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By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you’re looking for budget-conscious, basic transportation that doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t, you’ll like the Aveo LT. Practical, utilitarian and with no complicated high-tech systems to learn, the little sedan is also a good choice for RVers looking for a haul-behind car. Another plus: The high seating position for driver and passenger.
You may not like the LT if you expect instant response from the automatic transmission. You may also find that child carseats are the best bet for occupying the back seat. With the front seats all the way back, there is very minimal legroom for rear-seat passengers.
Barely two-and-a-half years after its 2004 debut, the Aveo has undergone a complete exterior makeover, while the interior is not only wider, taller and longer, but also fully equipped with a few standard and optional features not found on competitive cars in its price range, such as the Kia Rio, Scion xA, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Aerio, Honda Fit and Nissan Yaris.
Chevrolet brings its re-designed entry-level, economy subcompact four-door Aveo into dealerships as a slew of other fuel-efficient small sedans race into showrooms to beat the continuing gas crunch. Appealing to its target buyers by matching marketing strategies with webcasts for the digital generation, the affordable Aveo model line is aimed at first-time buyers, young singles, small families and train-station commuters.
Used 2007 Chevrolet Aveo pricing starts at $2,966 for the Aveo Aveo5 SVM Hatchback Sedan 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $10,045 when new. The range-topping 2007 Aveo LT Sedan 4D starts at $3,307 today, originally priced from $13,470.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$10,045 | $2,966 | |||
$12,515 | $3,083 | |||
$13,165 | $2,979 | |||
$13,470 | $3,307 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2007 Chevrolet Aveo models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Driving a car as uncomplicated as the Aveo LT releases you from constantly checking the myriad of messages on lavish instrument panels in pricier cars. With an eye occasionally on the speedometer, the driver is free to enjoy the surprising capabilities of the Aveo LT’s zippy little 103-horsepower engine once you reach your preferred cruising pace. There is no available stability-control system, although anti-lock brakes (ABS) are an option. A slight lean is noticeable on corners taken at speed but the overall driving experience is precise and pleasant, with the car holding the line during straight, hard braking. As to be expected from this category of car, some tire, wind and engine noise is par for the course.
Small touches of metallic grain and satin chrome trim give an upscale look to the interior. Front seats with tilt headrests, storage pockets in doors and seatbacks, a sunglass holder and six-way adjustable driver’s seat are features you’d expect in a higher-priced car. The dashboard is a masterpiece of simplicity, clearly showing all the information the driver needs to get from point A to point B. The front passenger seat reclines and, with a trunk capacity of 12.4 cubic feet and rear 60/40-split seats that fold almost flat, there’s plenty of room for the longest skis.
For what it is, a full-featured economy subcompact built by General Motors Daewoo in Korea, the Aveo LT is a competently-designed four-door whose sheetmetal blends smoothly together to present a neat package. The V-shaped hood and strong grille reveal its Chevrolet heritage and emphasize its wide stance. Large "shoulders" over the wheels, oversized front and rear lights and a height of almost five feet gives it the appearance of a larger sedan.
Input Jack
With an eye on youthful buyers who enjoy music 24/7, the Aveo LT has an auxiliary input jack for iPods and other music players and electronic devices. The sound is carried through the car radio and six speakers with exceptional quality.
Fuel Economy
Saving on gas bills is high on everyone’s list and Aveo buyers are obviously looking for this benefit. The LT’s automatic transmission rewards you with 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, depending on road conditions and driving style.
Despite its low-end status, the Aveo LT houses a surprising amount of useful equipment found on more expensive cars, including remote keyless entry with alarm, cruise control, air conditioning with rear vents, side airbags and power heated sideview mirrors. The remote trunk release saves time fumbling with keys and the rear window defogger, tilt steering column and headrests are unexpected extra conveniences. Music lovers will appreciate the LT’s standard CD/MP3 player and 180-watt six-speaker system. Power windows and door locks lift this model above many of its manual-handle, similarly-priced competitors.
Chevrolet’s Hold-Control four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive uses adaptive-shift technology. It helps to reduce wheel spin and loss of traction by allowing the driver to manually select a different gear so that torque to the wheels is reduced, much as with a true manual transmission. Like audio controls at your fingertips? The LT installs them at thumb level on the steering wheel. Other options include a sunroof, leatherette seats, fog lamps, a rear spoiler, an engine block heater and an anti-theft system.
General Motors’ 16-valve four-cylinder engine powers the Aveo LT, producing 103 horsepower. An electronic throttle control and variable induction system help maximize power across the rpm range for consistency and fuel economy, and the four-speed automatic transmission’s Hold Control mode provides a pseudo-manual operation the driver can select for sportier or more controlled driving. The re-tuned 2007 suspension helps with handling.
1.6-liter in-line 4
103 horsepower @ 5800 rpm
107 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/37 (manual), 26/34 (automatic)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 2542 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Total Interior | 102.7 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 11.9 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 39.3 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.3 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Overall Length | 169.7 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 53.6 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 12.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 32.0 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 97.6 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 67.3 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 23 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 31 mpg | ||
Combined | 26 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 103 @ 6000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 107 @ 3600 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, 1.6 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 100000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 6 years / 100000 miles |
Used 2007 Chevrolet Aveo | Used 2008 Hyundai Elantra | Used 2009 Ford Focus | Used 2009 Kia Optima | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $4,342 | $4,245 | $4,306 | $4,285 | |
Consumer Rating | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | |
Fuel Economy | City 23/Hwy 31/Comb 26 MPG | City 25/Hwy 33/Comb 28 MPG | City 24/Hwy 33/Comb 27 MPG | City 22/Hwy 32/Comb 25 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | |
Horsepower | 103 @ 6000 RPM | 138 @ 6000 RPM | 140 @ 6000 RPM | 175 @ 5800 RPM | |
Engine | 4-Cyl, 1.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |