WE LIKE
1. Cheap to buy and run
2. Decent passenger space
3. Good level of equipment
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Rear seats not easily folded
2. Not comfortable at high speeds
3. Slightly harsh ride
For years Chevrolet's city car was the rebadged Daewoo Matiz, a car that frankly didn't do the brand any favours. But now a Chevrolet-designed car, the Spark, has taken the Matiz's place as the cheapest and smallest car the brand has to offer. Thankfully, it's also an improvement.
With prices starting at approximately £7,000, the Spark retains the budget nature of an entry-level Chevy - and even the range-topping model is available at less than £10,000.
Unsurprisingly, given its low price, it does feel as if it's built to a price, but it would be harsh to damn the Spark for the feel of its interior plastics, for example: most of it feels durable but there is a slight element of give to some of them, especially the door panels.
What is at odds with the Spark's low price, however, is the amount of equipment on offer through the range. While the entry-level trim is basic, the higher specifications offer much more in the way of kit: by the time you get to the top of the range, you get toys such as 15-inch alloy wheels, a stereo with aux and USB inputs, steering wheel-mounted controls and climate control.
The options list is short, but the availability of rear parking sensors is impressive for such a small and cheap car. Given that many Sparks will spend the majority of their time in urban environments, this £150 option could be a great investment.
Diminutive dimensions are not the only reason why the Spark is better suited to the urban environment. Its light steering, for instance, makes for easy manoeuvring around town, but out on the open road, it feels a bit vague at higher speeds. That said, high speeds are not something the Spark will be able to achieve on a regular basis. The entry-level 67bhp 1.0-litre engine is very slow to 62mph, taking 15.5 seconds. The 80bhp 1.2-litre engine is little better, but it does at least mean 12.1 seconds for the benchmark. It certainly feels nippy enough around town, but overtaking can be a fairly time-consuming process.
But practicality and the ability to seat two adults in the rear is more important to the Spark than performance. Split folding back seats add to its usefulness, but it is tricky to get them totally flat and the folding mechanism is slightly flimsy.
However, the Spark's striking good looks and high level of equipment mean it is a good option for urban drivers on a budget.
Average
User reviews (17)
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Keon Woo Lee21 March 2010
Small cars are supposed to be cute, but "spark" is not. The weird-looking front may get some attraction from guys who want tiny rides. Girls? I do not think they like its look. The rear design constitutes better look for the class "spark" belongs to. Just a little more money can help people afford better-looking and fun-giving cuty cars.
Report as inappropriateJohnny Gee01 April 2010
We owned a Matiz before & the Spark is a great improvement. The level of equipment in the LT model, along with the room in the Spark is great. The ride is not harsh, it is as good a ride as the 2006 Ford Fiesta that for us it replaces. If you're going to but the Spark, don't let it's styling or the review you might read put you off - Pay the extra money & buy the 1.2 LT model that has all the extra bits thrown in. The dealer also offers 3 years AA, servicing & waranty It's well worth it.
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Maurice Price24 April 2010
Deeply disapointed that you rejected my user review of the Chevrolet Spark. It is as if you are only interested in positive reviews. I would have expected that of a Dealer not an independent programme.
Report as inappropriateTG15 June 2010
I have owned one 2 months now and I have to say it does what it says on the tin. Its roomy in the back, plenty of headroom, quite a decent stereo, nippy in the city and easy to drive. However, a major downside for me is driving in the dark - the lights on the stereo and dash and just so bright, blinding almost - and theres no switch to tone them down - so you are stuck with a glare and as a driver you light up! Plus, not great at high speeds (but change down and its a different matter) as its quite noisey. But compared to others I test drove (Grande Punto, i10, Piccanto) this was the cheapest and best ride. I also liked the raised driving position and the door handles at the back that are part of the window! A decent car for a decent price - but I did go for an LS model for air con.
Report as inappropriateDaryl04 September 2010
What? Lets take into perspective what is available as an alternative shall we. FIAT PANDA £5995. Far,far better car, cheaper and dependant on model the specification is also higher. Vauxhall Agila, Suzuki Splash, Hyundai i10. the list goes on and on. what a waste of money!
Report as inappropriateBruno25 October 2010
I bought the car 7 months ago (did 10500km). I think it is excellent car unless you really want sport performance, it is not too slow as many say, I have 1.0 version, 50KW.It obviously depend on the market but here Spark with 6 airbags etc, is cheaper than Hyundai I10 49KW with 2 airbags. There is plenty of room for such a small car, The longest drive U had was close to 6 hours and I must say that I felt much better than when I drove a much expensive and bigger car and was driving less than 5 hours. Great value for money, At the time being as far as I'm concerned the best car in it's class. I sat in Suzuki alto, it really looks like a toy compared to Spark. Just my point of view....
Report as inappropriateDianne Surrey01 December 2010
Fantastic car.I bought the LS+ in Cocktail green,and already have had 2 people stop me in the street to ask about the Spark I own.They cannot get over the amount of room inside.Great controls,far easier than my previous 2 Ford Fusions.The Spark handles better than the Fords,and does far more mileage even though the last Fusion was a diesel.I prefer the audio system to the Ford,and all the controls are so simple.At night the dashboard glows ice blue and it is so easy to see where everything is,unlike the Ford Fusion.. Spark is a Fab little car,great little runner,not too bad on our hills,bit slow on the steep climbs,but the more the car runs in the better it drives.I will stick with the Spark anyday over the boring Fords..
Report as inappropriateGoran15 April 2011
I never seen before that kind of cute car like a spark. If I ever get some money i will buy it. Spark is the car I dream about. Greating for fifth gear, my favorite show.
