As cars become technically more adept and as fuel economy, comfort and performance of competing cars get closer, design and styling becomes the vital differentiator. No longer just another feature of the car to be appreciated, the way a car looks today plays a huge role in making it desirable.
The Aveo sedan certainly scores in this respect as styling is courtesy the best in the business. When plans for the sedan version of the Chevrolet Aveo (or the Daewoo Kalos) were drawn up, the design brief from General Motors was influenced by none other than the legendary Bob Lutz, a manager renowned for his feel for ‘just right’ designs. GM China contributed with inputs. The brief then was passed on to, Giorgietto Giugiaro, a man who is practically responsible for every third exceptionally designed car in the world. The big, deep-set Chevy grille, the heavy chrome garnishes and gaping front chin are Chevrolet requirements, executed to offset the mildly cab-forward stance of the car. Executed with characteristic class and finesse, the strong nose of the car is integrated well with the ‘V’ of the bonnet and the overall design language of the car. And yes, the bowtie on the nose large enough to be spotted from half a kilometre away!.
Four shades, all carefully chosen and blended, lend the interiors the plush look found in more expensive cars. The seats are tan coloured, there are strips of plasto-wood on the fascia and doors, faux brushed aluminum and chrome adorn the interiors, while the top of the dash is a rubberized black, good to the touch.
Sitting in the car is an airy experience, with seats that are more comfortable than competitors like the Ford Fiesta. Wide and well bolstered, it easy to find a comfortable driving position even for tall drivers. Shorter drivers however, are likely to find the gear lever placed too far back, while the other small fault is that there aren’t enough cubbyholes and stowage areas on the central console. The rear seats, like the ones in front are very comfortable, with their high-mounted cushions and good bolstering. You get the feeling that they are reclined a bit too far back, possibly done to compensate for the sporty, backward slant of the roof.
At this point, we must mention the top-notch fit and finish of the interiors, especially with regard to the climatiser’s controls knobs, the steering wheel and the MP3-compatible system. Yes, as you can guess, this car comes pretty much fully loaded! However, the Aveo somehow lacks the overall build strength and that ‘build to last’ feel that European cars like the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat Petra possess.
The top-of-the-line 1.6 LT (Rs 7.19 lakh, ex-Mumbai) variant offers you the world… and some more — an MP3 player, alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, keyless entry with the remote on the key fob itself and electrically adjustable rear view mirrors. Twin airbags, four-channel anti lock brakes, a leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob are also available as optional extras. And with all of these bunged in, the 1.6 LT will set you back a further Rs 53,000 — fantastic value indeed for this whole clutch of extras. The 1.4 LS version (at 6.64 lakhs) isn’t too badly off either. It gets the same music system, fog lamps and power-everything as well, while the base 1.4 L version (at 6.11 lakh), gets power steering, locks and windows and the MP3 player.
With the reputation of being from Chevrolet family, Aveo is here to participate in the cut throat competition between major players in the market. It is yet to be seen as to how far the car manages to go in terms of performance & milage parameters.
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