THE NEW Chevrolet Kalos three-door has a more sporty style than its five-door sibling. The car retains it's compact dimensions (length/width/height: 3,880/1,670/1,495 millimetres) but the sporty packaging has been underscored by several new details such as new style bumper mouldings at front and rear incorporating an air dam at the front, modified rear monosides with new rear wheel arch profile and additional rocker panel mouldings.

The three-door Kalos is available with two economical petrol engine options - a 1.2 litre unit with 53 kW/72 HP and a lively 16-valve 1.4 litre developing 69 kW/94 HP. The more powerful engine takes the SX model to 62 mph in only 11.1 seconds and on to a respectable top speed of 110 mph. Even a visit to the filling station is a pleasure: average consumption of 39.8 MPG (MVEG combined) on the 1.4 means that the 9.9 gallon tank only runs dry after 399 miles.

A spacious interior with above-average headroom and legroom: Thanks to the unusually generous height of 1,495 millimetres and one of the longest wheelbases in its class (2,480 millimetres), the bright, friendly interior of the Kalos is very spacious. The front headroom of 955 millimetres leads in this class. The same is true of the rear legroom, which reaches a best-in-class 900 millimetres. Apart from the spacious interior, passengers will also appreciate the comfortable seats, which offer good thigh support for long trips. More pronounced side cushions on seats and backrests complement the sporting design.

For rear-seat passengers to enter and leave the vehicle, the front passenger's seat can be folded forward to the front with only one hand. When everyone has reached or left their seats, it returns easily to its initial position. With the standard adjustable-rake steering wheel and a height-adjustable seat, drivers of all sizes can be sure of finding an ergonomically ideal position behind the wheel. The slightly raised seating position and the exterior mirrors, which are remotely adjustable, give the driver a good command of the traffic situation. For the three-door Kalos, the top of the rear headrests has been slightly flattened to improve the rear view.

Practical loadspace: capacity up to 980 litres. Thanks to the flexible interior of the Kalos, not only small items but also bulky family shopping or sports equipment can easily be stowed. Standard equipment includes a 70/30 split folding rear seat backrest. If even more space is needed, the rear seat can be folded up and fixed in position behind the front seats using a special belt attached to the passenger's seat headrest. In this case, the VDA standard cargo space is a highly respectable 980 litres. With all the seats and the rear parcel shelf in position, the rear cargo space is 220 litres. As the maximum payload is 430 kilograms, the storage capacity can be used to the full. Safe for driver and passengers: five 3-point seat belts, simple Isofix attachment points for child seats.

Standard active and passive safety equipment includes driver and passenger airbags as well as a four-channel ABS system. In addition to the comprehensive standard safety features, side airbags at the front (capacity 21 litres each) are standard on the SX model. All seats are equipped with standard three-point seat belts and an especially complex but passenger-friendly unit is used for the middle rear seat. The belt retractor is positioned on the left rear pillar; the belt is routed through a guide at the top of the backrest and locks into two buckles to the left and right of the passenger's hips. The safety package is rounded off by easy-to-operate Isofix child seat attachment points on the left and right rear seating positions and headrests for all five seats.

Comprehensive equipment: everything you need. The Kalos three-door is being launched in two well-equipped versions, 1.2 S and 1.4 SX. The entry S version already boasts a wide range of convenient, practical standard features. These include the rake-adjustable steering wheel, power windows, a tinted windscreen, a rear window wiper/washer system and an RDS radio/single CD player with four speakers.

On the SX, the following features are also standard: air conditioning with pollen filter, alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler and central locking with remote control. Reliable partners: stable suspension and powerful brakes. The suspension system of the Kalos family, featuring MacPherson struts at the front and a rear torsion beam axle, the intelligent suspension geometry with a long wheelbase and a wide track combine safety and comfort. The running gear was specifically developed for European conditions during test drives in the UK.

The rack and pinion steering is installed on the front sub-frame, making the steering more precise. The new model also benefits from standard power steering. Power assistance is speed-dependent, greatly improving 'feel' and steering accuracy. For parking and at low speeds, more assistance is provided and the manoeuvrability of the vehicle is enhanced. At higher speeds, assistance is reduced, making for precise steering on longer trips. With its nimble turning circle of only 9.78 metres, the Kalos can easily be manoeuvred into even the tightest of parking spaces.