2005 Chevrolet Aveo LS

Summary:

Good looking, but too many problems!!!

Faults:

We bought this car brand new after looking at a Scion xA. Then we test drove the Aveo and loved it! Looks, styling, driving, comfort, versatility were excellent! The car has been in the shop no less than 6 times for various problems, one of which is NOT STARTING after it sits idle for a couple of days. It's obviously a fuel problem, but the service department hasn't been able to duplicate the problem. LEMON??? Maybe!!! Still LIKE the car, but I'm considering trading it at a loss on a Honda FIT Sport! Regardless of how well some folks cars have done, I'm beginning to think that's the exception to the rule!! Maybe I'll get out before the problem gets worse!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 3rd July, 2006

19th Sep 2006, 07:08

I bought a 2005, used Chevy Aveo this past July and have had it in the shop three times for the same problem. The key won't come out of the ignition and the shift is stuck in park. Like you, I love the car; looks, handling, comfort, gas mileage, etc. It's in the shop now and they are replacing the whole shift system. We'll see what happens.

2005 Chevrolet Aveo LT

Summary:

Great little car other than a major fuel economy defect

Faults:

Only gets 16-18 mpg and computer reprogramming failed to fix problem.

Rear windshield washer never has worked, despite dealer's claim to have fixed it.

General Comments:

I got a spicy orange 5-door Aveo with a spoiler and sunroof. Feel sporty and way cuter than my old car. Interior is roomy and high quality compared to similar-priced cars.

Unfortunately, I bought this car for gas mileage, and have been severely disappointed. I know other people have had good luck, but some have had problems. My dealer just said that it will be low for the first 6,000 miles, but 16 mpg is like an SUV! The dealer checked it and said there was some recall, but the changes to the computer did not help the situation.

I hear the 2006's have side air bags and cruise control... I wish I'd waited, but my old car had broken down.

The car is great in the city because it's so narrow. I park in an alley and I don't even hit any of the bushes anymore! I can parallel park and maneuver through traffic more easily. Large cars pulling up so close on your rear end takes some getting used to.

The seats don't have armrests or much support, so I am wary of going fast on curvy roads. I feel like the car is about to roll over, but I think it's really just that my tush is tilting in the seat so much.

I will love the car if I ever get this gas mileage defect straightened out. I'm not so pleased with my dealer service. I sometimes wish I'd gotten a Saturn Ion instead (for reputation and those dent-resistant side panels), but the Aveo looks cuter.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th March, 2006

5th Mar 2006, 17:20

For anyone looking at the Aveo, I suggest looking at the Scion xA or the Toyota Yaris. Both of these cars are reliable and will be worth something in a few years.

6th Mar 2006, 08:11

There is something wrong with your car if you only get 16 mpg. I have a 2006 Aveo w/Automatic and consisitently get 35-40 mpg. My car has over 9000 miles on it and has been problem free.

Sure, you can get a Toyota or Honda if you want to pay at least twice as much - but this I a great car for the money.

2005 Chevrolet Aveo SVM 1.6

Summary:

Good buy, fun to drive

Faults:

Nothing yet, but I've only had it for 500 miles.

General Comments:

I had been looking at used Hondas and Nissans from the late 90's for $6,000 or $7,000, until my dad bought a new Impala and noticed an Aveo sedan in the cutest turquoise color sitting out front. He brought me to the dealership to look at it and I was surprised by the cute exterior (I had never seen the sedan, only the hatchback) and the roomy interior. After doing some research online and taking it for a test drive, I decided I was in love with it and bought it right then and there. The salesman was incredibly nice and let us take as much time as we needed to pour over the different models and options available, without trying to pressure us into anything. In fact, it's hard not to recommend the dealership here!

At a little less than $10,000 off the lot (tag price was $8,700), the Aveo is a great buy and affordable even for a teenager buying their first car.

The manual transmission is easy to handle and peppy for the most part. The clutch is a little gummy, and you really can't feel it "catch" like you can with the older cars I was used to driving. It's not a car that's going to beat anyone off the line. It really pulls in third, although the passing power in fifth leaves something to be desired. It doesn't do too well on hills, either. You have to continuously downshift to get up steep ones, and have a lot of patience if you're trying from a dead stop. Other than that, it's actually really fun to drive in the city, and you can coax a fair bit of speed out of it when you want to.

It does a little shimmy around 55 but that straightens out right away once you get up into the 60's. Like other reviewers have pointed out, the acceleration isn't very crisp, and you have to trust that you're going 75 when the speedometer says you are, because it really doesn't feel like it.

It's not particularly a fun car to drive on the highway, in my opinion. It's a totally different "feel" from the low slung, comparably heavy Subaru Outback I've been driving. It gets blown around a lot by the wind (it's a relatively high car on a narrow wheel base). The lack of passing power makes it sort of scary when you really have to get by something. Like my mom said, it's like riding in a grocery cart at high speeds (hehe).

It blocks out the exterior noise great and the radio isn't bad for a stock sound system on such a cheap car. The only problem is the lack of even a cassette player on the special value model, but that's easily remedied. The interior is impressively sized and looks "nice." I've gotten quite a few compliments on the interior- I love how everything is round, it's so unique! It's so roomy, too; everyone from the shortest (me) to the tallest fit comfortably in the front seat. Back seat leg room depends on how the front seats are adjusted. The trunk is huge! Also, the special value model comes standard with a sunglasses case on the driver's side.

The exterior is really sleek and fun. Everyone who's seen it has commented on how cute it is. I got the limited run turquoise color, so it really stands out on the road. The driver's side door makes a sort of disturbing hollow sound when you slam it, though.

All in all, I'm still very satisfied with it. It's got fairly good gas mileage, though I'm sure they could have squeezed a little more out of every gallon. It's cute and unique and a fun drive on city streets. It's a good car for teenagers, and a maneuverable, predictable, sporty little city car that won't put too much of a hole in your pocketbook.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th September, 2005

1st Nov 2005, 06:31

Take the car back to the dealer and have them check for tire balancing. My 05 Montana was doing the exact same thing, and then they balanced the tires, and that took care of it. This will be included in your new vehicle warranty! Good luck!!