When it comes to adding value to a car, sporty styling features tend to be more sought after than fancy electrical items, writes Peter Carroll.

So Chevrolet should be onto a winner with its latest special edition Aveo, which has been given a sporty makeover by the US brand.

 See more pics of the Aveo in our gallery below.

The car is based on the standard 1.2 S and for an extra £500 you get a sports styling pack, metallic paint (normally a £350 option) and a year’s free insurance – provided you are over 21.

The sporting add-ons include a front bumper spoiler, subtle rear spoiler, side skirts, chrome exhaust and skid plates, floor mats and chrome internal trim touches.

Extra costs

The test car was finished in an attractive shade of metallic blue and also came with some attractive alloys, which are available at an extra cost of £300. Nor is air conditioning standard, by the way - it costs another £400.

The Aveo is relatively simple mechanically and should be reliable. Running costs should not be excessive: the car is capable of 50mpg and insurance is group four.

However, its CO2 emissions figure of 132g/km means it does not qualify for cheaper annual road tax of £35.

Relatively spacious

The Chevy is relatively spacious for a car of this type and there are soft-touch materials on the dash, along with reasonably comfortable front seats.

The audio unit is both easy to operate and of surprisingly high quality – which should go down well with Chevrolet’s target market.

The car is easy to drive with light controls and good all-round visibility. But it has a disappointing turning circle and its steering feels vague on bends.

While the Aveo looks the business, drivers should not expect too much from its 1.2 litre power plant – it lacks torque and soon runs out of puff on hills. Once it has got up to speed, however, it happily keeps up with traffic on motorways.

Lack of power

The lack of power might concern experienced drivers but need not be a factor for those who have only recently passed their test and are still building up their experience on the road.

What might be more of a concern is the Aveo’s safety performance – it is outclassed by the best in this sector.

Chevrolet has come up with a decent package for the Aveo and this is likely to prove popular with buyers.

Though its racy looks are not backed up by sporty performance or handling, the Aveo special edition nevertheless offers good value.

And if its smart looks do not tempt, then that year’s worth of free insurance may well prove the clincher.

By Peter Carroll