Can The Chevrolet Kalos Compete In The Ruthless Supermini Sector? Our Long Term TestShould Reveal Its True Qualities. Steve Walker Reports…
With the saga of its previous life as a Daewoo fading in the memory, the Chevrolet Kalos is now viewed as a Chevrolet in the eyes of most UK buyers. What better time to get a fresh perspective on this smartly styled hatchback? A Long Term Testshould reveal its deserved place in the grand small car scheme of things, be that as relegation fodder or a candidate for promotion to the supermini big leagues.
Cars of the Kalos’ ilk have had a tough time of it recently. We’re talking about budget superminis that trade predominantly on price and the amount of equipment they’ll give you for that price. One problem is that fierce discounting of supermini products by the mainstream manufacturers has meant that the price differential between a similarly equipped Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio and the Kalos is no longer as great. The Kalos still looks well-equipped compared to more illustrious rivals in its price Range but the difference isn’t so large as to negate their brand image and superior build quality. At the same time, citycar products have raised their game substantially, squeezing the Kalos and its contemporaries from below. Fiat’s Panda and the Aygo/C1/107 model offered by Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot are desirable, well equipped and tightly priced. They’re enough to make buyers question the need for the marginally better interior space that a Kalos-type model can offer. It’s against this backdrop that our extended period of Kalos use begins.
It’s hard not to form a favourable opinion of the Kalos from the outset. The car’s designers have managed to dress up its orthodox supermini shape with eye-catching details and a distinctive front end. The headlight clusters are conventional enough but they’re underscored by indicators in thin slashes of amber and three reflective bars extend horizontally at their edges. The grille gets more gravitas from the Chevrolet cross at its centre that most of us will equate with monstrous pick-ups and SUVs from the USA. At the back, it’s similarly neat and tidy with the lights tapered in around the tailgate. Chevrolet have a good-looking supermini on their hands here and it’s likely to make as good a first impression with buyers in showrooms as it did with us when it first parked up outside the office.
Inside, the quality of materials palpably isn’t as good as you’d find in the top superminis. Our 1.4-litre SX Kalos features some low-grade silver plastic around the air-conditioning controls and the wide Range of different textures and types of plastic used elsewhere on the fascia make it look somewhat thrown together. The layout of the controls, on the other hand, is very simple and accessible. You should be able to leave the manual in the glovebox during the few seconds it takes to appraise yourself of the basic functions. The instruments are easy to read and attractive with the two dials surrounded by chunky silver rings, while the leather-trimmed steering wheel feels good in the hand.
"Chevrolet have a good looking supermini on their hands here"
Interior space is ample and four adults won’t have a problem getting about in the Kalos. Only the amount of rear headroom threatens to become a problem for exceptionally lengthy individuals. The three-door model we’ve been using has nice long doors to aid rear seat access and even with two six-footers in the front, there’s a decent amount of legroom behind. In the boot, we’ve managed to accommodate two bags of golf clubs with a fair bit of space left over and that says a lot for the size and shape of the luggage compartment.
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. This car 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 you’ll eek out a reasonable return, the car clocking up an average of 40.8mpg. The driving experience isn’t sporty and the car rolls around a little too much in corners but the ride is very smooth and there should be few complaints about the amount of engine noise in the cabin.
The SX specification on our car means we’ve been benefiting from air conditioning, 14-inch alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, front fog lamps, electric windows all round, fabric door trim inserts, a tachometer and even a driver’s seat back picnic table. This is on top of more familiar Kalos fare such as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, twin front and side airbags, three-point belts on all five seats and ISOFIX anchorage points for a child seat in the back. There’s 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. Yes, the Kalos is well-equipped for a £8,595 car.
There’s no use pretending that the Kalos is on a par with the class-leading superminis. It’s 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 is noticeably poor. The driving experience won’t offend too many people and if ride comfort is your top priority, you should be impressed. Overall, considering what you get for your money with a Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 SX, there is value contained within the package and it should continue to hold its own in the sales charts.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 SX 3-door long term test
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