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2004
Chevrolet Aveo

Starts at:
$9,455
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New 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
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Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn SVM
    Starts at
    $9,455
    27 City / 35 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 5dr HB SVM
    Starts at
    $9,455
    27 City / 35 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn Base
    Starts at
    $11,245
    26 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 5dr HB Base
    Starts at
    $11,245
    26 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 5dr HB LS
    Starts at
    $12,140
    26 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn LS
    Starts at
    $12,140
    26 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Notable features

Italdesign styling
Two available trim levels
Tall roofline
Manual or automatic
Optional antilock brakes

The good & the bad

The good

Fuel economy
Price
Maneuverable size

The bad

Unknown reliability
No side-impact airbags
Tepid performance
Lackluster handling
Low resale value

Expert 2004 Chevrolet Aveo review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

A Budget Model With Little Value
Chevrolet Aveo LS

There are several ways to look at the Chevrolet Aveo LS hatchback. Nearly all of them are bad.

The most benign view is that it is a cheap ride, and it’s built to perform, feel and stay that way. There is nothing special about it, nothing romantic or inviting.

The Aveo LS is an appliance in much the manner of a toaster, washing machine or steam iron. You turn it on, and it takes you from place to place in splendid mediocrity. Ironing clothes, by comparison, would be an adventure.

I had hoped to write something different. I am a big fan of small cars well done — automobiles such as the Mazda3, Mini Cooper, Nissan Sentra and the Nissan March that could be coming to America in 2006.

Those cars are economical. They drink modestly from fuel pumps. Their tailpipes offer minor offense to the air. They use little parking space. Yet, they have excellent handling, commendable acceleration and lots of personality. They understand the difference between “economical” and “cheap.”

An economical car offers more value than expected for the money paid. The Hyundai Accent, priced from $11,839 to $12,639, is an example. It is smartly styled, made well and imbued with good performance and handling. It is a pleasant surprise. It makes you smile every time you sit behind its steering wheel.

A cheap car gives you a low price and little else. Put another way, it meets minimal expectations for a minimal price. The Aveo LS hatchback is a cheap car.

That cheapness is not reflected in the Aveo’s general fit and finish, which are good. It instead shows up in handling, which is bad by the most generous measurements.

The Aveo, actually a front-wheel-drive Daewoo Kalos made by Daewoo Motor Co., General Motors Corp.’s South Korean subsidiary, is a compendium of wacky proportions and mismatched parts. It is heavy for an economy car, weighing 2,354 pounds with an automatic transmission. That weight, largely located at the front end, rests atop a super-soft suspension system and a short (97.6 inches) wheelbase.

The wheelbase is the centerline distance between the front and rear wheels. Short wheelbases are fine — for cars that also have accommodating vertical geometry, such as lowered side panels and low rooflines.

But the Aveo LS hatchback is a short, heavy, tall car on a sloppy suspension. The result is an automobile that wanders, wiggles and wobbles all over the road. It is the next best thing to driving a 1960s Lincoln with worn shock absorbers.

There are other deficiencies: The standard five-speed manual gearbox is a rubbery affair. The clutch retreats from, rather than responds to, the left foot. The steering is less than precise.

GM supplied the Aveo’s E-TEC II 1.6-liter, 103-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine. It is a good engine that would be great in a car that weighed at least 300 pounds less.

There seem to have been too many cooks stirring this particular automotive pot; and it seems that their main concern was cutting costs rather than coming up with a combination of the best ingredients at an attractive price.

That’s too bad. GM has done an overall excellent job of revamping its lineup of cars and trucks. Most are fresh, different, exciting and globally competitive.

The Aveo so far is the only disappointment in the company’s new fleets, and that is no small thing. Good entry-level cars are needed to attract first-time buyers. Keeping those buyers is the key to building a strong customer base for future product sales. But customers can be retained only if they are pleased. The Aveo does not please.

2004 Chevrolet Aveo review: Our expert's take
By

A Budget Model With Little Value
Chevrolet Aveo LS

There are several ways to look at the Chevrolet Aveo LS hatchback. Nearly all of them are bad.

