With most of the cars now produced locally -thanks to our thriving economy- General Motors SA now has its heart firmly on locals.
Enter the petite but rugged latest Chevy Spark, locals are loving it. Have you seen how jealous on-lookers have reacted towards this beau, I tell you not…
Up front, Chevy gets a slightly larger grille, a subtly revised front bumper, and redesigned headlight covers. The side mirrors now incorporate indicators, and some models get a flashy chrome strip along the beltline.
Round back, the tail-lights have been reworked and the rear bumper tweaked.
Yes, space and boat space are not worth mentioning but it does kick some ass!
The eager little 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine connected to a decent little five-speed gearbox remains, punting out 60kW and 108Nm and an average fuel economy figure of 5.4 litres per 100km is perfectly achievable.
Not your typical speedy material but once it gets into gears and motion, Chevy Spark brings out that unyielding spark, stru! Boasted with five-speed manual, 60kW at 6400rpm power and torque 108Nm at 4800rpm, its worth owning one.
As we took the Spark to Eastern Cape- where it is manufactured- for a long and arduous drive, petrol-wise (fuel tank size 35 litres) is still economical as the previous Chevvys. And it did stand against its own on the bumpy, rugged, potholed and sometimes un-drivable roads!
Attractive for small businesses -nay- ‘cos students or first-time buyers can easily afford this beau…
The Spark LS gets a rear spoiler, 14-inch alloys, height-adjustable multi-functional steering wheel, power/heated side mirrors, front power windows, four-speaker sound system, and auto-locking doors, the top-spec LT adds seat-side airbags, “high back” seats, “sports” bumpers, 15-inch alloys, power windows all-round, six-speaker sound system, and rear park assist.
An optional sports “decal” package is available too.
Here are various models pricing (including VAT)
Chevrolet Spark 1.2 Campus: R106 100
Chevrolet Spark 1.2: R113 600
Chevrolet Spark 1.2 LS: R123 000
Chevrolet Spark 1.2 LT: R136 500
Chevrolet Spark Pronto: R101 500
All Chevvys come with a five-year or 120 000km warranty.
Verdict:
1-10 (Petrol) 5
1-10 (Performance) 7
