HOLDEN SPARK

HOLDEN SPARK FROM $13,990

The cheapest cars are often the hardest to make. Believe it or not, it costs just as much to design, engineer and develop a $13,990 hatchback like the Holden Spark as it does a $19,990 small car, but the profits are much slimmer.

It’s afine balance between scrimping on every penny put into the vehicle and delivering the quality, safety and equipment that buyers demand.

Holden Spark pricing starts at $13,990 for the Spark LSfive-speed manual and $15,690 for the CVT auto. As this article was written, Holden was doing drive-away pricing of $14,990 and $16,690 respectively, so aim for that or wait until this deal comes around again, which is likely.

One other tip: set aside another $550 if you want metallic paint.

In a segment where every dollar counts, the Spark LS auto is at the pricey end of the cheap and cheerful small hatch class.

However, it is, for the time being, the only model in the micro segment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functionality, which enables you to keep your hands on the wheel and off the phone, also eliminating the need to use a phone bracket.

There’s soft light illumination in the large centre console area and the front door pockets and glovebox are big for a small car. The technical grain on the dashboard does a good job of enhancing what is otherwise a fairly cheap and grey interior.

But the base-model