Review of the new Chevrolet Spark

Having wowed motorshow crowds with its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Volt, Chevrolet's attempt to grab a piece of the citycar action is called the Spark. Don't expect too much by way of groundbreaking design or next generation propulsion systems though. The Spark is far more traditional in its approach than its electrically charged colleague, the key advantage it does have being that you can actually buy one.

Chevrolet's efforts to grow its profile in the UK market were hindered from the outset by its reliance on ex-Daewoo models. Trying to make the best of a cheap and not particularly cheerful model range that had already been intensively marketed as the lowest expense, lowest involvement way into a functioning new car proved challenging. Where the famous American brand has been able to put its own stamp on its products, the signs have been much more encouraging. The Captiva 4x4 and Cruze saloon both have something to be said for them and the Spark, a compact citycar with MPV tendencies that replaces the long-serving Matiz, is another model for which there are high hopes.

Spark customers don't get any pricey diesel options but they do have a couple of small petrol engines to choose from. The 1.0-litre unit develops 67bhp and for more urgent performance, there's an 80bhp 1.2-litre. These are modern powerplants with alloy cylinder heads, double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. A multi-port fuel injection system works to optimise the combustion process, getting the maximum for each drop of unleaded. A five-speed manual gearbox comes as standard on all the Spark models.

".with sharp looks, low costs and decent safety credentials, it should be in with a shout."

The Spark is clearly designed for travel through the modern urban landscape with all its restrictions on available space. As is the style with modern citycars, the wheels are pushed right out to the four corners of the vehicle to produce the biggest possible interior within the car's small footprint but also to create a tight turning circle to boost manoeuvrability.

The Spark is 3,640mm long and 1,597mm wide, so it's less dinky than committed citycars like the smart fortwo or Toyota iQ but on a par with other models like the Ford Ka and Citroen C1 which still attempt to offer a realistic four person capacity with a usable boot. There's a definite MPV aspect to the Spark's shape, with its flat sides and high roofline helping to make even more of the space available. It's far from frumpy though, with huge headlights, a narrow glass area and a deep front bumper that curves around the car's nose blending with the bulbous wheelarches. A jagged 'lightening bolt' line cut into the flank is the signature styling feature.

The cabin area has some engaging features like the instrument cluster that sits on top of the steering column which takes its design inspiration from that of a motorcycle. All of the controls are illuminated in a fetching electric blue when the headlights are turned on and there's the usual array of storage features including a centre console with cup holders and a pot for MP3 players or mobile phones.

Top class safety credentials are a difficult thing to achieve in a small car but the Spark's designers used a number of clever methods to get the results they were looking for. To marry the needs for impact protection and light weight, the Spark is built from high strength steel of varying stiffness. The structures are robust where they need to be and less so in other areas to channel impact forces away from the occupants. Various crumple zones have been incorporated into the design, there's a pedal retraction system to safeguard the feet of the driver in a front end collision and an array of safety equipment is offered, including six airbags.

The growth in the citycar sector has been fuelled in part by motorists downsizing out of larger vehicles in a bid to reduce their costs. This means that there's a growing expectation for small cars to be as well-equipped as larger ones and Chevrolet appears to have taken this on board. The entry-level Spark is clearly there to achieve an enticing opening price point and offers little more than the basics. The Spark + is likely to be more popular with air-conditioning, electric windows, central locking and a USB port for the four-speaker stereo, all for a modest price increase.

The LS grade is the next step up with body-coloured exterior appendages, a rear spoiler, front fog lights and remote central locking. Then comes the LS + with which adds alloy wheels, a trip computer and yet more styling accessories. The range-topping LT is still under £10,000 and has a full bodykit, climate control, and more extras to enhance the look and feel. These higher spec Sparks really are well equipped by citycar standards and there are still options including rear parking sensors and ESP stability control to consider.

Running costs are obviously crucial in any citycar and the Spark's compact petrol engines should deliver the goods. Emissions of the 1.0-litre car are pegged at 119g/km and combined cycle economy is 55mpg. There are more economical small cars out there but the Spark holds its own and its reliance on petrol power keeps upfront costs down.

Small and economical looks like being the prevailing mantra for the car market in the foreseeable future. There's a lot of interesting and innovative stuff happening with citycars and small MPV type vehicles as manufacturers respond to demand for shrinkage in the cost, emissions and dimensions of what we drive. The Chevrolet Spark is another contender in this market. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about it but with sharp looks, low costs and decent safety credentials, it should be in with a shout.