Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 SX

Chevrolets Kalos 1.4-litre SX model supermini demonstrates just how much car you can buy into for around £9,000. Jonathan Crouch reports

So what kind of Supermini can you really buy into for around £9,000? Well, its best not to raise your hopes too high. Stripped-out Fiestas and Polos beckon but dont go expecting niceties like a decent stereo or air conditioning. If you want those, youll need a Far Eastern cheapie and youll still probably end up having to pay more for it.

This is where Chevrolet hope they can score and score big. South Korean-style pricing allied to Western image and quality. On paper, it all seems to hang together but on paper, lots of things do. Best to put the product to the test as weve been doing with the Kalos 1.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
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Equipment
Handling
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Performance
Styling
Value

4 SX supermini featured here. Once badged as a Daewoo, this five-door model now has the famous Chevrolet bow tie badge on its front. The SX is the Plushest trim level you can have and is the only Kalos to come with the option of an automatic gearbox (for another £1,000 on top of the £9,195 asking price). Thats neither prohibitively pricey or so cheap that it arouses suspicion.

With 94bhp on tap, the 16v 1.4-litre Kalos is pleasantly punchy, accelerating to 60mph in 11.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 110mph. A four-speed automatic option is offered, making the car an even better city slicker.

Of course, this takes the edge off the performance a little (11.7s/106mph), but for those who battle with the urban sprawl and crawl home every night, that will represent an acceptable trade off. This Kalos feels a good deal stronger than your average 1.4-litre supermini, especially in the upper reaches of the rev Range.

Drive the car in a more sedate fashion and youll experience barely any penalty in terms of fuel economy, the car clocking up an average of 40.8mpg. Opt for the automatic and youll see 37.2mpg, the gearbox engineered to work in parallel with the engines variable intake system to guarantee flexibility.

"Pitched from around £9,000, this Kalos is neither pricey nor so cheap that it arouses suspicion"

The SX specification is predictably complete, including height adjustable headrests, 15" alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, air conditioning, a rear roof spoiler, front fog lamps, electric windows all round, fabric door trim inserts, a tachometer and even a drivers seat back picnic table. This is on top of more familiar Kalos fare such as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, white side indicators, twin front and side airbags, three-point belts on all five seats and ISOFIX anchorage points for a child seat in the back. Theres also power assisted steering, central locking with alarm, cup holders front and rear, an auxiliary power outlet in the back and a tilt adjustable steering column. Naming a car after the Greek word for beautiful may be tempting fate a little but Chevrolets Kalos looks to be able to carry it off.

Part of the latest generation of superminis that attempt to cram as many MPV-style ideas as possible into their truncated dimensions, the Kalos is notably better looking than many previous attempts at this genre. Small wonder, as it was styled by Giugiaro in Turin, a design house of no little repute. The styling is certainly eye catching, although the exterior contours have not been penned at the expense of practicality. This is, after all, a Chevrolet and must offer value for money twinned with common sense utility that buyers can relate to.

The passenger compartment is extremely spacious, due in no small part to the 2.48 metre wheelbase - one of the longest in the supermini class. Chevrolet claim the 955 millimetres of headroom to be a class best. The rear seat splits in the normal 70/30 manner but also has a trick up its sleeve.

You can not only fold it down, but also jack-knife it forward and secure it to the back of the front seats. This little party trick frees up a cavernous 735 litres of available luggage space, in effect more than quadrupling the usual capacity of 175 litres with the rear parcel shelf in place. Ride and handling have been optimised for British roads at the Motor Industry Research Association test track near Nuneaton. Chevrolet is one of the first manufacturers to cotton onto the fact that what works on billiard-smooth German roads often seems a little less than optimal on the sort of British B-road that has been ravaged by the gas, telephone, electricity and cable TV companies.

Gripes? Well, theres plenty of elephant grey plastic in evidence which can feel a bit down-market. Mind you, it all feels pretty well screwed together. On the road, it wont be the most exciting driving experience youve ever had but then what would you expect for this kind of money? The £9,000 price point at which the Kalos 1.4 SX competes is a battleground populated by some fierce competition.

Coming up against 1.4-litre versions of the Ford Fiesta, the Honda Jazz and the Skoda Fabia is a tough task but the Kalos is well worth a look. Its not a clear class leader but its got enough about it to justify a place on most shortlists.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 SX
PRICE: £9,195-£10,195 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4
CO2 EMISSIONS: 178g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 110mph / 0-60mph 11.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.8mpg/ (extra urban) 46.3mpg/ (combined) 40.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, Isofix child seats.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3880/1670/1490mm