Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Hatchbacks, Chevrolet
2009 Chevy Aveo5 and Aveo sedan to start at $12,120
Click above for more high-res shots of the Chevy Aveo5
While the outward appearance of the Chevy Aveo5 could charitably be described as "polarizing", its recently announced pricing will likely polarize a few people, as well. Currently, the Aveo sedan and Aveo5 hatchback boast the lowest average transaction price in the United States of $12,258 according to J.D. Power and Associates, but the 2009 model might end that trend with a big price bump for the redesigned 2009 Aveo5. The new five-door Aveo5 hatchback comes in with a starting price of $12,120, which is $1,125 more than the 2008 Aveo5 that starts at just $10,895. This increase is partly due to the fact that the Special Value edition has been dropped. We should also note that the Aveo5 is redesigned for 2009 and features a number of upgrades, but the price bump will still be felt hard by those looking for the cheapest Point A-to-Point B transportation. The sedan version, meanwhile, now has the same $12,120 starting price as the Aveo5, which means its MSRP has actually been lowered compared to the 2008 model that starts at $12,830. Stepping up a notch to the LT model, meanwhile, will get you standard air conditioning and a $14,255 starting point.
Desirable safety features such as dual frontal and side-impact air bags, front safety belt pretensioners, a tire pressure monitoring system, oil life monitoring system and OnStar come standard on all Aveo models. Available on the up-market LT models are XM Radio, leatherette seating trim, steering wheel audio controls, a power-operated sunroof and power-adjustable and heated outside mirrors. Regardless of what you think of the Aveo's styling (we're not fans), its still relatively low price and decent fuel mileage of 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway should yield a good chunk of buyers for GM's entry-level model.
Gallery: 2008 Chevy Aveo5
[Source: Chevrolet]
PRESS RELEASE
Chevrolet Announces Pricing For 2009 Aveo And Aveo5
Chevrolet today announced pricing for the 2009 Aveo lineup – including the redesigned Aveo5 five-door hatchback – begins at $12,120 (including a $660 destination charge) for Aveo LS and Aveo5 LS, making it one of the most affordable cars on the market. It costs hundreds less than many competitors and comes standard with features such as side-impact air bags and OnStar.
Aveo is also one of the most efficient cars on the road, with estimated fuel economy ratings of 27 in the city and 34 on the highway (with the standard manual transmission). Aveo sedan and Aveo5 LT models start at $14,255 for 1LT trim and $15,520 for 2LT trim (including destination charges). Air conditioning is standard on LT models and an automatic transmission is available.
All Aveo and Aveo5 models are powered by a new, more powerful 1.6L Ecotec engine that uses variable valve timing and other technologies to deliver great fuel economy and responsive performance. Aveo models equipped with the available four-speed automatic transmission also deliver excellent highway mileage ratings of 34 mpg. City mileage ratings with the automatic are 25 mpg.
"Aveo's value story has never been stronger," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "With great fuel economy from the new 1.6L Ecotec engine, bold styling and a hard-to-match roster of features, including standard OnStar, the Aveo and Aveo5 deliver exceptional value for customers who don't want to sacrifice style and convenience for efficiency."
The Aveo lineup offers a high-value combination of great styling and features not expected in the segment. Crisp, sculpted lines and a wide, confident stance define both the sedan and Aveo5 hatchback's design. This broad-shoulder appearance is highlighted by premium cues, including three-dimensional, richly detailed headlamps that extend into the hood, available front fog lamps and bold taillamps that are set within jeweled bezels. Styling for the Aveo5 is all new for '09, both inside and out.
All 2009 Aveo and Aveo5 models come standard with dual frontal and side-impact air bags, as well as front safety belt pretensioners, a tire pressure monitoring system, oil life monitoring system and OnStar. Available features include XM Radio, leatherette seating trim, steering wheel audio controls, a power-operated sunroof that retracts into the roof for improved aerodynamics, power-adjustable and heated outside mirrors and more.
The Aveo's history of low ownership costs continue with strong ownership coverage. It has the best coverage in America, including Chevrolet's five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, roadside assistance and courtesy transportation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
VinceP 2:06PM (6/09/2008)
27/34 is not good gas mileage for a car this size. Both the Corolla and Civic have better numbers, and they're larger cars.
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EvenSteven 2:12PM (6/09/2008)
True but they cost lots more. I agree the MPg should be better but the difference in cost buys lots of gas. I wonder if the total cost of ownership difference is between them, that's the most important stat to look at when comparing economy cars. This has to have a low cost per mile. It better, why else would anyone buy it?
