In winning the Best Budget Car section of Car magazine’s 2008 Top 12 awards the previous Chevrolet Spark received a number of glowing endorsements from staffers and readers alike. With the launch of the 2010 Chevrolet Spark those same qualities apply. It might not ride on a traditionally strong name like Volkswagen, but it once again displays the virtues that could make it a real contender in the supermini segment.
Like the previous Spark, which will remain in circulation as the Spark Lite, the new model comes standard with air conditioning, a radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, as well as driver and passenger airbags. There are not many other budget cars that offer the same level of standard specification in this price range. On this aspect alone, I think Spark has the edge.
When I first saw the car I thought, “Wow, it’s come a long way since the old model.” It just has a much more aggressive design. The front, with its huge swept-back headlamp clusters, the sporty rear spoiler and colour-coded bumpers, give the vehicle a very trendy look that’s bound to appeal to its youthful target audience.
The first thing that caught my eye when I climbed behind the wheel was the disti8nctive pod-mounted instrumentation. It is meant to mimic readouts found on sports motorcycles, which to me sounded a bit odd, but it actually works. When the ice blue lights illuminate the controls, you can’t help but feel young and fun.
The seats are comfortable and look especially good in the LS model. I was also amazed at the spacious feel. Ok, at 170 dm³ the boot is nothing to write home about, but the rear leg- and headroom is impressive. Of course for me most cabins appear roomy, but for my driving partner, a much larger lad, didn’t find things too cramped in the Spark’s cabin.
The 5-speed transmission was slick and driving around the Cape Peninsula was exactly what it should have been, breathtaking…Until we got stuck behind Miss Daisy on Chapmanspeak Drive and I constantly had to drop down to first gear to avoid stalling. With the 1,2-litre engine serving up a modest 60 kW , it’s safe to say that speeding fines should be kept to a minimum, but it feels nippy enough to make light work of cut-and-thrust city driving.
The R125 495 price tag for the LS model means you are getting a lot of car for your money. The L model is R115 495 and even this offers enough spec (power steering, air conditioner, radio CD player with MP3 compatibility, as well as driver and passenger airbags) to keep most satisfied.
For those in the market for their first car, the Spark is definitely worth a look.
Get the full road test of the Chevrolet Spark in the August 2010 issue of CAR magazine.
