Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 84 CV LPG, road test (Part I)

After driving powerful compact cars, coupés with more than 200 CV and even a van equipped with a powerful V6 engine, we now turn to a more environmentally friendly test and, of course, a more sensible one. Our first experience with a vehicle running on LPG or autogas was very good, and with the Chevrolet Captiva LPG we already delved deeply into this type of vehicle.

But if the Captiva LPG already offered interesting performance and, above all, fuel economy, today we bring you the test of the Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 with 84 CV running on LPG. This model is even more economical in terms of consumption, and to prove it, one figure: 22 euros of LPG (at €0.65/litre) gets us 500 km. Depending on where we refuel, it may even be the cheapest option. Don’t believe it?…

In these times, any help improving our daily economy is well received, and this Aveo hits the nail on the head, because it is a perfect car for everyday use, for city journeys, and because almost no diesel can improve on the economy this LPG Aveo offers. As we have already explained what LPG or autogas is, you can see our test of the Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 136 CV LPG for more information about this alternative fuel.

Engine and performance

The engine in this Aveo is a 1.2 with 84 CV, a 16-valve unit that, thanks to its small displacement, aims to improve consumption. It is a small but lively engine, and because it is a 16-valve design we must rev it up to 3,000 rpm to make it respond cheerfully, and below 2,500 rpm the engine is practically dead if you want it to respond.

When running on LPG the engine’s power drops to 79 CV, which is enough for day-to-day city driving and for taking it out on the open road.

Where we most notice that it is a small engine is on the motorway. The first time I came into contact with this powerplant was in a Spark during the presentation in Athens, and it was already clear that it had to be kept high in the rev range to move comfortably. With the Aveo it is exactly the same.

That does not mean we can’t take it on the motorway, far from it, I myself covered the obligatory 600 km between Madrid and Vigo at around 120 km/h, with the air conditioning on, and it responded without problems, only on inclines or when gaining speed does it lack a bit more power.

Driving

As with all small engines, the air conditioning makes a big difference; when switched on it loses considerable power, but in town or on normal rural road journeys we will practically have no problems.

In terms of handling, it remains fairly composed, but it has one negative point, the suspension, which is tuned very softly and reduces its composure on country roads and motorways. The positive side is that you can drive on roads in poor condition, where its generous ground clearance and soft suspension make it perfect, and the same applies to rural areas.

This engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, more than sufficient for the power and the vehicle, but it is an imprecise gearbox with a spongy feel, so we will have to work the gearbox quite a bit to get the most out of this 84 CV engine. On the other hand, its dimensions and the lively behaviour of the engine at high revs make it a very agile car in town, and it is perhaps the best environment for driving it. Once we get used to the gearbox and the engine, we can move very practically through areas with traffic or narrow streets.

The brakes are up to the standard of the vehicle; they are not exceptional and could be improved, but they respond well. What we miss is ESP, which it cannot be fitted with, and which would be an interesting safety plus. Even so, the next generation of the Aveo (which is just around the corner) will surely incorporate ESP.

The petrol consumption, is not among the best, but it is offset by running on autogas. On the road we achieved an average of 6 litres per 100 km, and in town on petrol the official figure is 7.2 litres.

Running on LPG (gas)

But the best thing about this Aveo is its LPG operation, with simply the press of a button the strip of LED lights lights up, showing how much fuel is left, along with the lower light that shows whether we are running on gas or not. This switch takes just a few seconds and is not noticeable while driving, and we can do it on the move at any speed.

When we start the car in the morning it usually takes a little longer to switch to LPG, because the system uses the engine’s own temperature to turn the LPG into gas. Once running on autogas, we lose some horsepower (we are left with 79 CV), but it is barely noticeable, and we gain in economy.

As we mentioned at the start, with 22 euros of LPG we can cover nearly 500 km, which gives us an economy of 4.4 €/100 km. There is practically no diesel of this size that can beat that economy. In town gas consumption (around 8 l/100 km) means that for every 100 km driven in the city we spend €5.41.

So the figures prove us right, and as I always point out, LPG is not subject to the hydrocarbon tax, which is why it costs half the price of petrol. In Spain the fuel is not well known, but in Italy and Portugal they have been running on LPG for years.

I also feel obliged to mention safety, since driving an LPG car does not make it less safe. The LPG is stored in a tank that takes the place of the spare wheel, but it is protected and can withstand very strong impacts without bursting.

The biggest drawback of LPG is the refuelling points, that is, the stations where we can fill the tank with LPG (which usually holds about 47 litres but is only filled to 80%), since in Spain there are only around 36 refuelling points. This vehicle is therefore recommended only if we live near a service station that supplies LPG (here you can find the LPG station network for Spain).

In the second part of the test we will focus on the exterior and interior design of this Chevrolet Aveo, as well as its equipment and our overall assessment of the model.

Photos | David Taboada