Chevrolet Aveo 1.3D 95 CV, road test (Engine and performance)

Diego G. Moreira 7 December 2012 3 min.

Chevrolet Aveo 1.3D 95 CV, road test (Engine and performance)

We continue with city cars, we continue with diesel and we continue with General Motors. Now we get behind the wheel of the five-door Chevrolet Aveo, a model that recently received two diesel engines (or rather, one with two power variants), with 75 and 95 CV.

The Chevrolet Aveo can be considered a low-cost car, but with added value that other brands do not offer, whether in finish quality, technology or design. This diesel engine was exactly what it needed, since it is a car with a tight price, which offers a generous level of equipment and even more space than the segment average, but of course, without a diesel it is impossible to make a significant mark in Spain.

Engine and performance

Under the designation 1.3D hides an engine that is an old acquaintance of our market, shared with the models of Opel and of Fiat origin. It is available with two power variants, 75 and 95 CV; in the case of the Aveo, the more powerful version is reserved for the most complete trim.

It is a typically turbocharged engine, that is, from around 1,800-2,000 rpm the turbo starts working with the typical “kick” and begins to lose strength above 3,500 rpm. Within this range, we will have to make considerable use of the gearbox, a six-speed manual. The gearbox has a correct feel and, thanks to the sixth gear, we can achieve a moderate consumption on the motorway.

For the five-door Aveo we tested today, even the 75 CV engine is sufficient, while for the four-door (saloon) version, if we also want to take advantage of its good boot, 75 CV seems barely enough to move it with ease. The negative side of the powertrain is its noise and lack of smoothness.

It comes as standard with Start&Stop

, which saves fuel in town. It is not the quickest in the segment, but it works correctly and can always be switched off via a button located on the centre console, near the handbrake.

Handling

Compared with the previous generation of the Aveo, the new one represents a radical change, not only in design but also in behaviour. The suspension layout of the previous model was not particularly dynamic nor did it enhance that aspect of the car.

With this new generation things have changed, as we were able to verify during the test, since the car holds its line through corners, it is much more agile, interior soundproofing has been improved and it is stable on the road.

Precisely in this segment there are many city cars that, when taken onto the motorway or country roads, are not as stable as we would like. This is not the case with the Aveo, which handles a journey without problems and is a comfortable car (the LTZ trim includes an armrest for the driver).

The steering remains not very communicative, with an intermediate feel, and generally correct without great pretensions. The brakes are discs at the front and drums at the rear, and this is definitely an area for improvement.

Consumption

Fuel consumption is far from being a weak point of the Aveo; now, with the incorporation of the diesel engine, it becomes a strong point for this Chevrolet. On the motorway it consumed 5 litres per 100 km, a figure we could bring down on country roads to 4.6 litres per 100 km.

In town, the figure we reached on our usual route through the streets of Vigo was between 6.5 and 7 litres per 100 km.

In the second part of the test we will focus on design, which has changed radically compared with the previous generation, both inside and out. You will surely be surprised by some of the design and practical solutions of its interior.