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2007 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan LT Road Test

Extreme Makeover Challenge: Subcompact Car Edition

At any given time, on any given day, turning on the television will lead to a bombardment of reality television shows; from What Not to Wear to Extreme Makeover. Nothing, it seems, is out of bounds for these producers, who view almost everyone to everything in need of some sort of improvement. Hot topics include redesigning people, their wardrobes, and their houses, and believe it or not there are even a few shows on the subject of cars. I cant help but think that Chevrolet has pulled a corporate version of cable televisions new darling with their latest car, the new 2007 Aveo Sedan. Think of it as the winning contestant on Extreme Makeover Challenge: Subcompact Economy Car Edition.

The new Aveo isnt cute and cuddly in the same way that the new Yaris or Fit is, and its not as sleek as the new Accent 3-door hatchback, but its a charming looking machine, in a chunky, handsome sort of way. The original Aveo was styled by ItalDesign, Giorgetto Giugiaros design studio. These men and women understand a thing or two about the fashion

Aveos position on the subcompact totem pole couldve been better, so theyve gone and raised it by giving it a new exterior and interior. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

of compact and subcompact cars; after all, Giugiaro himself was the man behind the Volkswagen Rabbit and the ever-fashionable Fiat Panda. While his signature probably wasnt on the bottom of the original sketches of this latest creation, hes taught his apprentices a thing or two, and theyve done well on the Aveo. For instance, its a fairly tall vehicle, but it doesnt look it. Its sides are hardly what you could call slab, aided by balanced proportions. Subcompact cars generally dont transform very well from hatchback to sedan, but the new Aveo looks more sorted, and its trunk doesnt seem tacked on as an afterthought.

The Aveo hatch always looked good in bright, cheerful metallic shades which hid its slightly

Smatterings of chrome, and jeweled tail lights give the Aveo a decidedly upscale look (and we mean it). (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

more rolly-poly shape, but the new sedan looks a class above the subcompact, and a whole lot less generic. A lot of this has to do with the details, or, since were on a fashion stream, accessories. Theres plenty of chrome on the new, extra chunky grille, and the new single-unit, wide-eyed headlamps replace the smaller, squintier lights. The tail end has also been treated to a re-working, with (an optional) decklid spoiler, new, triangular-shaped clear-lens tail lamps in mirror-finish housings linked together by a strip of chrome, which mimics the more costly Malibu and Impala sedans. These changes really help to wholly integrate the Korean built and designed Aveo into the American lineup. With the exterior updates come new front and rear bumpers, but no wheel arch reduction, which, combined with a sizeable wheel gap, visually

Extension of the rear overhang means trunk can now swallow 12.4 cu-ft. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

transforms even the optional 15-inch wheels into shopping cart castors.

In the process of updating, the Aveo Sedan actually grew in size a bit. The Sedan is now 76 mm (3.0 in) longer, and 40 mm (1.6 in) wider than the current sedan, though the 2765 mm (97.3-in) wheelbase remains the same. Much of the extra length has been added to the rear overhang which gives the Aveo Sedan a larger trunk. The new 2007 now has 350 L (12.4 cu-ft) over last years 328 L (11.6 cu-ft) hold, which can be further expanded by folding down the split rear seatbacks. Thats just one litre (0.04 cu-ft) off the Accent Sedan trunk, and 15 litres (0.5 cu-ft) off the class-leading Yaris Sedan. The gain in width also permitted an increase in the size of the front and rear tracks; they now measure in at 1,450 mm (57.1 in) up front, and 1,430 mm (56.3 in) in back, both of which are wider than the pre-facelift models uniform 1,410 mm (55.5-in) tracks.

Sold in over 120 different countries, the Aveo Sedan is GMDATs best selling product. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

These gains should help improve two areas of criticism on the previous Aveo: stability at higher speeds and roadholding during cornering, especially in the wet.
Why a sedan instead of a hatchback? Though it may be true that the Aveo hatchback out-sells the current Aveo sedan in Canada, and is the only bodystyle thats sold in Europe, a market that Chevrolet is trying to jump-start, the sales figures in these two areas of the world are small in proportion to those of the United States, South America and Asia (in specific, China, Korea and India). These markets much prefer the sedan bodystyle, with a practical trunk, to the smaller, budget-look hatchback, and, granted that the Aveo Sedan is a massive seller in China, its a case of strength in numbers. In fact, after the introduction of the Aveos Korean domestic equivalent, the Daewoo Gentra, it was first sold in China as the Chevrolet Lova. And, if youre curious about the other names that the Aveo Sedan is sold under, if you

Wow! This new interior is really quite impressive. An easy candidate for "most improved". (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

go to Mexico, its called the Pontiac G3, in Canada, the Pontiac Wave, and in Australia, the Holden Barina TK.

However good the Aveo may look from the outside, styling isnt its strongest card; no, its best inside, where GMDAT most likely spent a good chunk of the development money. I came to the 07 Aveo Sedan out of a Pontiac Wave5, thinking that the two would be similar; contemporary looking and very roomy but built of recycle-bin grade materials with fit and finish to match. In fact, if you open the door with this preconceived expectation, youd better be prepared to be delighted because its nothing at all like the current hatchback. Every single major panel has been redesigned, modeled after high-end cars instead of its current crop of competitors. The dashboard slopes towards the driver, instead of dropping off close to the windshields base, and the centre console is better integrated into the design. The storage trays and controls for things like the instrument panel dimmer and power mirrors have been positioned with logic and intent, rather than

New dash, vents, HVAC controls and stereo too. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the pin the tail on the donkey fashion of its predecessor.

Styling only counts for about a quarter of its attributes, because the really impressive thing is how it feels. Aside from having an attractive, two-toned dash, the material used has a low sheen, and instead of the typical crinkle grain it features small dimples. Trim choices includes matte chrome, a brushed metal-look surface and woodgrain accents (not real, of course), while the seats are clothed in better quality fabric; plus the option of perforated leatherette which lifts the Aveos image to levels far above proletariat transportation. The HVAC controls are also less generic; they fit in with the rest of the General Motors line, outlined by slim rings of chrome. Likewise, the stereo unit has the same centre knob (also lined in chrome) as you might find in the Chevrolet Impala, although the system features a completely unique layout. Also new are the round porthole vents, which twist with a dampened friction, plus the door handles, indicator stalks and other buttons dont feel as if theyre going to break easily, therefore encouraging use.

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