aveo an overall rating of 5 for safety in their crash tests. Standard safety equipment includes airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes.

The Aveo is quite sturdy and well built so you shouldn’t expect any big problems with reliability. The components it uses are well tried and tested, and problems are rare. It comes with Chevrolet’s 5-year (100,000 mile) warranty as standard.

With a price tag of £10,475 it’s a serious option against the likes of the Citroen C3 or Skoda Fabia as it comes better equipped. It offers fuss-free driving with impressive fuel economy of 51.3mpg and CO2 emissions 130g/km for its class, which put it in VED band D for Road Tax. Insurance is rated as group 15, and Chevrolet offer free servicing, roadside assistance and MoT testing as an option, which helps make running cost predictable and low.

Residual values for the Aveo aren’t really any better or worse than its rivals in the same class. Still not as common in the UK as some of its rivals; it is gaining popularity quickly. The demand for the Aveo as a used buy is likely to be healthy due to its 5-year warranty, excellent economy and practicality.