The Daewoo Kalos is a subcompact automobile manufactured by GM Daewoo (the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors) introduced in 2002 and marketed globally in 120 countries – prominently as the Chevrolet Aveo(ah-VAY-o).

Marketed worldwide under five brands (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Suzuki, etc.) and eleven different nameplates (Kalos, Aveo, G3, Swift, etc.), the Kalos vehicles have evolved through two re-stylings in the car’s first generation and have featured three body styles and five engine configurations – all built on a dedicated platform shared with no other vehicles. The first generation’s styling iterations received the T200 and T250 internal codes, used first by Daewoo, and then, by GM Daewoo during the car’s development.

At first glance, the 2010 Chevrolet Aveo would appear to be a contender for the economy car crown. With a super-cheap price (it’s one of the least expensive new cars sold), decent fuel economy and respectable vehicle dynamics, the Aveo could have many shoppers ready to sign on the dotted line. But perhaps their eagerness to commit to an Aveo would be tempered once they compared it to the competition. At that point it becomes clear that the Aveo is more of a back-of-the-pack runner rather than a pace setter.

To its credit, the Aveo does have features like an MP3-enabled audio system, faux carbon-fiber trim and vibrant paint choices for added appeal to younger buyers. It also has GM’s OnStar feature, which is a nice touch for such an inexpensive vehicle. But these features do little to conceal the Aveo’s bland styling and middling performance. The 2010 model’s changes don’t do the Aveo any real favors, either. In fact, the new taller gear ratios for the manual transmission may serve to further neuter performance for the sake of a couple added miles per gallon.

Though one shouldn’t expect too much from budget-minded vehicles like this, the reality is that the 2010 Chevrolet Aveo comes up short in nearly every category. When pitted against other cars like the Honda Fit, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris, the Aveo is less enjoyable to drive and is hampered by a low-buck interior. Before going with an Aveo, we would even suggest considering used versions of the previously mentioned cars, especially the class-leading Fit.

The 2010 Chevrolet Aveo lineup gets a modest bump in horsepower and estimated highway fuel economy. Chevrolet’s smallest car comes as a 4-door sedan or a 4-door hatchback called the Aveo5. Both body styles come in LS and uplevel LT trims. All have a 108-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, an increase of 2 horsepower from 2009. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, and a 4-speed automatic is optional. Available safety features include ABS and front-side airbags. Power locks and remote entry are newly standard on the LT hatchback. A 2LT option package for the LT hatchback includes cruise control, heated power mirrors, power windows, and satellite radio.

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