Chevrolet Aveo scores 0 stars in Latin America crash test

[DeclasseAseo]

The Chevrolet Aveo was recently put through a 40 MPH offset crash test by LatinNCAP, the equivalent of EuroNCAP for Latin America, achieving extremely poor results. The driver's chest and legs were crushed by the dashboard as the car's bodyshell dramatically collapsed. The car was fitted with seatbelt pretensioners but without airbags, which wouldn't have helped since there was no survival space left. This model is manufactured and sold in Mexico, where it is by far the top selling car. The Aveo made in Mexico was also sold in Canada as the Pontiac Wave G3 sedan, so the results of this test also apply to that version of the car. LatinNCAP made a request to General Motors to stop selling this car in Mexico, but so far the company hasn't responded.

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[MetroMPG]

Wow - that's nasty!

The Aveo made in Mexico was also sold in Canada as the Pontiac Wave G3 sedan, so the results of this test also apply to that version of the car.

Not necessarily. You have to be careful comparing cars made & sold in different countries.

It is also worth saying that the car currently produced in Mexico may not have the same manufacturing processes as the ones produced in S Korea for Canada/U.S.

I have read that it's difficult comparing crash results of the same model car that is produced in different countries.

Differences could include:
- different safety equipment (as seen with the lack of airbags in the Mexican Aveo)
- cost-cutting in manufacturing processes (like fewer welds in the unibody, or smaller welds)
- different materials (like thinner gauge steel, or different steel)

Food for thought.

E.G. the U.S. IIHS gave the '07-09 Aveo sedan an "acceptable" rating for the front crash. Still not great, but definitely not "zero stars".

One big difference I see is how far the steering wheel moves into the cabin in the Mexican vs. U.S. crashes...



Also, compare the amount of roof deformation in the Mexican vs. U.S. crashes.

[DeclasseAseo]

Not necessarily. You have to be careful comparing cars made & sold in different countries.

It is also worth saying that the car currently produced in Mexico may not have the same manufacturing processes as the ones produced in S Korea for Canada/U.S.

The point is that the Pontiac Wave G3 sedan specifically, was produced in the same plant in Mexico as the one in the crash test, so unless they began using lighter steel and fewer welds after that version was discontinued, it would have the same structural performance as the one in the crash test, although it would have airbags of course (you can buy that Aveo with airbags in Mexico). All other versions of the Aveo (Chevy Aveo, Pontiac Wave G3 hatchback, Suzuki Swift+) were imported from South Korea, so this crash test does not apply to them.

Comparing this crash test with the one from EuroNCAP, it appears the European Aveo (made in S.K. in 2006) has worse structural performance, but the dashboard still does not move as far back as in the Mexican model. It looks like the dash crumples in the S.K. model, but remains rigid in the Mexican model, suggesting the later is made with stronger plastic (the irony...).

[MetroMPG]

The point is that the Pontiac Wave G3 sedan specifically, was produced in the same plant in Mexico as the one in the crash test [...] All other versions of the Aveo were imported from South Korea, so this crash test does not apply to them.

Wait a sec... the Aveo sedan wasn't produced in Mexico, but the Wave sedan was?

[DeclasseAseo]

Wait a sec... the Aveo sedan wasn't produced in Mexico, but the Wave sedan was?

In Canada, yes. The Chevrolet Aveo sedan (and all other versions of the Aveo) was imported from South Korea, but the Pontiac Wave G3 sedan (from 2008 to 2010, this one) was imported from Mexico.