The most benign view is that it is a cheap ride, and it’s built to perform, feel and stay that way. There is nothing special about it, nothing romantic or inviting.

The Aveo LS is an appliance in much the manner of a toaster, washing machine or steam iron. You turn it on, and it takes you from place to place in splendid mediocrity. Ironing clothes, by comparison, would be an adventure.

I had hoped to write something different. I am a big fan of small cars well done — automobiles such as the Mazda3, Mini Cooper, Nissan Sentra and the Nissan March that could be coming to America in 2006.

Those cars are economical. They drink modestly from fuel pumps. Their tailpipes offer minor offense to the air. They use little parking space. Yet, they have excellent handling, commendable acceleration and lots of personality. They understand the difference between “economical” and “cheap.”

An economical car offers more value than expected for the money paid. The Hyundai Accent, priced from $11,839 to $12,639, is an example. It is smartly styled, made well and imbued with good performance and handling. It is a pleasant surprise. It makes you smile every time you sit behind its steering wheel.

A cheap car gives you a low price and little else. Put another way, it meets minimal expectations for a minimal price. The Aveo LS hatchback is a cheap car.

That cheapness is not reflected in the Aveo’s general fit and finish, which are good. It instead shows up in handling, which is bad by the most generous measurements.

The Aveo, actually a front-wheel-drive Daewoo Kalos made by Daewoo Motor Co., General Motors Corp.’s South Korean subsidiary, is a compendium of wacky proportions and mismatched parts. It is heavy for an economy car, weighing 2,354 pounds with an automatic transmission. That weight, largely located at the front end, rests atop a super-soft suspension system and a short (97.6 inches) wheelbase.

The wheelbase is the centerline distance between the front and rear wheels. Short wheelbases are fine — for cars that also have accommodating vertical geometry, such as lowered side panels and low rooflines.

But the Aveo LS hatchback is a short, heavy, tall car on a sloppy suspension. The result is an automobile that wanders, wiggles and wobbles all over the road. It is the next best thing to driving a 1960s Lincoln with worn shock absorbers.

There are other deficiencies: The standard five-speed manual gearbox is a rubbery affair. The clutch retreats from, rather than responds to, the left foot. The steering is less than precise.

GM supplied the Aveo’s E-TEC II 1.6-liter, 103-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine. It is a good engine that would be great in a car that weighed at least 300 pounds less.

There seem to have been too many cooks stirring this particular automotive pot; and it seems that their main concern was cutting costs rather than coming up with a combination of the best ingredients at an attractive price.

That’s too bad. GM has done an overall excellent job of revamping its lineup of cars and trucks. Most are fresh, different, exciting and globally competitive.

The Aveo so far is the only disappointment in the company’s new fleets, and that is no small thing. Good entry-level cars are needed to attract first-time buyers. Keeping those buyers is the key to building a strong customer base for future product sales. But customers can be retained only if they are pleased. The Aveo does not please.

Safety review

Based on the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
5 years / 60,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 model years or newer / up to 75,000 miles
Basic
12 months / 12,000 miles bumper-to-bumper original warranty, then may continue to 6 years / 100,000 miles limited (depending on variables)
Dealer certification
172-point inspection

Consumer reviews

3.8 / 5
Based on 33 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.9
Performance 3.6
Value 4.1
Exterior 4.1
Reliability 4.0

Most recent

  • Never Again

    The car sits too low to the ground making it impossible to see oncoming traffic at times. Now I'm car-less and sitting here in tons of pain because I couldn't see the car coming at me in an intersection. "Lucky to be alive"
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 1.0
    2 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Its not a bad car

    Ok its a cheap buy but it will not die on u it hasn't failed me and iv been a little rough on it and it still keeps surprising me and if you're a person that likes to build up a car to somethin a bit more stylish then this car is a great build to and its comfy the only bad thing iv had with it was my odo readers lights are going out but its a 16yr old car so nothin to surprising
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • This car was a tank!

