FIRST DRIVE: Stylish & Sporty
Second-gen Aveo promises more visual and technical zest when it goes on sale in Thailand next year
After completing the all-new Colorado pickup assault with a SUV variation in the guise of the Trailblazer early next year, Chevrolet's next offensive comes in the crucial B-segment (sub-compact) passenger car segment.
Although the second-generation Aveo has gone on sale in many markets around the world, it has yet to arrive in Thai showrooms to supersede the current one that's ageing terribly.
Life recently got a chance to sample the new Aveo (also known as Sonic in North America) in Dubai, and we can say that Thai punters of such budget-priced cars ought to wait for its introduction.
The first good reason is the Aveo's looks. It's a major overhaul, to put it simply. Circular headlights arranged in a shark-eye arrangement, accentuated rear lamps and a well-proportioned profile give the Aveo a distinctive edge over its predecessor.
It's the four-door saloon, in particular, that looks quite handsome and probably the most pleasing when compared to the Ford Fiesta, Honda City, Mazda 2 and Toyota Vios. The strength of the new Aveo lies in this body style.
There's also a hatchback body that has never been available on the Thai market. And like Ford and Mazda, Chevrolet hasn't separated the development of the hatch from the saloon.
Flashy interior plays well with the youthful exterior design.
That explains the same front-half exterior design and interior fascia, whose motorbike-inspired layout looks so cool against the old Aveo and over its current competition. From an aesthetic point of view, the Aveo knocks all its rivals off the canvas, although this is purely subjective.
Should the Thai Chevrolet office also consider the hatch? Sure it should, especially when the Toyota Yaris looks bland (it's already replaced in other markets).
But here's the sticking point. The five-door Aveo is designed to be a sporty, compact hatchback. If you're thinking about sheer practicality, the Aveo definitely is overshadowed by the Honda Jazz.
Because of that, Chevrolet has to be clear that the Aveo hatch is meant to challenge the Fiesta, 2 and Yaris. Despite sitting on a longer 2,525mm wheelbase than before, the Aveo's interior space is only average in-class, be it in the saloon or hatch.
Performance-wise, the new Aveo shouldn't have problems coping with its opposition. The 114hp/155Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine may not boast class-leading outputs. But in the real-world, the Aveo performs sufficiently, thanks to a new six-speed automatic (in place of the four-speeder) that properly transfers power to the front wheel. The gearbox also provides a good level of responsiveness.
There's also a 99hp/130Nm 1.4-litre version which we haven't tried. Despite its smaller size, the six-speed automatic it gets makes it superior to the Fiesta 1.4 on paper. The Aveo in 1.4 trim will also be essential in attracting the Thai government's first-time car policy that runs till the end of 2012.
Like its predecessor, the new Aveo tends to be a sporty car to drive yet with enough ride comfort. This means that the Aveo is equally good to drive as the Fiesta and 2 and not as comfort-oriented as the City. This rather goes in line with the Aveo's overall concept of youthfulness and sportiness.
The Aveo isn't an outright winner in the B-segment class (550,000-700,000 baht) as there are some missing ingredients, like a roomy interior, that many Thai crave.
But in its own right, the Aveo has improved vastly and has managed to level itself with second-tier brands like Ford and Mazda. That should already be considered good enough.
Hatchback version looks good but is less capable than saloon in Thailand’s B-segment.
Chevy's Ecocar potential
The Chevrolet Spark is an A-segment hatch that theoretically rivals the Honda Brio in size and concept. Have the Americans missed the Ecocar boat? Life thinks not, and here's why.
Despite having a flashy exterior look and the same motorbike-style instrument panel as in the larger Aveo to stand out against the Brio _ and Nissan March, as well _ the Spark is compromised elsewhere.
The Spark's package is like the Brio: plenty of room for two up front but tight in the rear and boot. The Spark is about compact dimensions for agile city-driving and not all-round value as in the bigger March.
The Spark's 68hp/93Nm 1.0-litre petrol engine is also flawed. It's a bit too underpowered, especially in the mid-ranges, to compete with its two rivals. Also, it lacks the Brio's refinement.
It doesn't stop there. Armed with a normal four-speed automatic, the Spark is unlikely to meet Ecocar's minimum economy requirement of 20kpl (no figure has been released by Chevrolet).
Rumour has it that Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) can override the Ecocar rule by simply not making it comply with it. Instead, it may ship the Spark from Indonesia with zero import duty under Afta trade benefits.
Even so, we think it would be better for Chevrolet to pitch the Aveo 1.4 against the Brio and March in the 500,000 baht segment _ if it can.
Spark looks stylish but goes modestly.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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