When I was searching for my first car in 2019, I had a few options.
On the second-hand market were VW Polos, Ford Figos, Peugeots and more – but I settled on a Chevrolet Spark because I loved the look and feel of it the most.
The Spark is, in my opinion, an amazing first car. It’s small and easy to drive, is well equipped, and it’s economical – I couldn’t be happier with it, and still drive it today.
Styling is a personal preference, but I really enjoy the look of the Spark.
I particularly like the vertically-mounted door handles on the rear doors, which blend into the car’s profile.
Interior
Equally pleasant is the Spark’s interior.
It has an easy-to-set-up Bluetooth system, three cup holders, a USB port for charging your phone, and a digital display for the fuel gauge, acceleration, and metrics like the odometer – which you can switch between with the press of a button.
The air conditioning is excellent, too, as are the two speakers mounted on the top of the dashboard – and I have used both to great effect on many enjoyable road trips with my Spark.
Additionally, the seats are very comfortable, and despite being a small hatchback, it feels spacious inside.
I have had four passengers in the car with me, and none were pushed for space.
The boot is a bit small, admittedly. It’s large enough to fit one suitcase and a backpack, and the rear seats can be folded down for more storage space.
I have used my Spark to transport belongings on multiple occasions and have always been impressed with how much I’ve been able to fit in.
While I have the base model Spark, the more expensive LS version comes with additional features such as buttons on the steering wheel, electrically adjustable door mirrors, speakers in the rear doors, and all four windows as electric.
Performance
The Spark has a 1.2-litre engine, and I have been impressed with its performance on the road.
I can consistently manage 16km to the litre, which is helpful with the rising fuel prices in South Africa.
Despite the small size of its engine, the Spark accelerates quite well. I do have to downshift for prominent hills, but otherwise, the Spark has held up well compared to its peers.
One difficulty I’ve had with the car is that its acceleration is quite sensitive in first gear.
This makes stop-start traffic somewhat of a pain, as I am constantly switching between first and second gear.
Before you rush out and buy a Spark, there is a big caveat I must mention: Chevrolet withdrawing from the South African market in 2017.
Maintenance costs and finding replacement parts is a concern in the long run.
Fortunately, in the roughly three-and-a-half years I have owned my Spark, I have had no major mechanical issues.
Vs the Polo
What has been particularly interesting about my Spark has been comparing it to family members’ cars, which are a standard 2014 VW Polo, and a 2015 Polo Vivo GT.
The former has a 1.4l engine, while the latter has a 1.6l.
The Vivo GT is a sportier model so it unsurprisingly performs much better than the Spark.
The trade-off, in my opinion, is that it has the weakest interior of the three – with a basic dashboard and the softest sound system.
It does have cruise control, though, which is an appreciated luxury on longer journeys.
The 2014 Polo has a very nice interior, but it has the least power of the three – and it has struggled more than the other two cars on steep hills.
Overall, I am happy with my Spark for delivering what feels like a good middle ground between comfort and performance.
My favourite experience of my Spark so far has been driving through rain-soaked city streets at night while listening to a synth playlist straight out of Blade Runner, and I can’t wait to make more memories with my first car.
Keyword: Chevrolet Spark – Why I chose it as my first car