Chevrolet Spark car review

In 2007 Chevrolet put a trio of city car concepts on display at the New York Motor Show and invited the public to pick the design they liked best. Over a million votes later the 'Beat' concept was chosen. Now the production version is here and Chevrolet have stayed faithful to the bold lines of the original design but changed its name to 'Spark'.

Specifications

• Model tested: Spark 1.2 LS
• Price as tested: £8,795
• Range Price: £6,945 - £9,845
• Insurance group as tested: N/A
• Insurance group range: N/A
• CO2 emissions as tested:N/A
• CO2 emissions range: N/A
• EuroNCAP result: ****
• Date and place tested:November 2009, Athens, Greece
• Road tester: Keith Collantine

The Spark takes the place of the Matiz in Chevrolet's range. But the company is aiming the new car squarely at a much younger market than those who bought that model.

Chevrolet Spark montage

Sub-£7,000 price tag

Accordingly, the car already made a cameo in summer blockbuster Transformers 2 as the robot 'Skids'. Happily, driving the car is a more satisfying experience than Michael Bay's smash-a-thon.

And it's a better use of your money too. The entry-level Spark comes in just short of £7,000 (assuming VAT goes back up to 17.5% in January).

For basic mod cons like electric windows, central locking and air-conditioning you'll need the Spark + which starts from £8,145.

That makes it a very competitive proposition against the likes of the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10. But can the Spark show us anything to rival the likes of the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Fiat Panda?

Fresh look

The Spark's chunky design looks great on the road. It shrugs off the 'I'm-just-a-rebadged-Daewoo' look of the Matiz and the bold gold badge on the front screams 'I'm a Chevrolet!'

Its large headlight clusters have a touch of the Fiesta about them but that large, split grille sets it apart from anything else on the road in its class. The rear light clusters and the crease in its flanks above the wheel arches add to the modern look.

Only in profile does the car lose some of its lustre, with the tall sides making even the optional 15-inch alloy wheels look too small.

Inside the designers have made an effort to carry on the funky styling but the constraints of their budget have had a noticeable effect. There are a lot of plain switches and a dull gear lever with a distinctly rubbery feel. But all the controls are clearly laid out and easy to use.

In an attempt to give the driver something more interesting to look at the major instruments are housed in a large plastic assembly which nestles just behind the steering wheel.

This has some advantages over a traditional arrangement - it's much easier to see the speedometer and other dials. But some will find the LCD screen and plastic surround a bit tacky - have a look at our close-up pictures to judge for yourself.

Excels in the city

With its diminutive size and rapid steering the Spark is most at home in the city. Visibility around the car is very good and the ride, though slightly firm, is generally comfortable.

It has quite a high driving position and limited scope for adjustment. The tall roof means rear passenger headroom is better than you'd expect for such a small car. But with limited legroom full-grown adults will find long distances uncomfortable.

Take it out onto the motorway and even the larger of the two engines - the 1.2-litre petrol - labours at higher speeds and you need a decent stretch of road to overtake safely.

The steering, which is light and nimble at low speeds, also feels a little uncertain when you're going quickly.

There's no question the Spark is a big improvement on Chevrolet's previous city car offering. Unfortunately it won't arrive here before spring, which will likely be just after the scrappage scheme comes to an end.

But even without that leg-up Chevrolet have a car which potential Picanto and i10 buyers should take a serious look at. Those on the market for a Panda or a C1 may also be tempted by its neat looks and low price tag.