Say Hello To Chevrolet's 2012 Aveo

Us young guns in the UK probably buy more superminis than anyone else in the world. In some cases they're bought by default, especially when the buyer has just past their driving test since very high insurance costs stop us from owning the sports coupes we really want. To win us over, a supermini has to be cheap, cool and fun to drive. With so many to pick, from the cheap and basic Nissan Pixo and Toyota Aygo to the ultra desirable Citroen DS3 and Mini, where does the 2012 Chevrolet Aveo fit in?

As we saw in OK Go's new music video Needing/Getting where it had a car cameo, the Aveo certainly stands out more than the old car with features such as an aggressive look at the front, a rear spoiler on the back, sharp lines down the sides and even flared wheel arches. The headlamps have been influenced by motorbike lights and there are creases and curves on the bonnet. It should make the grandparents who bought the old car think, "oh, this is bit bold for me now."

The interior shows signs of big improvement too. The dashboard borrows the two tone design that you get in the Corvette and it sort of wraps around you and the front passenger in the same way that a Jaguar XJ does. The instrument cluster is certainly unusual, with a LCD display incorporated into the rev counter but personally, I think it's quite cool. There's also plenty of cubbies for bits and bobs including not one, but two gloveboxes. The top one even has a USB port for your phone or music player.

One feature that separates this supermini from most of the rest is that it comes with five doors as standard which means there's no need to fork out for an extra pair of doors. "There are rear doors? I can't see the door handles?", I hear you say. Well, they're hidden next to the rear window like on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Seat Leon. Your mates will like that since it means they won't have to climb over the front seats sans dignity to get in. Plus it looks spacious enough back there for your bang-on 6ft scribe.

Now lets talk cash. Starting prices aren't as cheap as the old car, with prices kicking off at £9,995 for the basic LS. But for that you get a 1.2 petrol with 71bhp and up to 60.9mpg plus air-con, cruise control (you read that right, cruise control!), remote central locking, 6 airbags, electrically adjustable wing mirrors and front electric windows. Spend more and you can choose a 1.4 petrol with 101bhp and a selection of 1.3 diesels including a couple that are road tax and congestion charge exempt plus grown up features like rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, leather steering wheel, rear electric windows and headlights that automatically turn on at night. Prices for mid-top spec level cars are from £10,995 to £13,695.

Frankly, we think the new Aveo is a welcome improvement over the old car but will it be as good in the flesh? We'll be driving the 2012 Aveo in a special Car Throttle video episode, so stay subscribed!