Green Driving Tips

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October 24, 2008

BY JEFF TAYLOR SearchChicago – Autos Writer Full Article

It’s week two in the battle of the fuel-efficient smallish misers. In my last review I tested the smart fortwo, and this time it’s the slightly larger, thirstier Chevrolet Aveo5. The “5” number denotes five doors — no waiting.

The Aveo5 is designed and built by GM’s South Korean arm Daewoo. Arriving just in time for the fuel cost crunch, the 2009 Aveo5 comes with a more powerful engine that delivers the same fuel economy as the old engine yet has more usable power. The 1.6-liter Ecotec engine features variable valve timing and is good for 106 horsepower (up from 103), and 107 pound-feet of torque. The engine also features budget and environmentally friendly features like a timing belt designed to last 100,000 miles and replaceable cartridge-type oil filters verses spin-on metal can filters.

The test vehicle came with a standard five-speed manual transmission, which helps it achieve 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Exceptional mileage? No. Acceptable mileage? Yes. But, is it worth the sacrifices? Read on. Full Article