Jim Ellis Chevrolet Atlanta

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Driving Impressions

General Motors reworked the suspension on the Aveo, although the basic mechanical underpinnings are still based on the 2006 model. The automaker says the goal was a more refined ride and more precise handling, two things which the old model needed.

Spend some time in the Aveo sedan and it becomes clear that GM has created a comfortable small car with so-so handling.

The Chevrolet Aveo is front-wheel drive, and like many front-wheel-drive cars it feels nose heavy, which means a slight pause when the driver turns the wheel and asks it to make a big change in direction. The hesitancy isn't unusual nor is it threatening. It just means that the Aveo is not the kind of quick-to-react playmate one finds in the Honda Fit (which is also front-wheel drive).

Try and go a bit faster through a moderately tight turn and the Aveo's body leans quite a bit. That's part of the price its occupants pay for a more comfortable ride, particularly on a broken surface. It is also the Aveo's way of reminding the driver that it really wasn't designed as a sports sedan.

The noise and vibration from the 1.6 liter engine is nicely controlled, for a four-cylinder engine. The exception is when the driver slams the accelerator pedal to the floor and holds it there. Then things get a bit noisy at the higher engine speeds.

The Aveo's 103 horsepower is a few less than what's served up by the Yaris or Fit, each of which also weigh slightly less than the Aveo, increasing their advantage.

But the four-speed automatic on the Aveo we tested was fairly quick to respond and the acceleration was adequate. The Aveo would be a bad choice for a tight pass on a two-lane road, but with a little thought and planning there should never be a major problem merging onto a busy interstate with two adults on board.

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