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Pint-sized firestarter
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The new Chevrolet Spark has all the equipment in place to set the small car market ablaze, says ASHISH MASIH
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CHEEKY BUG The Spark looks huggable enough today, even after all the revisions to the original Matiz package. It also has the best engine in class today, something that couldn't have been said when it was a Daewoo
You could forgive Chevrolet for entering the small car segment so late here, but its Spark more than makes up for the delay. For starters, it's got a bigger engine than the original Matiz and that's a good thing. The Spark is the successor to the Matiz, a car that had quite a strong fan following in India before Daewoo went west.
Looks that cook
The silhouette of the Spark is very similar to the original Matiz and chances are that some might even mistake it for the Maruti Estilo.
The Spark retains the cheeky styling and proportions of the original, which will surely find favour with owners. Looks are subjective - but we think the Spark is the best-looking car in its class. Now built on a 5 mm longer wheelbase (2,345 mm) than the old Matiz but measuring an identical 3,495 mm in length, the new car also has sharper styling. In place of the smooth, rounded nose, there's a well-defined bonnet V, pointy headlights and tiny slit for a bonnet intake. The original Matiz's cute, almost Mickey Mouse-like nose, with its bright circular eyes and the cute smiling rub strip mouth may be lost but the Spark certainly looks more contemporary than its predecessor.
The taillights adopt a round theme and when lit, have a starburst effect. The reversing lamps, fitted low on the rear bumper, are bright and useful while backing up in dingy parking lots. The alloy wheels and roof rails add a sporty touch but will be available only on the top-of-the-line LT variant.
Build quality is pretty good for a small car and panel gaps are fairly tight. The Spark feels better bolted together than all the Marutis in this segment.
Inside story
The cheeky styling on the exteriors continues on the interiors as well, with a circular design theme running across. A centrally mounted instrument console takes pride of place on the dashboard and this design is what gives the Spark's interiors its uniqueness.
The speedo, flanked by temperature and fuel gauges, is well within the driver's line of sight and is also visible to all passengers. The warning lamps are in a banana-shaped pod in front of the driver in place of the instrument cluster and this leaves an unobstructed view straight ahead. The two-spoke steering wheel is a unique design and feels a touch large but the gear knob, whose round design is similar to the Aveo's, fits nicely in your palm.
The Spark's boot is however, not very spacious.
Engine, gearbox & performance
The Spark comes with a 995cc, single-cam, two-valves per cylinder unit, which is a scaled-down version of the U-VA's engine. Peak power is an impressive 63bhp. The Spark's motor is incredibly free revving and its smooth nature encourages you to visit the redline quite often. In fact, it's this engine's smooth and refined nature that sets it apart. It's less audible than both the Santro and Wagon R and feels less stressed as well.
0-100kph comes up in 15.93 seconds. The progressive way in which the power is delivered masks the Spark's performance deficit and the clever gearing and smooth nature of the engine doesn't leave you short of power.
The Spark happily keeps up with city traffic toodling along in second and third gears quite happily. For serious overtaking, you do need to change gears a bit more frequently.
Unlike its `tall-boy' competition, the Spark's lower and squatter proportions lend itself to better dynamics. Ride quality is impressive for such a small car and the way the Spark soaks up the bumps and ruts makes it much more comfortable than both the Santro and Wagon R. Apart from ride quality, the quietness of the suspension and suppression of road and tyre noise is again the best among the small hatchbacks. On the highway, the Spark feels pretty stable and secure and isn't susceptible to crosswinds. This makes it far more comfortable to cruise at high speeds than all the other small hatches.
The Spark is quite nimble and body roll is fairly well controlled, the front independent McPherson struts and anti-roll bar doing their bit. Gas-charged dampers are fitted to all four corners and their quicker response vis-à-vis hydraulic dampers contributes to the Spark's dynamic character. In our city cycle, the Spark gave 12.3 kilometre per litre, which is on par with the Santro, while on the highway the Spark had a clear edge with 16.9kpl.
What we think
The Spark has the right ingredients of a winner, it looks cool, has decent interior space and enough power for the city without sacrificing on economy - should you buy one? Most definitely, yes.
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