If you like cars, it’s hard not to get excited when you see the very latest example of 21st century automotive tech. They way the look on the outside, smell on the inside, and accelerate toward the blue yonder are all intoxicating sensory inputs, are they not?
When, for example, the big league Germans like BMW, Audi and Mercedes bring out a new model, it’s difficult not to become absorbed by whatever marvellous Teutonic cleverness these blokes have thought up. And if you’re lucky enough to get behind the wheel of their new cars, it’s even tougher not to get all gushy. The simple truth is that the chassis, engine, interior/exterior design, and build quality of these Germans puts them ahead of their competitors
I can say this with some certainty after a test car schedule that included the new VW Polo, the BMW X1, 530d GT, and the 2.0T Audi A5. I was left with no doubt as to their superior engineering and was even developing a taste for Wagner.
Then I got klapped on the back of the head by a Mazda. Which was actually something of a relief. I don’t like opera and even hardened opera nuts find Wagner tough to deal with.
This metaphoric slap-upside-the-head came courtesy of the new Mazda 6. And it was a sober reminder of how good cheaper cars are. A week later this was reinforced by another example of cheaper-does-the-job motoring, the Chevy Aveo.
Mazda 6 2.0 Active
I’ve always known the 6 to be a “good” car, but I’d never realised (or maybe I’d forgotten) how good it really was. First off, while I’m not that wild about the Mazda 3’s origami-meets-kabuki design, in the larger 6 this aesthetic really works. The reworked front and tail cluster and re-positioned front fog lights only reinforce the fact that the 6 is a real looker. Mine had the “Active” trim spec that included six-CD changer, leather trim, power adjusted seats, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers and satellite steering wheel controls — hard to fault, all-in-all.
The Mazda 6 is one bladdy good car
It was however the cars’ road manners that really raised my eyebrows. This is a very good chassis. It feels pin-sharp without being even vaguely jumpy. Communication through the steering wheel is crystal clear and its handling is entirely predictable in the way that adhesion limits are communicated well before the event. What impressed me the most though was the snicky, short-throw gearbox. Gear engagement feels immediate and locked in, allowing you to get the best out of its 108kW/184Nm 2,0-litre engine.
Which all got me thinking … this was one bladdy good car. Along with all that stuff above, it came with all the other safety (dual front, curtain and side airgags; ABS brakes with EBD & EBA) and warranty essentials (five year/90 000km service plan, four year/120 000km warranty; three year roadside assistance). And it only costs R286 170. Now that might not sound all that cheap considering Audi and BMW start their A4 and 3-series at about R300k (Merc C-Class is dearer at R334k), but spec those Germans up to the Mazda 6’s level and quicker than you can “Boris Becker” you’ll have added another R30k or R40k to your bill. All in all you’re looking at a 50K-plus difference in price for a car that does exactly the same.
Chevrolet Aveo LT 5-door
I have to be honest, even with my new-found love of the common car nurtured by the Mazda, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to the little Chev. My attitude here was more a pragmatic, “one needs to experience all cars”.
Nothing about the Aveo will blow you hair back, but its 1,6-litre engine is nice and revvy
And drive it I did. For a week. And I came away … what’s the best way to put this? … “not offended”. The car didn’t surprise me with it’s abilities in the way that the Mazda 6 did. Whereas the Mazda’s handling was about as good as the Germans, the Aveo was clearly a notch below the Germans’ premium small hatch — the new VW Polo.
However, before one consigns the Aveo to the also-ran folder, it’s worth remembering that while the new Polo is a step-change for this niche in terms of interior design, space, and build quality, the old Polo was still a bladdy good car (still is as the Vivo). And the Aveo is basically in this “old” Polo ballpark. It handles and feels pretty much like this previous gen VW. Which, considering by the amount of old Polos VW sold, must be a good thing.
In the top-level LT trim I drove, the Aveo puts up its hand as a lower-priced, small luxury hatch. For your R169 000 you get leather seats, front fog lights, heated power exterior mirrors, power front and rear mirrors, remote keyless entry, a car alarm system, radio/MP3/CD player, driver and front passenger frontal airbags, ABS, and 14 x 6 inch alloy wheels. To put this into perspective, the new Polo costs R183 900. In this segment that R15k is a fair sized price difference.
Basically nothing about the Aveo will blow you hair back, but its 1,6-litre engine is nice and revvy, the handling is as good as anyone else in this segment (barring the new Polo) and it looks pretty good. There’s quite a bit of the Suzuki SX4 in the front end, which, in my book, is a good thing.
Chev do get a little carried away on their website, somewhat optimistically asking with regard to the Aveo: “What would you pay for total, unquestionable, street cred?” I suspect whatever you might pay, none of that money will go towards getting yourself an Aveo, but I still handed back the little Chev with my attitude to ordinary cars a little adjusted. And I needed that.
Vital statistics
Mazda 6 2.0 Active
Price: R286 170
- Engine: 1 999cc, 4 cyl, petrol
- Power: 108kW at 6 500rpm
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual
- Torque: 184Nm from 4 000rpm
- 0-100km/h (claimed) 10,4 seconds
- Top speed: (claimed) 204km/h
- Fuel Consumption: 8,4l/100km (claimed combined)
Chevrolet Aveo LT 5-door
Price R169 000
- Engine: 1 598cc, 4 cyl, petrol
- Power: 77kW at 5800rpm
- Gearbox: 5-speed manual
- Torque: 145Nm from 3 600
- 0-100km/h N/A
- Top speed: N/A
- Fuel consumption: 7,3l/100km (claimed combined)