Chevrolet Spark Expert Reviews

General Motors, the world’s biggest carmaker who rolled out its small car Chevrolet Spark in India as it takes on market leader Maruti Suzuki. Now built on a 5mm longer wheelbase (2345mm) than the old Matiz but measuring an identical 3495mm 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. Build quality is pretty good for a small car and panel gaps are fairly tight. Move inside, and the centrally-mounted instrument console takes pride of place on the dashboard. It is this design that gives the Spark’s interiors its uniqueness. There’s decent storage space in the cabin. A pair of shelves below the dashboard are useful aids to hold small bits while the front door pockets are large enough to hold a water bottle. Chevrolet Spark would be available in two versions of petrol engine: 795cc and 995cc. The 795cc, 6valve engine would compete with Maruti 800. It will deliver a power of 8KW and torque of 68.6 Nm@4600 rpm. The three-cylinder design provides a very flat torque curve, which results in a less peak power delivery. The 795cc engine claims to give a mileage of 19.2kpl with a top speed of 142 km/hr. The 995cc, 8valve engine would compete with Maruti Zen estilo and Hyundai Santro. It gives a maximum power of 48.5KW and a maximum torque of 87.3Nm. The car has completely new pedal box design with durable plastic moulded pedals. It has a noise-insulating mat between the engine compartment and the dashboard improves the sound insulating effect. The car claims a mileage of 17.85kpl with a top speed of 156Km/hr. Chevrolet Spark has a monoform design, which maximizes the wheelbase, and in turn improves cabin space.Its body is made of high strength steel, which makes the car lighter and gives the required stability. Chevrolet Spark has a completely new torsion beam rear axle, which is coupled to angled shock absorbers and semi trailing arms. This results in greater precision wheel control.Chevrolet Spark has a mono frame design, which maximizes the wheelbase, and in turn improves cabin space. The body is made of high strength steel, which makes the car lighter and gives the required stability on road while driving. Spark has a completely new torsion beam rear axle, which is coupled to angled shock absorbers and semi trailing arms. The company has set the price of Spark at Rs 3.09 lakh (Ex-showroom Delhi) for the base model, slightly lower than Rs 3.21 lakh for Maruti’s Zen Estillo base model. Chevrolet Spark would be available in four options with the price increasing to Rs 3.89 lakh.

Small is big for carmakers in India. The Spark comes with Daewoo’s S-Tec engine. This 995cc, single-cam, two-valves per cylinder unit is a scaled-down version of the U-VA’s engine, sharing a common 68.5mm bore. The stroke, however, is shorter which makes the Spark’s motor slightly oversquare. Peak power is an impressive 63bhp but the torque figure of 9.21kgm at a high-ish 4200rpm isn’t as substantial.

Stylish look, Good fuel economy, Suspension is better than other car in this segment.

Poor ergonomics, No MP3 player.