Chevrolet's diminutive Spark really is tiny — just over 1,500mm wide and 1,600mm tall, and only 3,600mm from the distinctive twin-port nose with the golden bow tie to the end of its tailpipe. Small size means low weight too, a very lithe 864kg on the scales.
Yet despite its Lilliputian dimensions, the Spark offers decent internal space, certainly enough for four (well-acquainted) adults, although Chevrolet has rather optimistically fitted a third seatbelt in the rear. In fact, the seats are good, supportive and comfortable, and the rears fold down to increase boot space from 190 litres when up to a much more usable 568 litres when folded.
Under the bonnet is a pokey little 1.2-litre four-pot, delivering an adequate 81bhp and 111Nm of torque, making the Spark such fun to drive around town. It really does punch above its weight in urban situations, stepping smartly away from the lights and zipping through gaps in traffic. It is strong enough to keep up with highway traffic, but sounds a bit strained when you ask it to do anything more. That's not what it was designed for.
The Spark is a sharply dressed and funky piece of work, with some good exterior detailing that helps it stand out in a very competitive class. As superminis go, this is as good as they get.
