TopAuto reader Ben drives a Chevrolet Aveo as his daily, after it was “handed down” to him from family members.
He tells us what he likes, and does not like, about the car.
Which car do you own?
I own a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo 1.6. It has 55,555km on the clock.
When did you get the car?
I got my Aveo in late 2019. I bought it second-hand from my grandparents, who had only put about 40,000km on the clock in eight years. They bought it new.
This car runs in the family, as my brother used it for about two years before me, after my Grandparents.
What are your three favourite things about the car?
My Chevrolet Aveo was a very affordable buy. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but is a well-priced car for what you get.
Although it is a small car, it has a decent amount of power – especially considering its price tag and 1.6-litre engine.
Additionally, it handles surprisingly well, even at higher speeds. In my experience, many small cars are not comfortable to drive at 120km/h or higher, but my Aveo still handles well even at 140km/h.
Which three things do you like least about the car?
It is not particularly light on fuel. For a 1.6-litre engine, I have found it to be quite a guzzler.
My Aveo lacks an infotainment system and it doesn’t even have a basic radio. I love listening to music, so this is quite a drawback for me.
The paint on my car is also a mess. The paint has cracked all over and it appears as though the whole body is scratched.
As someone who prides myself in looking after my car, this is quite infuriating.
What is it like to drive your car every day?
With this car, you get what you pay for. It is an inexpensive car and has been easy-going, and the lack of bells and whistles may be the reason for it having very few hassles over the years.
For a 1.6-litre engine without a turbo, it feels powerful. It still has some power even when reaching higher speeds, around 140km/h, although I would not recommend driving it at this speed.
What is the hardest journey you have done with your car?
I recently drove from East London to Johannesburg with my Aveo – packed full of luggage.
I had the seats folded down and everything except the two front seats was completely packed up to the roof.
I did the roughly 1,000km trip in one day and my Aveo handled it really well. It still had enough power to overtake other vehicles when necessary, and it was not out of power when I needed to put my foot down.
Fuel consumption was not amazing, , though, as it cost roughly R1,600 in petrol for the one-way trip.
I didn’t keep track of how many litres of petrol it used, but according to my post-trip calculations, this was close to 90-litres of fuel.
Would you recommend your car to friends and family?
As several of my family members have already had this car, I’m not sure there is much to recommend.
This car has been relatively painless to own. There haven’t been any particularly expensive services or replacements, and it has never been unreliable.
I would have some reservations, however, as it is not light on fuel.
Another consideration is that General Motors, Chevrolet’s parent, has left South Africa.
This is a concern for any Chevrolet owner when it comes to services and spares.
Keyword: Driving a Chevrolet Aveo with 55,555km on the clock