The Spark is a city car that was initially launched as the Daewoo Matiz in the UK. Given its relatively small size and nimble handling, it is a five-door hatchback that is well suited to being an about town runabout. It has bold styling in comparison to the original Matiz, and is available with either a 1.0 or 1.2 litre petrol engine, in line with most other cars in the class. Obviously these aren’t the most powerful engines, however they are strong enough to allow the Spark to nip through traffic in the city and provide decent motorway performance.
Insurance Groups: 1 - 10
MPG Range: 55 - 56
Latest Chevrolet Spark Car Reviews:
This version of the Chevrolet Spark is a decent city car which performs well in and around urban areas. It can also provide a competent motorway drive, although it has a fairly low top speed and ac...
The Chevrolet Spark is marketed as a young person’s car, and those young at heart. It has an attractive build and comes in bright, bold colours. The price is appealing for such a small car. That sa...
The Spark’s looks are distinctive. For a city car, it is spacious and is cheap to run. However this car is certainly not on par with the technological advancements of its rival brands such as the ...
For those looking for budget motoring, excellent fuel economy and green credentials, the Chevrolet Spark 1.2 LS+ brings it all together in a nice package. Offering space enough to accommodate four ...
The Chevrolet Spark handles well and is not only an accomplished vehicle in and around town, but also delivers a decent enough ride on the motorway. It boasts very good fuel economy and low CO2 emi...
Chevrolet Spark Overview
Inside, the Spark doesn’t offer the quietest of cabins, but the noise is no more obvious than many of its rivals, and is not too intrusive. Behind the wheel, the instrument layout is motorcycle inspired. The dash is easy to use and neatly set out, with a large centre console and simple radio. The materials used can have a slight budget feel, but given the excellent value for money this car represents, the quality of the interior is still to a decent standard if not luxurious.
Due to its relatively tall body, the interior space is particularly roomy for a city car. Both front and rear passengers have decent head and leg room, and the 5-doors makes for great accessibility. There are also five seats, which many other city cars do not offer. The boot is a decent size, 170 litres, with the option of folding the rear seats for larger cargo.
The entry level Spark doesn’t offer much in the way of equipment but there are a number of trim levels available if more kit is desired.
Background
Originally named the Daewoo Matiz in the UK, although it was the Chevrolet Spark in a number of other markets, the first generation was released in 1998. It received a facelift in 2000, before the second generation became available in 2005.
The current generation was based on the Chevrolet Beat concept car, which was unveiled in 2007 at the New York International Auto Show. The production model of the Spark hit assembly lines in 2009 and had received significant styling updates from the relatively conservative Matiz, having kept some of the striking features of the beat.
Summary
The Chevrolet Spark is a 5-door city car which offers a surprising amount of passenger space in a relatively small package. It is well priced compared to some of its competitors and is relatively cheap to run thanks to its efficient choice of engines.
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