Chevrolet Spark 2009–2012 car dimensions: 3640 mm long, 1597 mm wide and 1522 mm high. Unladen weight is 939 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 170 litres.
The cabin seats five with a height-adjustable driver's seat and 60/40 split-folding rear seats as standard. Air conditioning is fitted on mid trims while electronic climate control is reserved for the top LT grade. A basic radio/CD player with MP3, aux and USB is standard from Spark+ upwards, with steering wheel controls on higher trims. Rear parking sensors are an option on the LT. No advanced driver aids like AEB, blind spot warning or lane keep appear in the equipment lists.
Boot space measures 170 litres with the rear seats up. Fold the 60/40 split rear seats and it expands to 568 litres.
Payload is listed at 416 kg based on kerb weight around 939 kg and gross vehicle weight of 1355 kg.
The cabin feels roomy up front for a city car, with solid headroom and legroom plus a distinctive motorcycle-style instrument pod. Rear seats are tighter for adults. Materials use hard plastics that scratch easily but fit together without rattles. Ride absorbs small bumps decently. Height-adjustable driver seat and air conditioning are available on most grades.
Combined fuel use 5.1 l/100 km and 119 g/km CO2 for the 1.0 petrol.
Service interval every 15,000 km or 12 months.
Euro NCAP four stars: 81% adult, 78% child, 43% pedestrian, 43% assist.
Standard kit: six airbags, ABS, ISOFIX, seatbelt reminders, immobiliser.
ESC optional on most grades.
Warranty 3 years/100,000 km plus 6 years anti-corrosion.
The 1.0 engine returns 5.1 litres per 100 km combined and 119 g/km CO2 under official figures. It suits short urban trips with low fuel costs and Euro 5 compliance. Real-world use sits a bit higher with air conditioning on.
Official service comes every 15,000 km or once a year. The 1.0 uses a timing chain so no regular belt swaps. Fixed-price packages cover several years of work. Warranty runs three years or 100,000 km with six years of rust cover.
Safety kit starts with six airbags, ABS and ISOFIX anchors on every car. Euro NCAP gave four stars overall. ESC was optional rather than standard on most versions and held the assist score down. Brakes use front discs and rear drums.
Living with the car means cheap parts and simple upkeep for city duties. Watch suspension bushings and electrics as miles build. Keep up oil changes and the structure holds up well under normal use.
Length 3640 mm, Width 1597 mm, Height 1522 mm, Wheelbase 2375 mm (Spark 2009–2012)
Sources: manufacturer data, Chevrolet Italia brochure, 09/2011 MY12, Chevrolet UK Specifications & Prices, January 2010 and April 2011, The English 2011 Chevrolet Spark brochure.