Chevrolet Spark 1.2 LS+ 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Inside the cabin the dash is easy to use and the seats give good support. Seat adjustment is good and there’s space enough for six-footers to get comfortable thanks to the Spark’s upright styling and visibility is good all round. On the LS version there is only up and down adjustment for steering wheel, but not for reach.. The dash design shows the thought put into it but there’s a lot of plastic on show, and it’s clear that the car is built to a budget.

This version comes fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox and the 4 cylinder, 16 valve, 1.2-litre petrol engine which is capable of a doing 0-62mph in 12.1seconds and a top speed of 102mph. It produces 82bhp and 82lb-ft of torque and while it isn’t overly strong, it has enough pulling power to be nippy while keeping up with city traffic flow, and motorway driving poses no problem if you’re prepared to work the engine hard. It can be a touch noisy at speeds - but not too intrusive. On the motorway you’ll notice the wind and road noise more; however the Spark’s rivals aren’t any better in this aspect.

The ride is more comfortable than some other city cars, and the behaviour of the suspension is fuss-free over most bumpy surfaces. At high speed and when cornering, there’s some body roll – but it performs competently, and the ride is comparable to what its competitors offers.

The Spark’s distinctive angular looking body shape gives it presence on the road and certainly makes it stand out beside other rivals such as the Fiesta or VW Up!.

This LS+ version comes with, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, immobiliser and a CD+MP3 connectivity which is not bad for a car in this class. You can include stability control for an extra £360, and metallic paint comes at £375 extra.

Seating four six-foot passengers in comfort is a tall order for most city cars, but the Spark manages to pull it off – thanks to its generous head and legroom. That probably comes at the expense of boot space though, which at 170-litres doesn’t give you that much space for shopping or bags. With the rear seats folded down you get access to 568-litres which you can use, which is a bit better.

Safety is taken care of with front, side and curtain airbags fitted as standard kit on this version, and all Sparks in the range. Child seat mountings (ISOFIX) are included too. Central locking and an immobilizer also come on the LS+ version as standard equipment.

Euro NCAP awarded the Spark an overall rating of 4.

Fuel economy of 55.4mpg is good for its class, beating its rival, the Fiesta, and its CO2 emissions of 119g/km are also lower.

Competitively priced at £10,095 and offering decent performance, good safety and low running costs, the Chevrolet Spark has a lot to offer, especially if you’re tall.

With its frugal engine, it’s an economical car to run and you should be able to negotiate discounts with dealers. Chevrolet’s Five Year Promise may let you sleep well at night as it includes: 5 years' warranty (100,000 miles), servicing, roadside assistance, and covers the MOT testing.

Chevrolet is still not as well established in the UK as more familiar competitors like Ford and Vauxhall, but the Spark 1.2 LS+ is easy to drive, reliable and running costs are very low: a very attractive combination for a city car.