2005 Chevrolet Aveo SVM (Special Value Model) review from North America

Nothing.

The Aveo is a very deceiving car. It looks tiny (by American standards) on the outside, but then you get in and it feels like an SUV. The "stadium seating" in the back is an added bonus. The quality of materials is extremely high given this is an entry level car.

The feature list is truly incredible. My car had zero options yet came with tilt steering, dual remote mirrors, rear wiper, cargo cover (I have the hatchback), power brakes/steering, five speed, tachometer, am/fm radio, 185 Kumho tires, and much more. These are things that weren't even options on entry level Hondas and Toyotas before.

Driving is another revelation. The car is somewhat bumpy around town. But once you get on the highway it zips like mad and will cruise at 85 mph all day. In fact, last week I was in the left lane doing 80 and ahead of me was another Aveo from the same dealership doing 80!

The suspension and tires are set for "comfort" but I have yet to squeal the tires while going around corners. It is a very mature car compared to entry level cars I have owned before (Festiva, Tercel). And it is utterly predictable, so there are no surprises when I have to make an unexpected avoidance maneuver (usually some idiot SUV crossing four lanes without a signal).

The shifter is probably the biggest letdown, and it makes the car seem slow until you look at your speedometer and realize you are going over the speed limit. I really wish it was as crisp as my old Hondas or even my Festiva.

The best part? Americans hate small cars, so I was able to get my $10K Aveo for $6995! For that price, there is simply nothing that can touch this car, not even the other Korean competition (the Aveo is built in Korea by Daewoo, now owned by Chevy). I tell my friends what I paid and they think that was the down payment, not the full price for a new car. Of course, my car doesn't come with air conditioning, which would have raised the price another $2,000 (you have to get an upgrade model with more features).

That said, the dealer experience was brilliant. I would never buy an American car (made in America/Mexico/Canada) after my friend's horrible Focus experience (20 recalls), but my Chevy dealer treated me as if I was buying a Corvette. Good to see some American dealers are decent even if their cars aren't.

I know most people in my area probably laugh at someone driving an Aveo. That is until I pass them.