Do you remember the Daewoo/Chevrolet Matiz? Thought not, as it was far from class best and struggled on for seven years. The sharp looking Spark is its replacement and has been with us for around two years. Based on the Beat concept that went on to become the Spark, it's a star of all the recent Transformer films. Sadly, the concept car that appears on screen is more exciting than the city car that we have here. Still, let's start with what the Spark does well. The attractive but boxy profile means there's plenty of head- and legroom in the Chevy. The Chevy Spark is one of the most comfortable ways of transporting tall passengers around. Where it scores over rivals, is its five-door practicality. In fact, the only compromise is the tiny 170-litre boot, which is only good for a couple of shopping bags. There is plenty of standard kit with the range-topping LT specification, but we weren't keen on the cheap feel of the trim and plastics considering the price. The Spark's looks might be sharp, but its driving experience might leave you feeling a bit short changed. The 1.2-litre petrol engine isn't particularly powerful and the gearchange is slow-witted. This means you'll have to work it hard to make decent progress and then it gets noisy. So, should you decide to take it out of the city, the engine, wind and road noise won't make driving the Chevrolet a particularly enjoyable experience. This is a shame as the Chevrolet Spark actually rides quite well, even though there's lots of body roll in corners, but there's no fun for the keener driver. Model: Chevrolet Spark 1.2 LT Price: £10,695 Engine: 1.2-litre, four-cylinder Power: 80bhp, 111Nm Max speed: 102mph 0-60mph: 12.1s MPG: 55.4mpg Emissions:119g/km Verdict: Neat styling, spacious interior but rivals are better made and better to drive than the Chevrolet.
