Modern day value

The Past
Many, many years ago (the 1980's), cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Tercel were considered great economy cars for your dollar. With an engine size at around 1.5L, they made well under 100 horsepower; but the handling was nimble, and because the Japanese automakers had yet to prove themselves, the prices were cheap. Fast forward to 2006. The Civic has grown up in price and size; the Tercel is no more, and has been replaced by the Echo and Yaris, which, while delivering Tercel-like fuel economy, handling, and size with a true hatchback design, are a tad pricey for their class and their style doesn't appeal to everyone. There is the Hyundai Accent, but even its price has crept up, and for those longing for the style of a hatchback (like the Civics and Tercels of the 80's), the notchback design just doesn't hold the same aesthetics. Enter the Chevrolet Aveo (and Pontiac Wave, in Canada). Finally, for those of you wanting to relive the cheap economy hatchback experience of the 80's, General Motors has your answer.

The present
Of course, things are different today than they were in the 80's. For instance, the Aveo (like many cars in its class) makes around 103 horsepower. It's heavier, and also more crashworthy. There are airbags. You can get modern features like ABS brakes and keyless entry. Suffice it to say that you will get more in this economy hatchback today in 2006 than you could in what was available in the 1980's.

The tester
My tester was a black 5 door Pontiac Wave, with the 4 speed automatic transmission and outfitted with features such as air conditioning, power sunroof, keyless entry, security system, MP3 player, and cruise control. The seats, both front and back, were comfortable enough. Impressively, both front and back seats sported a headrest, and that headrest could rock forward and backward as well as up and down. The lack of an armrest for the driver's right elbow (or the passenger's left elbow) was a little irksome; apparently, there are aftermarket armrests available. The controls were well-labelled and easy enough to use. The style and trim used on the dash made the car appear to be more expensive than it actually was.

First impressions
The car started right away with ease. It was a black car on a hot day; when I turned on the air conditioning, the blast of cool air was almost instant. It was easy to direct the air where I wanted it to go, and the fan produced plenty of power. On the other hand, no amount of fiddling could get the stereo to sound any better than a cheap boom box. Heading out onto the road, the car's acceleration from a dead stop was acceptable, as this car held its own in normal traffic. Out on the highway, I got the car up to 120 km/h (75 MPH) without any trouble; the tach was at just under 3000 RPM's at that speed. I was also impressed with how relatively quiet the car remained on the highway. Handling is acceptable. However, there isn't enough power to do much else than cruise. Flooring the accelerator at highway speeds is an effort in futility; it will go faster, but you won't actually feel it go faster.

Other nice things
One thing I discovered rather quickly was how tight this cars turning radius was. It also had enough ground clearance to clear curbs! For driving around in the city, this car would be very hard to beat. There's the fact that it sports a credit card-sized slot to accomodate a parking pass. There's a holder for your sunglasses above the driver's head. Back seat passengers actually get a generous amount of leg and headroom, given the dimensions of this car. It's tall, and you sit up high, which gives the impression that you're driving something bigger. Only trouble is, that's not how other drivers see you.

Lack of respect
One problem I always encounter when driving a car like the Aveo is the lack of respect from other motorists. During my test drive, I encountered people cutting me off, passing me to slow down and turn in front of me, and take my right-of-way at traffic lights and 4 way stops. The horn doesn't help matters either; it's toy-like "Beep beep" sound gets laughter and ridicule from other motorists who have horns that sound more commanding. One must realize this is par for the course when driving a car like this; I encountered the same behaviour with my Nissan hatchback years ago. If you're prone to road rage, best stay away from cars like this.

Costs more with options
When you start adding on options, this car gets a lot more expensive. It's not hard to get into the price range of, say, a Chevrolet Cobalt. A Cobalt is a lot more car for your money, which will command more respect on the road and deliver much better performance, with similar fuel economy. This is something a buyer needs to always be aware of when buying a new car. If you really want to relive the cheap hatchback import experience of the 80's, I'd recommend learning to drive manual and getting the Special Value model. Just be sure to stick with light colours (silver, white) so the car doesn't get so hot under the sun. Then you can "Upgrade" the stereo with a cheap one from Wal-Mart, which will probably sound better.

Conclusion
This car, and this class of car, isn't for everybody. It's certainly not the car for me, though I did enjoy the test drive. It's great for new drivers and students who don't have a lot of money; the hatchback design makes this car like a mini minivan, which is great for young people who are going to be doing a lot of moving onward and upward. It's also great for the city dweller who needs a car; it's easy to park and get around in. For those wanting to relive the cheap new hatchback experience of the 80's, it's definitely a good way to go. Finally, for those on a tight budget or fixed income, this car is ideal since its hatchback design makes it very versatile.