Chevy's previous city car was the easily forgettable Matiz - simply a rebadged Daewoo - that did little to improve the brand's image in the UK. Things are on the up again now, though, with the introduction of the Spark, designed in-house by Chevrolet.
The Spark owes a great deal of its styling to Chevrolet's Beat concept car from the 2007 New York Motor Show, and that so much of that car's look has been retained in the production model is commendable. Sharp light clusters and bold panel lines give the Spark's diminutive frame a likeable character that's centuries ahead of the lowly, bland Matiz.
Priced between seven and ten grand, depending on spec, the new car retains its Korean-born predecessor's value-conscious appeal. As you'd expect at these figures, interior quality isn't astounding, but the materials generally seem sturdy and well put-together for the most part, although there are flimsy touches like the scratch-prone door inserts.
While basic models are understandably tight for kit, the top end of the range houses welcome surprises such as 15-inch alloys, mp3-friendly sound system, wheel-mounted switchgear and climate control. The limited range of options includes bargains such as rear parking aids at just £150, although we'd like to see the £350 ESP pack fitted as standard on the top spec model.
Very much focussed on city driving, the Spark's steering is quick and well assisted, but the downside is a setup that's too woolly when the pace picks up. The gearchange is on the clunky side, and bigger scars on the road cause a fair amount of disruption, but the ride is good over more common pockmarks and seams. It's a similar story for the petrol-only engine range that consists of a 67bhp 1.0-litre unit and a 1.2 that produces 80bhp. With 0-62mph times of 15.5sec and 12.1sec respectively, both are well suited to urban squirts but really struggle on the open road, making overtaking an unwelcome, and indeed unlikely chore. On the upside you'll enjoy economy above 45mpg and emissions of under 120g/km of CO2, which pitches annual road tax at just £35.
City-dwellers will find the Spark's roomy, versatile interior more important, though, and it can accommodate four adults in reasonable comfort. The rear seatbacks can be split and folded to supplement the 170-litre boot, although getting them flat is fiddly and the action doesn't feel especially robust.
The Spark gets thumbs-up from us for its bold and attractive looks and impressive supply of toys, and despite its shortcomings out of town, it makes a truly attractive cheap city car choice.