TIMES are tight and decent budget cars that sit beneath the R110 000 mark are few and far between. And, while their pricing seems to be on an upward curve, the fuel price is following suit, so it’s fair to say that there’s a highly competitive – and potentially lucrative – market for wallet-friendly compact cars. Chevrolet has now stepped into the fray with a locally produced entry level offering in the shape of the Spark 1,2 Campus. Light on extras but heavy on safety spec, could this be the smartest choice for the budget-minded?
Despite its price positioning, the Spark doesn’t look low-rent. That wedge-shaped pro file and bold nose have not been sullied by low-rent trim, with colour-coded door handles and bumpers lending the car a more upmarket appearance than its price would suggest. The only let down is a dour set of 14-inch steel wheels. Inside, the car’s budget bearing is more evident in the swathes of monochromatic grey plastics adorning the facia and door panels. Although the plastics are hard, the general fit and finish are good. The cabin ambience is lifted somewhat by the swooping, dual cockpit design, swirly graphics on the cloth-covered seat panels and blue mood lighting under the facia, and especially by that rather funky motorcycle-style instrument pod.
The driving position is almost ideal, but some testers commented that tilt adjustment for the steering wheel would have been welcome. Interior space is impressive and a brace of six-footers can be humanely accommodated behind front occupants of similar stature.
However, the same cannot be said of the boot. At 136 dm3, you’re looking at just enough space for a weekly shop or a couple of soft bags; even a strategically placed baby stroller would be pushing it. Fortunately, you can free up a handy 848 dm3 of utility space by folding the 60:40 split rear seatback.
Cars in this price bracket are not renowned for dynamism – they can be downright ponderous to pilot, in fact, but the Spark proved a pleasantly engaging car for the daily commute.
The hydraulic power steering setup has a palpably more positive feel to its action than the electrically assisted items doing service in some of its Korean rivals. Despite its short wheelbase and high-sided profile, the Spark isn’t overly prone to body roll and its ride quality is impressively pliant and well resolved for a car of its ilk. The one thing that could come in for some criticism is a clutch pedal that’s on the light/springy side and a clutch plate that’s occasionally prone to slip when pressing on.
Although the Spark draws its modest 60 kW and 108 N.m from a 1,2-litre, four-cylinder engine, its free-revving nature and rorty soundtrack gives the impression of it being a lot faster than it really is. But fast it is not; in our performance testing, it hit 100 km/h from standstill in a close-to-claimed 13,4 seconds but the short gearing and snappy gearshift make it suitably nippy in the cut and thrust of round-town driving. Those close ratios do, however, render the interior a drone fest at motorway speeds.
Chevrolet has done away with cost-adding extras such as electric windows and an audio system, leaving it trailing behind its rivals in some respects. But they’re hardly deal-breakers in this segment; the manual windows mean less can go wrong and a dealer- fitted audio system is available for R1 500. Similarly, an aftermarket Bluetooth kit would see the Spark catching up with its well-equipped Korean competitors. Shop round and you could pick one up for between R700 and R1 300. Thankfully, the all-essential air-conditioning and power steering are present.
While the Spark may be relatively spartan on the comfort and convenience fronts, it packs an impressive array of safety features such as ABS with EBD, driver and passenger airbags and rear Iso x anchorages. Although well catered for in the extras department, most rivals at this price point are bereft of such features, all of which cannot be speci ed as options and would necessitate potential buyers moving up to models priced between R12 000 to R20 000 above the Spark.
Test Summary
There’s something innately appealing about a cheap, no-frills, no-nonsense car such as the Spark Campus, especially when you factor in the crucial safety equipment, spacious interior and engaging drive that it serves up.
Then there’s the fact that it’s locally produced, which, according to General Motors South Africa, equates to savings on logistics being passed on to the buyer. It also means that parts should be cheap and easily sourced from an extensive dealer network. Broadly speaking, it’s a case of weighing up the priorities of nice-to-haves versus crucial safety equipment, and the latter should hold sway come decision time. In terms of value for money and overall packaging, there’s little to touch it in this segment.
