Baby boom for new Chevy Aveo

If the price is right, the baby Chevy Aveo will be competitive at the budget end of the market, says motoring editor Peter Carroll.

If the price is right, the baby Chevy Aveo will be competitive at the budget end of the market, says motoring editor Peter Carroll.

It may not have been the most chic of superminis but the Chevrolet Kalos proved a decent seller on this side of the pond for a US firm which is better known for its pick-ups and muscle cars.

The Kalos, which started life off as a Daewoo of course, sold more than 450,000 units across Europe between 2002 and 2007.

That's hardly shabby - and the car's success played its part in establishing Chevrolet as one of the fastest growing brands in Europe.

Now the Kalos has been facelifted and given a new name as part of Chevy's ongoing product offensive which kicked off last year with the launch of the Captiva SUV.

The new supermini is now known as the Aveo. It features a smart exterior and comes in a number of brightcolours.

The front has a double mesh grille with the distinctive 'bow tie' logo in the middle, large wrap-round headlamps and inset fog lights.

The Aveo will initially be launched with five doors but a three-door version will follow in few months' time. There are three trim levels, S, LS and LT and two petrol engines: a 1.2 and 1.4.

At this stage I should point out that it's a little bit tricky to give a proper opinion on the Aveo because Chevrolet is remaining coy as to how much it is going to cost.

The indications are that it will start at around £7,500 for 1.2 S and rise to around £10,500 for a top of the range 1.4 LT auto - and that's before we take into account 'local dealer initiatives' of course.

If these prices are correct, the car will compete at the budget end of the spectrum against the likes of the Hyundai Getz and Kia Rio. The biggest seller will probably be the 1.2, which I got the chance to drive prior to the car's arrival in UK showrooms in April/May this year.

The 1.2, which now develops 84bhp, is a willing revver but not tremendously powerful. It will certainly keep up with traffic, though, provided you keep the revs up.

The downside is the 1.2 can get noisy and fatiguing when driven in this manner.

Both the 1.2 and 1.4 engines are more powerful, yet more economical, than the units they replace. The 1.2 uses 14 per cent less fuel, while the 1.4 some 10 per cent less.

Inside, the Aveo offers a decent package, particularly in LS or LT trim. The cabin styling is clean and there's a properly integrated stereo unit at last.

All in all the Aveo is a tidy looker with a decent amount of room and features - but Chevrolet's pricing will be critical to its success.

By Peter Carroll

CHEVROLET FACT FILE:

Model: 1.2 S/LS/LX

Price: Tbc - but from around £7,500 on the road

Engine: 1,206cc, four-cylinder, petrol

Power: 84bhp

Transmission: Five speed manual or automatic gearbox, front wheel drive

Performance: 0-62mph in 13 seconds

Top speed: 107mph

Economy: 51.3mpg on combined cycle

CO2 emissions: 132g/km