Excellent value for money

 

Exterior I'll try to provide a very unbiased review, bringing out detailed pros and cons. I bought the aveo this October, linen beige color. The exteriors are excellent, and the car looks awesome from outside and inside. The LT version comes with alloy wheels and rear spoiler which makes the car look classy. The boot space is excellent, with lights for night vision. However, the 2 rings which hold the boot open (inside) cut back on the boot space. The rod supporting the hood is located on the left, and is poorly thought of.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) The beige interiors and space are excellent, and it feels like sitting in a space shuttle. The plush leather seats are soft and easy on the body, and one can sink into them. The height adjustable driver seats and steering are very convenient. The leg room is ample, even with the front seats pushed back. However, the driver's leg room can get a little cramped for tall drivers. The chrome outlining speedometers and door handles make it look good. The internally adjustable OVRMs are also excellent

I have been driving a Hyundai Santro. I must say that from a drive comfort point of view, Hyundai has certain simple well thought of features which increases driving ease and comfort, which is absent in the Chevy, such as:-

a) Foot rest near the clutch, absent in Chevy.

b) Indicator lever is on the left of the steering instead of the right. As most of us drive with the right hand on the steering, keeping the indicator lever to the left is very irritating.

c) In the Chevy, one has to look for the 2 small horn buttons on the steering wheel, and locating it to honk is quite irritating. Whereas in the Santro, one just has to press anywhere on the steering wheel body to honk.

d) The glove compartment is pretty small compared to the car size, and one can hardly keep a few documents.

e) The dashboard is rounded , and hence once cannot even keep a tissue paper holder on it.

f) Small open compartments to the left and right bottom of the steering wheel to keep the phone/coins/parking tickets etc., which is absent in the Chevy.

g) The rear view mirror is quite small compared to the size of the vehicle.

The worst drawback is that the Aveo's beige dashboard reflects very badly on the front windscreen during daytime, which greatly deters visibility. Chevy should put anti reflect glass on its windscreen if it wishes to continue with beige interiors. The music system does not have USB compatibility, which is a basic feature on all modern decks. However, the sound quality and output are excellent.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The engine is noiseless and the gearbox is good although a little on the stiffer side. The reverse gear lever can get quite irritating at times. I understand that Chevy has designed the 'reverse first' as a safety concept, but I think it is not too practical as there is no '6th gear'. The lever up reverse takes time to get used to, and for close range parking, it can be quite dangerous. The fuel economy is good, giving 11 in the city.

 

Ride Quality & Handling The ride is silky smooth, a driver's pleasure. The handling is also excellent and the car can handle sharp turns comfortably, and the turning radius is low.  The pick up is a little suspect on the 2nd and 3rd gears, but after 60 kph, the drive is velvetty. The car can take 130 - 140 kmp without vibrations or shakes.

 

Final Words SC Auto, Thane gave a good discount and the Manager Shaji was a delight to interact with. Excellent value for money. If you are looking to buy this car, go for the fully loaded LT version instead of the LS version (and upgrading it). Excellent value for money for the features, looks, driving experience and space. I would recommend it over a fiesta or a linea from a VFM perspective.

 

Areas of improvement Definitely the windscreen and dashboard, which is presently a deadly combination. The drivers console needs tweaking to suit driving ease, such as foot rest, indicator lever change, compartments (glove and others). I think being American, its designed more for a left hand drive, and they've missed making certain modifications for right hand drive. Adding USB compatibility would be a simple addition to the music system, which can also be a selling point.

 

Excellent Value for Money, Luxurious Space, excellent features, super smooth driveReflection of dashboard on windscreen, reverse gear, driver conveniences