    I owned a 2004 aveo hatchback manual transmission until 2018 when I crashed it for the last time. I have hit deer and had the front end replaced multiple times. But it always got great gas mileage. When I first got it, I got 40 mpg!! Then it gradually decreased. I was getting 33 mpg until the end. I hauled luggage driving from Virginia to New York to New England. I would fit lumber, a big screen tv, the car could handle anything. For a small car it was surprisingly spacious. I bought after market rims because the stock ones bent easy from potholes. I had to replace the head because the timing belt broke. If you follow routine maintenance this car will run forever. I miss my little roller skate!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Good while it lasted

    I bought the car when it was 10 years old and had less than 100,000 miles. It was great up until about 115,000 miles. I had to get the thermostat replaced five times in 10 months and the ball joint busted! They are all good until 100,000 miles then it may be time to invest into a different vehicle.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 1.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Perfect car!

    This car runs great it has 82k miles on it and drives like a dream! This is a great car for me and my family. I would recommend this car to anyone looking to save on gas money.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Reliable and great on gas

    It was the perfect little car for me to commute to work. Also spacious enough for me to do anything from light grocery shopping, heavy holiday shopping, to even camping. Very easy to work on and perform routine maintenance myself. I?ve enjoyed my time with this vehicle.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Nice Commuter

    Never had any major issues. Worked great as an all around commuter car ( 5 speed manual. It was geared lower, so overall gas mileage was 34 mpg on the highway, but pulled the hills very well. Road noise and suspension could be improved on. For a cheaper car, it was adequate, but basic car.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Only 2 owner

    Very good car, economical, easy to handle,Runs very well I recommend them to people who drive a lot as it is very economical
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Chevrolet dropped the ball with this.

    Could have been a good super mini, for work and play. It has a 5 speed Gertrag, sport brakes on the front, but drums on the rear and an aspirated 1.6, it really needed a turbo. Handles very well.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Perfect For A First Car

    I got this car the day after I got my license and was extremely excited about it. To start off, they don't lie about the gas mileage. In matter of fact, it might even get more. During a skate trip I was able to go over 400+ miles in a day with no complications with enough gas to get me around my home town the next day. I've driven this car in many snowstorms with no problems at all getting out of tough situations or even slipping on the roads. It has a special HOLD mode which came in handy. The interior is very comfortable and home-feeling, but the back can be a bit cramped for more than 2 people. The trunk is huge. I have so much space to put stuff in, it's never a problem. The seats in the car are very relaxing and fit to your body in a way. Everything is right where you need it to be when in the driver seat. The car doesn't have power anything, but you'll learn that it's not a big deal at all. I put in a new radio and the speakers in the car are awesome! The only thing I didn't like about the car at all is the exterior design. The car looks really annoying from the front and almost buggish. From the back, the car looks great. Went from 84,000 to 101,000 in just a year, with only a timing belt problem which was inexpensively fixed. Great for a first time driver.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • I love my little car!

    I bought my 2004 Aveo hatchback new in 11/2004. I've driven it every single day since, and I absolutely love it. It is brilliant for use in the city, especially parking in tiny parallel spaces and cramped garages. I've taken several road trips in it also, and my tall friends appreciate the interior height. There's a surprisingly large amount of cargo space when the seats are folded down, and I'm always grateful for the excellent gas mileage. I've had to replace the tires over the years, and I did have to replace a cracked thermostat (which only cost me about $50), but that's it. All in all, I'm still in love with my car 9 years later. :)
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • good reliable car

    i have owned this car from 2004(new) and still have it. i now have 155,000 miles on it getting ready to but a new timing belt on this will be number 2. its a vary good car just treat it right. i get 35 mpg plus parts are cheap when it needs it everything needs maintenance.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo?

The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo is available in 3 trim levels:

  • Base (2 styles)
  • LS (2 styles)
  • SVM (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo?

The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo offers up to 27 MPG in city driving and 35 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo reliable?

The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo has an average reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2004 Chevrolet Aveo owners.

Is the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo. 75.8% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

3.8 / 5
Based on 33 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.9
  • Performance: 3.6
  • Value: 4.1
  • Exterior: 4.1
  • Reliability: 4.0
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