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Some folks reached for their cash, others for a Valium when gas topped $4 a gallon.

Some opted to drive less, others pushed their $40,000 SUVs to the dealership to trade for 40-m.p.g. minis. Still others scoured used-car lots, old barns and fields in search of small cars rated at 30 m.p.g. 20 years ago.

In response to all of the above, Chevrolet has rolled out the Aveo5 hatchback (five door, get it?), which has been redesigned and given a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that delivers a little gutsier 106 horsepower for 2009, from 103 h.p. for 2008.

While adding a bit more muscle, Aveo gets a little more mileage, moving up to 27 m.p.g. city for 2009 from 24 m.p.g. for 2008 and staying at a generous 34 m.p.g. on the highway.

Excellent mileage, but remember there’s no free lunch. Be prepared to make some sacrifices for the savings from a mini-especially when a much larger midsize sedan with far more safety hardware gets mileage thisclose to it. Before Aveo arrived, we spent a couple days with the midsize Saturn Aura, which has added a 2.4-liter, 169-h.p., 4-cylinder option to the V-6 in its uplevel 2009 XR sedan.

The Aura 2.4 is rated at 22 city/33 highway with a 6-speed automatic versus 27/34 with 5-speed manual from Aveo. That’s 5 m.p.g. fewer city, and 1 m.p.g. fewer highway, but for a vehicle that will allow four adults to stretch and carry a week’s luggage and groceries rather than squeeze two adults and two kids in the cabin and a couple duffel bags in the space left behind the rear seat.

In focusing on mileage, Aveo isn’t as lively moving away from the light as Aura. In fact, it feels as if carrying a load of bricks in the cargo hold. And in driving both through a construction zone, Aura’s 6-speed automatic was a blessing while Aveo’s 5-speed manual was a curse. Shift stop, shift start.

Not only do you sacrifice room, but Aveo also doesn’t offer stability control, traction control or side-curtain air bags. Antilock brakes are a $440 option. Stability and traction control, plus side curtains and ABS are standard in the Aura.To Aveo’s credit, front seats are well cushioned and cozy, but the rear seat is sadly lacking in leg and head room for folks other than kids. To haul more than a couple bags in back, you can flatten the split rear seat backs. Talk about room.

Though Aveo is very small, engineers came up with a suspension that keeps hard jolts from filtering into the cabin. And the size means it easily slips in and out of parking spaces.

Aveo5 starts at $13,595 with air-conditioning, rear window washer/wiper/defogger, AM/FM/CD player and auxiliary jack, daytime running lamps, tire-pressure monitor and front fog lamps.

Our test vehicle added the 2LT package at $1,265 with cruise control, power mirrors/windows/door locks, remote keyless entry, satellite radio, steering-wheel audio controls, driver information center, fog lights, upgraded upholstery and 15-inch all-season radials (14-inch is standard). This is all stuff that owners of larger cars don’t like giving up when shopping in the petite section.

And just because it’s an econocar doesn’t mean you can’t have a sunroof ($727) or automatic ($925) – at a cost of only 2 m.p.g. in the city.

Aveo is aimed at for first-time buyers, singles or marrieds without large families who have to keep an eye on the monthly car payment, not just weekly gas expenses. It is a set of wheels that will get you from here to there until you can afford to do so in a bigger ride.

It isn’t the car you trade your Chevy Suburban, Ford Crown Victoria or Lexus LS460 for to reduce your gas bill.

Read Jim Mateja Sunday in Rides. Contact him at rides@tribune.com.