GM introduced the facelifted version of the Aveo/Kalos lineup in 2008 as an alternative for the budget car market, which was increasing due to the world financial crisis.
Like most of the other carmakers, General Motors had financial troubles. Its cars were filling the storage areas, and there were no customers. Its only solution was to sell more affordable cars and the Aveo/Kalos was just the car it needed. Kalos came from Greek and means beautiful. It looked closer to its name in a three-door version, but in the five-door version, it was just as bland as most other cars from its segment.

The refreshed Kalos looked very different than its predecessor. Its swept-up headlights and the redesigned grille that resembled Audi’s single-frame one made the car looks more aggressive. On the sides, the ascending line connected the front wheel-arches to the taillights. Its rear doors were wide enough for average-sized adults and excellent for children.

Inside, the 2008 Aveo featured the same hard plastic materials for the dashboard. It was a budget car, and no one expected leather seats or soft materials in it. At least, the carmaker provided steering wheel buttons for the audio system, which was carried over from the Opel Corsa. Depending on the trim level, the AC unit was fitted as standard.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed two engine choices, both with gasoline. A four-speed automatic transmission was available as an option for the 1.4-liter engine, while the 1.2-liter was paired exclusively with a 5-speed manual.