Hannah Rainford Takes Chevrolet’s Kalos 3-Door For A Family Orientated Day Out And Ends Up With Mixed Results…
I must admit that I wasn’t hugely overwhelmed at the prospect of a loan Chevrolet Kalos for a week. I like my cars with a bit of flair and I was worried that this was going to be a typically mass-produced heap of metal that I would have to ‘explain’ every time my friends asked me what I was driving. Although a few press pictures had done the rounds of the office, there was some doubt as to whether the Kalos could look as good in the metal as a mainstream supermini like a Ford Fiesta, a Renault Clio or a Skoda Fabia. When it arrived on a long-term test, however, I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be a striking little car that I could see myself driving for a long period of time.
My sister wasn’t too impressed when I turned up in the Kalos. "What’s that?" she grumbled, "You take Stephen (my brother) out in a MINI convertible and I get a ride in that!" I explained to her that I needed a family to take out for the day and as my youngest sibling, she had no option but to get in the car. She eventually agreed, after we arRanged to pick up her friends Megan and Sophie. So in an instant, I had a ready-made family comprising of three young teenagers. This was really going to test the Kalos.
We decided to spend the afternoon doing ‘family’ things; I took the girls to the local supermarket to pick up a week’s worth of shopping, which they stRangely loved and afterwards they were treated with a game of bowling in the local bowling alley. The boot had a surprising amount of space and I was able to fit a fair amount of grocery shopping into the back with no problem. It would definitely squeeze in a couple of suitcases and it would be perfect for a mass of school bags, P.E Kits, coats and those scooters that the kids take to school these days. Carting the girls around was not a problem. The Kalos has ample room for everyone to feel comfortable and the girls were quite happy sitting there and gossiping.
I should have been more aware of the old saying ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ when driving the Kalos. It looks like a fun drive with its slightly sporty look but I was disappointed. The 1.4 model that I was driving felt a bit sluggish and reminded me of the first car I had, which was a 1.0-litre. I had a few issues with the gears as well. The action felt a little notchy and lacked the precision you want in a small, sporty car.
"Never judge a book by its cover"
The Kalos is a solid little product but it’s up against some excellent competitors in this most cutthroat of market sectors. The best points are the looks, the interior space and the equipment levels and only the quality of the interior plastics tells you that it competes at the budget end of the supermini sector. Still, if what you actually want is a budget family car, then this could be your thing. It’s cheaper than a Fiesta or a Punto but looks as good and it has a certain uniqueness about it: you won’t see that many of them about on the roads. Overall, considering what you get for your money with a Chevrolet Kalos, there is value contained within the package and it should continue to hold its own in the sales charts.
The interior is as striking as the bodywork. Far from the usual South Korean elephant grey, the Kalos features high quality materials and imaginative design. In the SX variant, there’s a contrast between anthracite centre console and pale grey on the dashboard. The steering wheel and instrument binnacle are also finished in anthracite with a subtle carbon-fibre effect surrounding the window switches. The twin ventilator rosettes that burst from the top of the dashboard highlight a circular design theme that’s continued throughout the cabin, mirrored on the side air vents, the displays and the door handles. You’ll even find the theme continued on the fabric applied to the doors.
Here’s one area where the South East Asian value for money stereotype still holds true. The car I drove was £8,795. Elsewhere in the Range, the entry-level Kalos 1.2 S retails at £7,195 and the top of the Kalos tree is the 16-valve 1.4-litre Sport, which is still a few pounds shy of £10,000. This compares very well to mainstream rivals. Three and five-door models are available.
Overall, I think that the Chevrolet Kalos coped very well on the family scale; it ticks all the right boxes. To be honest though, if you are considering a Kalos, in my view you may fare better by opting for the entry-level 1.2 model. You will get a better fuel economy with a lower performance level, which will suit families with budding young drivers. And the kids on my family test? Well, inevitably, they’d have much preferred a VW Beetle or a BMW – but they don’t have to find the money for twice the Kalos’s asking price. Just give them a few years and they’ll be happy to get any car they can lay their hands on.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 SX 3-door
PRICE: £8,795 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 5
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