Add up Aveo’s smart looks, surprising interior roominess and outstanding fuel economy – 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway (manual transmission) – and it’s easy to understand why buyers from all walks of life have made it America’s best-selling economy car.
Chevrolet Aveo enters the 2006 model year with enhanced levels of safety and convenience. The safety changes for ’06 include standard side-impact air bags (seat mounted) for the driver and front passenger, as well as new, advanced two-stage frontal air bags with a passenger sensor cut-off switch. Also, the rear safety belts are longer. These changes enhance a vehicle already renowned for safety.
The Aveo lineup for ’06 includes a four-door sedan and a stylish five-door body style. Each seats five adults and is available in three trim levels: the Special Value Model, LS and LT. Aveo's size enhances maneuverability in crowded city environments, but its room – one of the roomiest vehicles in its segment – and highway manners make it a comfortable choice for longer road trips. Theater-style seating for the rear seats helps provide excellent visibility for all passengers.
In addition to ample passenger room, Aveo offers clever storage features in the front console, a passenger seat back pocket, and accessory hooks at the top of each front headrest for suspending shopping bags. The rear seat of the four-door folds flat for more cargo room and allows pass-through from the trunk. The five-door offers the only rear seat in the segment that folds flat and flips forward, for a segment-leading 42 cubic feet (1,190 L) of cargo space.
All models are powered by the E-TEC II 1.6L four-cylinder, a sophisticated DOHC/16-valve engine with variable-geometry intake that develops 103 horsepower (97 kw) at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb.-ft. (145 Nm) of torque. Electronic throttle control is new for ’06. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is available. The automatic features a “hold control” button. Selecting “hold control” turns the four-speed automatic into a three-speed manual, with the driver changing gears by moving through the gated shifter. The “hold control” mode also enables the driver to better control wheel spin at low speeds on slippery surfaces by manually selecting a higher gear.
Aveo now meets the ULEV II emissions standard which, along with its outstanding fuel economy, makes it one of the cleanest, most economical vehicles available in North America . EPA ratings are 27 city/35 highway with the manual transmission and 26/34 with the automatic.
Four new exterior colors are available in MY 2006: Medium Gray, Icelandic Blue, Sport Red and Cosmic Silver replace Pastel Blue, Key Lime, Sport Red and Galaxy Silver. Though sharing the same name, the 2006 Sport Red is a different color than the previous hue.
Refined chassis, responsive ride
The Aveo’s front-wheel drive chassis system features MacPherson struts in front and a torsion-beam suspension in the rear. The steering gear is located on the front suspension cross member, which enhances shock absorption and provides more precise and stable handling characteristics. Rack-and-pinion hydraulic-assist steering is comfortable and direct. Aveo also has a wide stance, with a front tread of 57.1 inches (1,450 mm) and a rear tread of 56.3 inches (1,430 mm), which provides a sure-footed driving experience.
Aveo’s 97.6-inch wheelbase ( 2,480 mm) is among the longest in the class, and contributes to the car's smooth ride and stability. Ride and handling refinements for 2006 include steering calibrations that help provide a sporty, more responsive feel and a larger-diameter front stabilizer bar that helps reduce lean while cornering. The new, 18-mm bar replaces the previous 17-mm stabilizer bar.
New, 15-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels and 185/55R15 all-season tires are available on LS models and standard on LT, enhancing the “buttoned-down” feel of the Aveo and giving it a sporty appearance. Fourteen-inch wheels are standard on the Special Value Model and LS. The standard 14-inch steel wheels receive a new, stylish bolt-on wheel cover and the available 14-inch alloy wheels feature a new five-spoke design.
Well equipped
Standard features for all models include a tilt steering column, AM/FM stereo, six-way adjustable driver seat, rear-window defroster, remote fuel door and a practical 60/40 split-bench rear seat that folds for more cargo room. The instrument panel includes a tachometer, speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, fuel gauge, coolant temperature gauge and lighting dimmer control. The IP also has a center storage tray, lighter, extra 12-volt outlet, digital quartz clock and lighted glove box. Materials and textures offer a distinctively non-entry-level feel.
The interior is further refined for 2006 with new upholstery fabrics and a contemporary Charcoal/Titanium interior color scheme. Tilting front seat headrests also have been added. On top of all that comes standard on the Aveo Special Value Model, the LS adds air conditioning with cabin-air filtration and floor mats, plus available options such as an automatic transmission, a CD player with MP3 playback capability, and a new cruise control and remote keyless entry package.
The new-for-2006 cruise control and remote keyless entry package is standard on LT models, which also includes the following standard equipment: AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback capability, power door locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, body-colored outside heated rearview mirrors (passenger side power), premium seat fabric and 15-inch alloy wheels. Special options for the LT include a premium six-speaker audio system, power sunroof and a high-security engine immobilizer.
Quality design and manufacturing
From the drawing boards of Giorgetto Giugiaro's renowned Italdesign studios in Turin , Italy , the Aveo five-door’s striking design is an achievement in highly efficient packaging. Distinctive cues, such as the division's signature brand bar and gold bowtie, clearly mark the Aveo as true Chevrolet. Both body styles are manufactured at the world-class Bupyong , South Korea facility.
A high-quality driving experience comes from a strong vehicle body that is well insulated. Aveo's unibody uses high-strength steel in more than 46 percent of its structural components. Build quality is clear in the fit of the exterior body panels, which have consistently trim 3-mm gaps – a benchmark normally associated with more expensive vehicles. Extensive sound insulation helps minimize wind, road and engine noise. Even the exhaust system is tuned to reduce noise.
Safety on the road
The Aveo offers strong occupant protection, which centers on its stable passenger cell. It is made predominately of high-strength steel and forms a protective safety cage around the passenger compartment, with the front structure designed to distribute crash energy along multiple load paths. The B-pillar, for example, moves like a pendulum rather than folding and protruding into the passenger compartment during a crash. Known as tailor-welded blanking, or the pendulum method, this design feature is typically used only in larger, upper-segment vehicles.
Aveo’s standard dual-diagonal brake system includes large, ventilated front discs and self-adjusting rear drum brakes. The rear brakes have a wide lining for increased service life. A four-channel, four-sensor ABS system with electronic brake force distribution is available.
New advanced dual-stage frontal air bags with the GM Passenger Sensing System and side-impact (seat mounted) air bags are standard, along with safety belt pretensioners and height-adjustable shoulder belt anchors for the front seats. The rear seat features shoulder belts in all three seating positions. The standardized child safety seat system, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH), provides two lower anchors and a top tether anchor to be used to secure a child seat to the vehicle seat structure. These anchorages are designed to make it easier to properly install compatible child safety seats. Other standard child-safety features include rear child security door locks and an emergency trunk latch release handle inside the trunk of the sedan.
