Chevrolet KALOS THREE-DOOR RANGE
Is The Three-Door
Chevrolet Kalos More Than Just, Well, A Three-Door Version Of The Kalos? Jonathan Crouch Decides.
Perhaps its fitting that Chevrolets future in the UK started with the Three-Door Kalos supermini we test here. It should have launched in 2004 but after an initial viewing, management decided that it lacked that special something. The Chevy Plus it now has.
You get an idea of what that means the first time you set eyes on the car expecting it to be little more than a Kalos Five-Door with two fewer doors. In one sense of course, its exactly that but put the two versions side by side and its almost like comparing you with your parents. The same DNA, the same look and feel but in one case, a younger, more get-up-and-go attitude. You have to look quite closely to see why that is, since the styling difference isnt down to any one feature.
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Theres a different side profile of course, with completely new doors incorporating an upwardly sloping waistline and side rubbing strip. Theres also new rear wheel arch profiling. But look carefully and youll also note changes front and rear: a revised, sculpted rear bumper, a more aggressive apron under the front numberplate. Both could have come from a bodykit catalogue. Talking of bodykits, theres a more aggressive one on the Sport version of this car, along with a free flow exhaust and some nice alloy wheels. Unfortunately, this variant doesnt offer anything more than the standard 94bhp 1.
4-litre engine. Which is a pity since other European markets get a proper turbocharged Sprint model which apparently cant be engineered for right hand drive. Three Kalos three-door models are currently on offer the £6,995 1.2S, the £8,395 1.
4SX and the £9,995 Sport. In comparison, the two five-door models cost £7,895 for the 1.2SE (theres no S variant at this level) or £8,795 for the 1.4SX.
"The Kalos Three-Door certainly has a younger, more dynamic image more in keeping with the
Chevrolet brand"
As youd expect, the Three-Door is of course a car of very compact dimensions (length/width/height 3880/1670/1495mm) yet like the Five-Door, it boasts one of the longest wheelbases (2480mm) in the supermini class. That means an interior thats a great deal more spacious than you might expect. The front headroom (955mm) is class-leading, as is rear legroom (900mm). For rear
seat passengers to enter and leave the vehicle, the front passenger seat can be folded forward with only one hand before clicking back into its initial position.
Storage space inside is pretty good. Drink cans and cups are held in place in fold-out cupholders on the centre console or in recesses at the end of the central transmission tunnel. To improve the drivers view, the top of the rear head restraints have been flattened, while the back of the front head rests are fitted with hooks to keep small shopping bags securely in place. Standard equipment includes a 70/30 split folding backrest.
If you take advantage of this, the rear seat can be folded up and fixed into place behind the front seats using a special belt attached to the passenger seat headrest. This frees up 980 litres of cargo space, while with all the seats in place, theres still a reasonable 220 litres. The payload is 430kgs, so the storage space can usually be used to the full. 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 £7,000? The 1.2-litre models 72bhp is good enough to punt the car to sixty from rest in 13.2s on the way to 98mph, but more importantly, you should achieve nearly 43mpg, according to combined cycle official fuel figures.
The 1399cc 1.4-litre unit manages sixty from rest in 11.1s on the way to 110mph (though theres also an automatic version that struggles up to 106mph). The combined fuel consumption is officially quoted at 39.
8mpg. Power steering and a CD stereo are standard but youll need to go for the 1.4-litre model if you want air conditioning and (more surprisingly) central locking. Like any Chevrolet, the Kalos Three-Door comes with a comprehensive after-sales package that comprises a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty and free servicing arrangement and a three year AA Total Recovery package is also part of the deal.
Whats more, all of these benefits are transferable to the subsequent owner which should help plump up short term resale values. Its hard to over-estimate the importance of this car in the Chevrolet line-up. Particularly when it comes to Kalos sales. Three-door models do, after all, make up 40% of the supermini sector, yet without one, this car was already a significant player.
Badged as the Aveo, its actually the best selling small car in the US. Similar accolades are out of the question in Europe of course and in any case, Chevrolet wont get close to them until its diesel engines come on stream later in 2006. Much is made of this lack in Britain but in actual fact, the premium for diesel power isnt really worth paying unless you do over 20,000 miles a year, a distance most supermini buyers simply dont cover. In summary then, it was well worth Chevrolet spending the time and getting this car right.
Their description of coupe-like might be an exaggeration but it certainly has a younger, more dynamic image more in keeping with the Chevrolet brand. More will be expected in the future but this is certainly a good start.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Chevrolet Kalos Three-Door range
PRICES: £6,995-£9,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 159-178g/km
PERFORMANCE: (1.4 16v) Max Speed 110mph / 0-62mph 11.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (1.4 16v) (combined) 39.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with EBD, Isofix child seats.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3880/1670/1495mm
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