The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo continues to be a solid, well-priced offering in the subcompact car category. It's roomier than many of its competitors, with plenty of headroom and decent legroom. Sure, its boxy style isn't likely to win any design awards, but it offers reliable transportation at an affordable price.

On the other hand, the 2008 Aveo is a bit underpowered, even by econobox standards. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 103 horsepower and 107 lb.-ft. of torque, but hills can feel like a challenge (especially with the optional automatic transmission).

The 2008 Chevy Aveo is available as a five-door hatchback (in the Aveo5 LS and Aveo5 Special Value trims) and as a sedan (in the LS and LT trims). The Special Value trim is pretty bare-bones; you won't find many American cars with fewer standard features than this. The LS and LT trims offer a bit more comfort, but even the LT is far from luxurious.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the '08 Aveo pretty much holds its own. Its EPA estimates of 23 mpg city, 33 mpg highway (with manual transmission; automatic transmission mileage is estimated at 23/31) aren't bad, but they don't quite measure up to subcompact competitors like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit.