Chevrolet says that it suffers from the perception its cars are big, gas-guzzling American yee-ha! saloons. That may have been true in the past but with its new model line-up - something that will grow impressively over the next few months with the new Aveo and Volt joining the recently released Spark city car, Orlando MPV and Captiva SUV - Chevrolet is really turning that image around. Design The new Chevrolet Aveo is central to the manufacturer's transformation in the UK and it's an impressive little car, especially in terms of design. From the outside it's attractive and aggressive, particularly at its front-end which has been heavily influenced by the RS concept which was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in 2010. There's a large, black, honeycomb grille that the iconic bow-tie logo sits on top of and exposed circular headlamps either side. At the back, everything's a bit more sedate but it does sport the ever-popular coupe-like roofline. That also brings with it coupe 'built-in' door handles shoved into the top of the rear doors which are plastic and feel flimsy. Practicality and specification details According to Chevrolet that sloping roofline doesn't impact upon the Aveo's practicality and in truth it's quite a spacious supermini for four passengers; a fifth in the middle might not thank you for putting them there though. There's a decent 290-litre boot when all the seats are in use but its 60/40 split-fold rear seats can free up an additional 363-litres of space when they're laid flat. The Aveo also has a useful underfloor storage area. Chevrolet has gone to town with quirky storage spaces and cubbyholes throughout the Aveo. In the front there are two open spaces either side of the centre console, a pokey glove compartment with iPod/USB hook-up and another small glove box further down on the passenger side. Chevrolet has also decided to put a sunglasses holder above the driver on all Aveos, bar the entry-level LS trim; an indication of its young driver target market. All models come with retro swivel air conditioning inlets and air conditioning comes as standard on the basic LS trim along with cruise control and a sporty rear spoiler. The cabin is stylish, well put together and with LTZ trim - the high-end option - the finish is good; Chevy has persisted with a chrome insert on the steering wheel for LTZ models but there's also rear parking sensors and useful automatic headlamps. LT trims are also an improvement over the previous generation with lots of kit as standard including alloy wheels, audio controls on the steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity. The eye-grabber inside is the motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster. It's difficult to get used to and with lots of analogue dials on a blue-lit LED background, it can be quite distracting. It is different though and something that will appeal to young buyers and it grows on you the more you're behind the wheel of the Aveo. Pricing for the Aveo LS, which is available with the 1.2-litre 86PS petrol engine only, starts from £9,995. That's a competitive start price and whilst you can get a Ford Fiesta for the same price, it doesn't have as much kit as the Aveo. Another added bonus is Chevy's five year warranty cover at no extra cost and includes a three year/30,000 mile fixed price servicing deal, a six year anti-perforation corrosion warranty and one year's roadside assistance from the AA. Engine line-up The Aveo's engine line-up is has a number of options available. There are three diesel units available, comprised of different output 1.3-litre VCDI units split between 75 and two 95 PS units, all of which come with a smooth and responsive stop/start systems. All diesels are good and offer lots of punch despite their low outputs, but it's the 95PS Eco model that will grab the headlines. It's smooth and frugal, averaging more than 50mpg on our test run despite being worked hard on some brilliant roads in the Cotswolds. The Aveo is the first small Chevrolet to use the brand's VCDi diesel engines and each diesel unit comes with stop/start technology. Compared to the standard 95PS diesel, the Eco model is almost identical but its gearing has been tweaked slightly and it is marginally lighter, enough for improved CO2 emissions at 95g/km and a combined fuel economy of 78.4mpg. At £12,795 it's also competitively priced, despite the typical premium tagged on by manufacturers for eco-signature models, although it's surprisingly only available in the mid-range LT trim. The petrol options are a different kettle of fish. The small 86PS 1.2-litre petrol is sluggish and you're constantly driving with your foot flat to the floor on open roads, which is a shame because the manual gearbox is smooth. CO2 emissions for the 1.2-litre stand at 111g/km in CO2 emissions which means it's £30 a year in VED road tax. The same can be said of the 101PS 1.4-litre petrol option which, with the manual six-speed transmission, is genuinely good to drive but only available in the LTZ trim at £12,195. With the awful automatic transmission the Aveo is much less fun to drive and is £340 more expensive in LS trim and £1,000 more expensive in LTZ. The automatic insists on changing gear at the slightest change of input on the accelerator pedal and makes the engine roar and squeal much more than you feel comfortable with a particular penchant for shifting down at random intervals. There's the useful addition of a manual drive option where you dictate the gear changes. In manual it's much more manageable, but that's not why you buy an automatic box; especially when the manual shift button is slapped on the side of the gearstick in an awkward location. Automatic boxes aren't particularly popular in small car segments because of the premium they slap onto list prices and also their impact on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. For the 1.4-litre auto drivetrain on the Aveo, CO2 emissions are whacked by the autobox and leap from 125g/km on the manual to 147g/km with the auto which will cost an additional £40 a year in road tax at £130. The 1.3-litre VCDi Eco is free to tax because CO2 emissions are 95g/km, the same applies to the 1.3-litre 75PS which emits 99g/km. The 95PS standard diesel returns 68.9mpg officially and emits 108g/km. Drive and handling The Aveo's sometimes underwhelming engines are a shame because the Aveo is a brilliant car to drive. Its chassis is stiff and firm which makes for some nimble handling and the steering is well weighted; it's light at low speeds, in and around town, and on A-roads it feels well planted. You can throw the Aveo around, as you'd hope given its looks, but the ride is firm with bumps in the roads being felt throughout the cabin. The 2012 Chevrolet Aveo is an aggressive-looking car in a segment that's obsessed with curvy, cutesy looks. It will stand out from the crowd and should appeal to its preferred young-driver market. Its diesel units are frugal too, with all bar the high-output 95PS unit emitting less than 100g/km in CO2 emissions. Does it do enough to pull buyers away from the segment all-stars though? Price will be a major coup for the GM-owned brand. With list prices kicking off at £9,995 it is cheap and entry-level models come flooded with kit including air conditioning and a CD-player with a USB/iPod hook-up in the glovebox. It's also frugal, with eco versions returning an official 78.4mpg but a more realistic average of between 50-60mpg based on our test run, as well as CO2 emissions of 95g/km. As an alternative to the Ford Fiesta and the Vauxhall Corsa, the Chevrolet Aveo is an impressive car that will stand out in the segment, whether it will overcome badge snobbery is a different matter. As well as looking good and offering lots of car for the money, the Aveo comes with frugal engines and Chevrolet's five year warranty package.
