Auto Trader Ten Point Test: Chevrolet Kalos

Auto Trader Ten Point Test Rating - 71 %

Chevrolet might be a new name to the UK, but its cars have been around for a little while, with Daewoo badges.

And while the Chevy moniker might conjure up images of exotic Americana, the reality is they're purveyors of reliably, worthy family cars. So does the Kalos Sport live up to its name?

Read on for our full road test on the Chevrolet Kalos, or click below to skip to a section.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

Unlike most of its rivals, the Kalos looks great. Designed by Italian styling god, Giuigaro, the Kalos looks butch and muscular; no mean feat considering many superminis are sold on their cutesy looks. Our Sport model had deeper bumpers and a set of side skirts that accentuated the pumped up rear wheel arches. A set of 15in multispoke alloys were a nice touch, although they did smack of being an aftermarket set; which is fine if you're into that sort of thing. Another nice touch was a sports exhaust, which was unusual for a quasi-sport model.
8/10

2. Looks inside

Climb inside and you can't help feeling slightly short changed after the stylish exterior. There's plenty of hard, grey plastic and it could really do with some chrome or aluminium trimming to continue its sporting pretensions. Our test car came with some great looking black and grey leather seats, but again, their lack of lateral support failed to provide a nod towards the Sport moniker. Build quality failed to live up to expectations too. A flimsy cupholder and a ashtray that felt like it was about to snap at any moment were two of the worst offenders.
5/10

 3. Practicality

The Kalos proved to be a very easy car to live with. There's a decent-sized boot, and there's plenty of handy storage areas in the cabin. At last there's a car which lets you store CDs somewhere accessible; in the centre console - genius! There's a good sized glovebox and a slot under the radio which is perfect for keeping your mobile out of sight. Rear legroom is far from class-leading, although the front seats tilt and slide enough to make entry easy. Although the sports exhaust gave a nice note around town (despite getting unwanted attention from local boy racers), it became unbearable on a long motorway run.
7/10

4. Ride and Handling

Another area where the Kalos fails to live up to its Sport branding. Climb into any genuine sporty hatchback and ride quality has been sacrificed for handling prowess. Not so with the Kalos. Its squidgy suspension provided a comfortable ride, even on its slightly thinner tyres and despite sitting 25mm lower on stiffer suspension, there was too much body roll. I found myself using the steering wheel to stay in my seat, rather than to steer on more than one occasion. That said; it proved to be a chuckable little roller skate and felt surefooted most of the time.
7/10

5. Performance

The Kalos Sport feels faster than it really is, mainly due to the increased volume from the sports exhaust, but the 1.4 engine is geared towards economy rather than outright pace. It will get to 60mph from standstill in 11.1 seconds, and on to a top speed of 109. We felt the brakes performed excellently on our 1,000-mile-old test car.
8/10

6. Running Costs

There's a lot of choice in the £10k bracket, so for a car to be the essential choice, it needs to comfortably clear the bar. Depending on your priorities, the Kalos may do that. At £9,995 on the road, it does seem a bit steep, although there should be some healthy discounts on offer if you haggle. Depreciation is likely to hit buyers in the pocket, with the Kalos shedding £4,000 in the first year, and a further £2,300 over the next three years. Chevy quotes a believable 52.3mpg on a motorway run, dipping to 31.7mpg poking around town. Big points for cheap servicing: three years servicing can be had for a one-off payment of £145. All Chevys come with three years' warranty and AA cover.
7/10

7. Reliability

Chevrolet originally hailed from America, but as far as us Europeans are concerned, they're re-badged Daewoos. Korean vehicles are becoming known for their reliability, and Chevrolet is no exception. As Chevy has only been around in the UK for a year or so, it isn't listed in the Reliability Index, but its forebear, Daewoo ranks well for repair costs.
8/10

8. Safety

No EuroNCAP crash test rating as yet, but other Chevrolets/Daewoos perform well, so the Kalos should be no different. All Kalos' get driver and passenger airbags as standard, while our Sport test car also came with side 'bags as well. ABS comes as standard across the range.
7/10

9. Equipment

As mentioned, Chevy has given the Sport some genuine racy bits in the sports exhaust, stiffer suspension and stylish 15" alloys, but the rest of the kit is common fare. There's remote central locking, electric windows and a single slot CD player. Cosmetically, a leather steering wheel and gear knob is joined by stainless steel door kick plates and silver dash bits. A two-tone leather interior is surprising in a car of this price.
7/10

10. X-Factor

If you're a young dude looking for something different to a Fiesta, Corsa or C2 the Kalos Sport it worth a look - for its styling alone. And if you're into that modifying lark, you won't even have to shell out for alloys, a sports exhaust or stiffer suspension.
7/10

Rivals:
You might want to consider:
Ford Fiesta
Mazda 2
Mitsubishi Colt

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