2004 Chevrolet Aveo 5-Door Road Test

The No-Nothing Hatchback

Whats wrong with the word "hatchback"? Apparently theres enough of a negative stigma associated with the designation to make most car manufacturers marketing departments dub their "5-door liftbacks" everything but. Suzuki has the Areo Fastback, Mazda the Mazda3 5-Door and Chevrolet the Aveo 5-Door. Why not keep it simple and call it a hatchback? After all, no matter how you word it a hatchback is still a hatchback.

The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo has evolved into the Aveo 5-Door since the last time I test drove it in September. Why? Because Chevrolet now offers both four-door and five-door versions. Is there any difference between the two models other than the name, as well as the obvious fact that one has a trunk and the other a hatch? Not

No matter what the marketing department calls it, a hatchback is still a hatchback; and theres nothing wrong with that. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

particularly. This time, however, my test car came with nothing inside, literally.

I called the Aveo 5-Door my "no nothing" car. It did not come with power door locks or windows, keyless remote entry, CD player (let alone a tape player), sunroof; no nothing for $11,785. While I thought it was sparsely equipped, as it turns out Chevy offers an even more base version dubbed the SVM (Special Value Model) for $9,995. I guess I was living large after

My test Aveo 5-Door came with nothing inside, literally. Needless to say the car I had was the $11,785 base model. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

all?

As a comparison, Hyundai offers its slightly less functional Accent 3-door to buyers with even less income for $9,999 while Kias Rio Cinco is pretty well loaded with accessories and an even more spacious interior for $11,365.

So what does the base Aveo 5-Door come with? Well, it has a lightning quick (not) 1.6-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine, four beefy P185/60R14 all season tires and some saucy 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. It also comes with air conditioning, fog lamps (Id rather trade the fog lamps

The base Aveo 5-Door comes equipped with a 1.6-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

in for a CD player mind you), driver and passenger airbags, rear window wiper with washer and front reclining full cloth bucket seats. A heavy duty exhaust system is also standard, which must be for anti-corrosion rather than for increasing exhaust flow being that the engine only produces 103 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 107 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, but heavy duty it is. Also on the list is a power steering rack, appreciated in tight parking lots. The standard 4-speaker AM/FM stereo system was sufficient, but Id opt for the optional CD player or maybe even spring for the combined CD/MP3 player. I was at least much more on-top of current weather and traffic conditions than usual, so how can I complain?

The

The 5-door provides comfortable seating for both front and rear passengers. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

seats in the front are comfortable and the seats in the rear are quite roomy. I was, once again, babysitting that week so kids were in and out of my car. They enjoyed the back seats because they are comfortable and spacious, however the lack of an air conditioner made for occasional grumbles.

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