Car Star of the month: Chevrolet Spark

The Spark was designed to re-launch the Chevrolet brand back into the hearts of the British public. As a brand, GM’s Chevrolet name has remained on the fringes of the British collective conscious for several years, while other budget brands such as Kia and Hyundai have advanced ahead of it.

As the Spark was launched in March this year it just missed out on the Government’s scrappage scheme which so benefitted some of its key rivals (Hyundai i10 and Ford Fiesta for example). Despite missing out on this handy supermini sales boosting incentive, the Spark was priced to benefit from a post-scrappage hangover.

While the scrappage scheme was alive and kicking, much media interest focused on the small car models that were becoming stars of the scheme and much of this press attention overshadowed the launch of the new Spark. As such, while the Spark was styled, priced and ready-to-go when it launched, it failed to gain the public’s attention in any sort of fire-lighting way that its name might suggest.

But as the year progresses and the scrappage scheme becomes but a distant memory, motorists will be looking for an ideal little run-around, during this, a key month for the industry.

Much of this September’s plate change frenzy of car buying will be shadowed by concerns from buyers about forthcoming rises in running costs and the dreaded increase in VAT. Here is where the little Spark may light a fire or two. Not only will its confident and masculine looks standout among the array of cutesy supermini offerings but the exclusivity of a so-far scarcely known model should appeal to those who fancy something a bit different this autumn. Choosing something a bit different has a practical advantage too, if you are heading to the showrooms this month. Popular models like the Blue Oval’s Fiesta have long waiting lists due to high demand and as such if you order in September, there is a strong chance that you won’t receive your new car until after the VAT increase comes into force on January 4, 2011. This can add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your model. A less popular model such as the Spark may well be available in a couple of month, reducing the need for a frustrating wait for your new model and saving you dishing out for the additional tax. As it stands the Spark is priced below many of its competitors meaning there is an opportunity to save before VAT is even taken into account.

While it is fair to say that the Spark is basically equipped at the bottom end of its range, if you are prepared to forego unnecessary luxuries then you will save money over the car’s key rivals. At the base of the model range the Spark costs from £6945, this compared to the base model Fiesta at £11645, the Hyundai i10 at £7725 and even the Kia Picanto at £7125, which sees that you are quids in.

Style-wise the Spark is aimed at a youthful market which will likely appreciate its non-budget busting approach to pricing. The Spark is offered with a choice of two petrol engines (1.0 and 1.2) and three trim levels. Starting at the base of the range the Spark is offered with a 1.0-litre engine developing 68PS, costing £6945. Models in Spark + trim, also available with the 1.0-litre engine, come with air conditioning, electric front windows and central locking, along with a USB compatible four-speaker stereo.

The LS, priced from £9095 is likely to be the most popular trim level. It comes with a choice of the 1.0-litre or an 81PS 1.2-litre engine, and adds remote central locking, silver trim detailing, a sunglasses holder, 14-inch wheels, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, a chrome-effect grille surround, front fog lamps and a body-coloured rear spoiler.

For £500 more than the 1.2 LS, customers can add a plus pack – the LS+ gets smart alloy wheels, electric windows front and rear, a trip computer, heated electric door mirrors, roof bars and steering wheel audio controls.

The range-topping LT trim, available only with the 1.2 litre engine, introduces a little more in the way of luxuries including 15-inch alloys, climate control, interior detailing to match the exterior (depending on colour), an exterior body kit and a six-speaker stereo.

Safety wise, Chevrolet furnish there little supermini with everything you might want and more and for its class it is really quite remarkable. Standard kit includes six airbags, MacPherson struts, compound crank (torsion beam) axle at the rear, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on the LT trim, three-point seatbelts for all five seating positions, ISOFIX rear child seat fixings and an inbuilt pedestrian protection system. As a result the Spark attained a four-star Euro NCAP rating and maximum points in Child Restraint System dynamic performance tests too.

Drive-wise, the Spark handles confidently enough, with sufficient insulation from the road imperfections. Unlike many of its rivals, the Spark manages to balance the twin requirements of in-town nimbleness and competent handling with ease. It feels solid despite its compact dimensions, and while it does suffer from some body roll, no more so than its peers. Visibility in the Spark is much better than you’ll find in the Fiesta too, which in its latest model form, offers poor visibility in every direction and is arguably the Ford car’s biggest failing.

The interior is cheap yet Chevrolet has made a bold effort to make it look funky and there is definitely something fairly cheap yet cheerful about the sweep of the dashboard on the top-spec car.

As an undiscovered gem of the budget supermini options, the Spark should make a great choice for those that looking for something slight alternative this September, in the hope of dodging the taxman. As a great non-mainstream car, the Spark is finally getting some of the limelight it deserves as we name it our Car Star of the month.

Author: Faye Sunderland, September 1st, 2010
Filed under: Chevrolet | 1 Comment »

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