Josiah 2:17PM (6/09/2008)
Real world MPG on the Aveo is more like 35-38 in mixed driving (I have a family member who drives one, a teen at that)
rouse42 2:21PM (6/09/2008)
that mpg sucks
my 05 RSX type S is averaging 27-28mpg with mostly city driving and not babying it.
as for cost of ownership the base Fit is gonna kill this thing. sure its a few grand more but the mileage will be a lot better and repairs will be almost non existent
Dude 2:23PM (6/09/2008)
Chevy Aveo: 25/34
Chevy Cobalt: 24/33
Honda Civic: 26/34
Honda Fit: 28/34
Toyota Corolla: 27/35
Toyota Yaris: 29/36
Seems to be in the same ballpark as everyone else. What's surprising to me is how little you gain from the smaller cars in MPG when compared to their larger siblings.
VinceP 2:28PM (6/09/2008)
@Dude
The coefficient of drag (cd) for these "smaller" cars is higher than the larger c-segment cars. Automakers for the last 10 years have been increasing passenger volume by making the vehicles taller, which increases cd. The smaller the car, the taller they make them to have reasonable passenger volume. They're more like small CUV's than small passenger cars.
UH2L 2:42PM (6/09/2008)
@ VinceP
Making a car taller does not increase the Cd but it does increase the frontal area. The drag is a function of both CD and frontal area so you're half right.
Dan 2:57PM (6/09/2008)
It's both.
A higher vehicle has a larger frontal area... and a stubby vehicle (lower length:height) has a higher CD.
Torrent 2:58PM (6/09/2008)
Yeah but this starts almost 3K lower than the Corolla/Civic.
Disgruntled Goat 3:11PM (6/09/2008)
Have you ever noticed how nowadays everyone overestimates the kind of gas mileage they get? Not anyone here of course, just people in general. At one point if the EPA said you'd get 20 you'd complain that you really only got 15. Now when the EPA says you'll get 20 you say you really get 30. And yes I know they changed how this number was calculated. I've just put way too many cycles into this to not know what's probably accurate and what's not.
There's a Psych thesis in here somewhere if it hasn't already been done - I'm dying to know.
jgp 5:50PM (6/09/2008)
Yet another reason why tall cars suck.
I fondly remember the Fiat Cinquecento from the 1990s...it was distinctive for being a city car with the same height as a big car. It was only 56.5" tall (half an inch shorter than a current Chevy Malibu), with a drag coefficient of .33.
Its replacement, the Seicento, was even lower (55.9"), and slightly longer.
I love low cars, and I absolutely despise the trend of making small cars taller.
Xcountryflyer 6:12PM (6/09/2008)
My friend's automatic Aveo gets mediocre gas mileage and the car is horrible to drive. I drove it for awhile. Other than the safety features it pales in comparison to the Accent, Fit, Yaris and Versa.
I'd get a Accent over this thing in a heartbeat.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:24PM (6/09/2008)
Dude:
Cobalt XFE: 25/36
I agree the Aveo, while it doesn't have spectacular mpg, is right in line with the rest. Buying a Fit instead isn't going to save you anything on gas.
BlazerUnit 1:17AM (6/10/2008)
The Corolla and Civic are also more upmarket, exist in a different class, and easily cost several thousand more. Neither car is their respective brand's entry level car like this one is.
Pan the Aveo if you must, but at least make fair comparisons.
Bob-omb 11:21AM (6/10/2008)
Fine, it's not a fair comparison to compare it to compact cars. Let's compare it to the Fit, Yaris, Versa, Accent, and Rio.
Actual fuel economy numbers with the 2008 sedan (read magazines/forums/etc.) with the updated engine/tranny are the worst in the class, hands down. Sad.
martin 2:10PM (6/09/2008)
same daewoo crap. i wish they'd stop selling these, they arent that cheap in europe, makes a lot more sense to get a swift, agila or even a picanto.
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Soccer Mom 2:11PM (6/09/2008)
Not-so-good on gas and fairly unattractive. I am waiting for a decent competition to Mini, Smart, iQ and other. Make small cars look and feed good, and people will flock to buy them.
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oZ 2:12PM (6/09/2008)
Mini and Smart are not inexpensive AND not fuel efficient for their size.
EvenSteven 2:42PM (6/09/2008)
Vintage: well yes of course. But you have to compare Apples to apples. New to New.
That One Person 5:43PM (6/09/2008)
Vintage...have you ever seen the prices on used Civics? There are one and two year old used Civics that are going for just as much as a new one.
$10k will most likely buy you an OLDER model and something with a buttload of miles. Sure, you can buy from a private seller but I would spend the extra couple grand and get something with a warranty and no miles on the odo.