11 MARCH 2014 – The Chevrolet Spark has taken Best Budget Car honours in the annual CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Buys Awards. In student-focused Campus guise, the locally-manufactured Chevrolet Spark continues to prove it has what it takes to be the best in a fierce class of pocket-friendly competitors.
“The Chevrolet 1.2 Spark Campus represents the essence of a ‘budget car’, featuring a mix of funky, youthful styling and a no-frills approach with no compromise on safety,” comments Chevrolet Brand Manager, Tim Hendon.
Available for just R110 700, the five-door Spark 1.2 Campus features a frugal 1.2-litre petrol engine (60 kW and 108 Nm with average fuel economy of just 5.4-litres per 100 km), a five-speed manual gearbox, two airbags, ABS with EBD, air conditioning and power steering.
According to CAR Magazine, the Spark 1.2 Campus “healthily undercuts all its main rivals” while offering the crucial safety features which form key criteria for the award. The Spark 1.2 Campus was also recognised for good fit and finish, excellent cabin space considering its compact size and a composed ride with assured handling. The engine was said to “fight above its weight class, feeling surprisingly alert in city driving.”
CAR went on to conclude: “In terms of finding a balance between value for money, packaging and safety items, nothing can touch the Spark Campus in this segment.”
Reiterating the Chevrolet Spark’s high safety standards, the Spark was recently awarded the Top Safety Pick title by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States – so far the first and only supermini to achieve this.
The Spark 1.2 Campus is also available with GMSA’s comprehensive 5-year/ 120 000 km warranty and an optional 3-year/ 60 000 km service plan, for ultimate peace of mind motoring.