Report as inappropriatecaroline marks25 April 2011
I guess it's all relative isn't it? I hired one while my Peugeot 207 was being repaired and absolutely hated it, but hey! it was 9.99 a day! Cheap, nasty, plasticky interior, noisy engine, a bit like a sewing machine with your foot full on the pedal doing a zig zag stitch. This car is definiately aimed at older folks, I was even stopped by a couple of pensioners who thought it was lovely ... mmmm. I didn't like the instrument panel, I am used to being able to glance at my speed etc within my peripheral vision and still keep an eye on the road, not have to take both eyes off the road to check my speed. I never did find the central locking inside the car and it really irritated me that I had to open the driver door to access the boot!!!! Little things like the lever for the boot being smaller than the one for the petrol cap? So badly thought out! A horrible, nasty, cheap little car that I felt embarrassed to drive. A friend summed it up ... as she came out of my house she said 'what car are you driving?' When I told her and pointed to the Spark she fell into a heap of hysterical laughter and said 'oh I always laugh at them ... if I were you I would wear a hat and dark glasses ....' No no no. Not for me. (and I am fifty by the way).
Report as inappropriateGary S24 May 2011
I've been hiring one for a week or so while my own car is being fixed, and I'm with Caroline. I don't expect it to compete with my BMW but this is cheap, tacky, noisy and underpowered compared to a Ka or a Panda. It isn't even that fuel-efficient: in my experience even a little run around town will knock another block off the fuel gauge in the Toytown instrument pod which looks like it's fallen off a moped - though it does provide a laugh, being marked up to 120mph, a speed which you'd have to drive it off Beachy Head to achieve. The interior is surprisingly room and not unpleasant, except for the driver. It's nippy enough round town, unless you want to climb a hill, in which case don't let it go below 2000 rpm, even one-up, or it'll just die. I don't personally mind the looks, but when the "individual" styling is one of the least worst things, it doesn't say much for the rest of the car.
Report as inappropriateJohn Corless24 June 2011
I bought a 2011 Spark LT 1.2, it's easy to drive, suspension is just right, not to harsh and not to soft, power might not be that of a sport's car - but it is geared more toward's economy & eco friendly... someone mentioned Fiat Panda or Hyundai i10... please, so not in the same legue & the i10 has the styling of a cornflake packet.. Hired one while your 207 was being repaired - get used to it ! I've owned 4 peugeot's, terrible, and for £9.99 you probably got the base model which is not worth the effort, if you hadn't been so cheap & gone for an LS+ or LT model, you might have appreciated it a little more... but there again we don't expect the over 50's to have much in the way of style so best an i10 for you :) Gen-x-1.
Report as inappropriateNeil Wilson18 August 2011
We recently hired a Spark on holiday, it was roomy and well designed inside, it was seriously lacking in power and you could only get second gear occasionally. Pay a bit more and get a BMW!
Report as inappropriateAndy22 August 2011
i bought the spark 1 litre just two weeks ago. frankly, for 7,800 quids there are better alternatives available. the dash board is a complete joke. the basic version doesn't have a digital clock!!!. is this cost saving or complete stupidity?. the ride is crap. avoid bumps and pot holes. it feels like a boat ride if you go over a speed breaker. . first two week this car has given me @35mpg. so even on this front the car fails. if you want to buy a cheap new car then go for hyundai i10 or kia picanto or nissan pixo. they offer many more essential things like central locking, good dash board, and a clock. the only reason i went for this car was the interest free finance.
Report as inappropriatejohn farrell06 November 2011
i own a spark, my little boy ordered it in super red with the sports tag, and graphics to match mudflap in the movie. the car is a town car good turning circle, reversing can be a bit limited high rear window. drives ok with moving traffic average speed 16 mph. done 90 in her on the motorway handled OK steering a little light. what do people want for a cheap run around a BMW. she will hardly ever do a motorway just town driving and the supermarket and for a family of 4 the boot does hold all the shopping. she will never match my previous car a Volvo S40 T4 but that a different beast for comfort and speed, you pay for what you get or need. and i wanted a cheap new car to run around that was small but still could take four people short distances no problem. and she looks different to all the other little square boxes as well as the safety of the 6 airbags. i'm a happy bunny with her, next car will be the Chevy Volt.
Report as inappropriateDave08 November 2011
I have had the unpleasant experience of driving the Spark as a courtesy vehicle. I usually drive a Citroen Berlingo so i have obviously tried not to compare the two! I have found the driving position to be terrible, theres one click between being so far away you cant see the road and so far forward you feel the airbag will kill you if it goes off. The angle of the windscreen and the intrusive sun visor strip make it feel that you are looking through a letterbox and not pleasant when driving at night. The main instrument panel appears to be very intrusive and situated to close, especially when your eyes have adjusted to looking at the road.The screen containing the fuel gage and clock is rediculous, it reminds me of a gameboy, hence why it is now refered to as the 'gameboy car' by all at work! I have no problem with the front end styling, my problem is with the rear quarter panel styling, with those two silly panel lines that curve over the rear wheels. The power is another story altogether.I have stalled the car on numerous occasions and even felt the need to check under the engine bay for signs of a blown head gasket (or that the engine has been replaced with a hamster on a running wheel). I have gotten no more that 35 mp/g, maybe due to having to rev the crap out of it in first just to get it going. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone.I have driven numerous cars including many smaller cars, the Citroen C1/Pug 107 is a far superior vehicle. The fact you can get a basic model Ford Fiesta for just shy of 10 grand makes this vehicle a waste of time, in my opinion and i would rather catch the bus than own one of these.
Report as inappropriateAnna 17 January 2012
I have not got a Spark yet but I am very tempted to get one. People keep mentioning going for a different city car... have you concidered that some of the people who are buying this car want it for the large boot space you get.... You try fitting 2 big dogs in a Kia picanto ? not easy ;lol. Spark is the way for me
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