THINK Chevrolet and cars that were the mechanical embodiment of the American dream should immediately leap to mind.
No, I'm not suggesting the Aveo has any chance of ever reaching that sort of iconic status, but the supermini does sum up what the Chevy marque has come to stand for now - a reasonably-priced well equipped motor that's a quantum leap forward from the ill-fated Daewoo it replaces.
Chevrolet want the new model to appeal to a broad cross-section of buyers - from youngsters wanting cheap transport, through to families desiring a reliable, spacious and cost effective second car, on to older drivers seeking a practical no-nonsense motor.
Two engine choices are offered with the 1.2 litre petrol offered in S and LS trim, while the 1.4 litre power unit is available only in the top level LT trim.
It's styled to reflect the distinctive face of Chevrolet, with the model featuring the marque's hard-to-miss gold cross. The neat exterior isn't going to break any barriers design-wise, but it looks modern with smooth lines and an easy-on-the-eye style. The doors shut with a reassuring thud while the solidly built Aveo suffers from none of the rattles that afflicted some of its predecessors in the Daewoo days.
I took it on a family trip to a Cotswolds' village which provided a pretty comprehensive test for the 1.4-litre LT model I drove, encompassing motorways, twisting country lanes, town centres and steep inclines.
The Aveo passes muster on three out of the four, but going up steep hills fully loaded leaves the five-speed petrol engine running out of puff quite quickly as it loses revs and the battle with gravity.
On the motorway, despite being a tad noisy, the Aveo cruises along quite happily, while on more challenging country lanes the car is competent if unexciting, with a degree of roll in corners that stops you pushing too hard.
Drive into town and the Chevrolet is easily manoeuvrable giving it the ability to negotiate with ease tight car parking spaces and other obstacles the urban jungle throws up.
Step into the cabin and the surprise is the amount of space available considering the car's supermini dimensions. There's more than enough room for a family of four and luggage for an overnight stop - while the rear seats can be split 60/40 creating a bigger area when needed.
A closer inspection of the cockpit reveals the materials used for the interior are a little disappointing with the dashboard and doors covered in a hard plastic. However, the dashboard isn't entirely without merit as the controls are well set out and easy to use.
The Aveo is relatively cheap to run - helped by an average fuel economy figure approaching 50mpg - and there's a decent level of equipment included with air conditioning, remote central locking, electric front windows and a radio/CD player some of the goodies thrown in.
With prices ranging from £7,695 for the 1.2S three-door version, rising to £10,645 for the well equipped five-door LT automatic model, Chevrolet hopes it has all the bases covered as the car will be sold in more than 130 countries.
FAST FACTS
Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 LT 5dr
Price: £9,545
Mechanical: 100bhp, 1,399cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed:109mph
0-62mph: 11.9 secs
Combined mpg: 47.9
Insurance group: 4
CO2 emissions: 142g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 5yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust