Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT BS3

Spark 1.0 LT BS3 Review

Chevrolet India is the ancillary of General Motors and they have a wonderful fleet of cars in the Indian automobile bazaar. One such amazing small hatchback is the Chevrolet Spark model lineup, which was first launched in the country in year, 2007. Since then, this small hatchback has been doing amazing sales for the company and has an affordable pricing and a few variants to choose from. The company has now launched a facelifted and refurbished version of this popular small hatchback, which is being called as the All New Chevrolet Spark. There are three trims on offer in this new version, out of which, the All New Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT is the top end trim. This high end trim has been equipped with some impressive safety and comfort features, which will certainly lure the customers into buying it. Apart from these features, this small hatchback is very easy to handle in heavy traffic and can carry five people with ease in it. This refreshed Chevrolet Spark has been fitted with a 1.0 litre, Smart Tec petrol engine that has 4 cylinders and is extremely fuel efficient. This engine is apt for the road and traffic conditions of the country and has been doing very well in the automobile market place. The All New Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT is quite a charming and adorable hatchback, which is very sensible as well as comfortable and is a complete family car. The company has given quite a number of exterior and interior changes to this amiable hatchback, which will certainly amaze the buyers. Some of the most attractive features of this Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT are brand new seat upholstery along with door pads, power windows, a powerful 2-Din music system with speakers and many more such remarkable features.

Exteriors

The outsides of this small hatchback have gone through a few remarkable changes and are refined, which inspires warmth as well as classiness. The overall body line is aerodynamic with a crispy body structure. The 2012 Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT is compact, but at the same time has a very modern looking and lively body along with some stirring exterior features. The front façade has a new look with a new wider radiator grille, which has a large insignia of the company embedded on it. This radiator grille is surrounded by a large set of revised head lights, which have been powered with high intensity lamps. The front body colored bumper has been refurbished and has a sporty dual tone finish, which makes it look refined. This bumper is also integrated with a pair of bright newly styled fog lamps, which enhance the visibility of the driver. The front and rear wind shields along with all the other windows are tinted, while the front windshield has been equipped with a couple of intermittent wipers. The rear wind shield has a defogger to further enhance the driving comfort of the driver during the monsoon season. The side profile also has some striking features such as the body colored door handles along with body colored outside rear view mirrors. The wheel arches have been fitted with 13 inch robust steel wheels of size 13 x 4.5J, which have been covered with tubeless radial tyres of size 155/70 R13 that have a better and sturdier grip on the roads . The rear end has a curvy and very neatly done up boot lid and a trendy tail lamp cluster, which has the reversing lamps as well as the side turn blinkers included in it. This tail lamp cluster has a jewel effect with chrome finish and is optimally positioned to give better visibility and safety as well. The top has been fitted with a pair of satin silver roof rails and the rear end has been given a spoiler, which makes this all new Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT look sporty and energetic .

The overall dimensions of this small hatchback, the All New Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT are quite roomy. The total length of this hatchback is 3495mm along with an overall width of 1495mm, which includes the external wing mirrors as well. The total height is 1518mm, while the wheel base is 2345mm. This small hatchback has a minimum turning radius of 4.6 meters, which helps in easier maneuverability of this car. While the kerb weight of this all new hatchback is approximately 840 kgs and it also has a centrally mounted fuel tank that can hold up to 38 litres of petrol in it.

Interiors

The company has done up the interiors of this all new 2012 Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT very well as this is the top end variant in its lineup. The insides have been refurbished and this all new Chevrolet Spark features new interiors and the seats are covered in premium upholstery. There is a metallic finish on the IP, while all the door trims get the new fabric inserts on it, which makes this all new hatchback look polished. The cabin has sufficient head room, shoulder space along with a high roof line and a fairly good leg space as well.  There are quite a few storage spaces in this new hatchback, which further add to the convenience of the passengers. The glove box is large and can be used to keep quite a few things in it. Apart from this, the other storage spaces include a couple of cup holders in the front console along with bottle holders in both the front doors as well. The rear seat has shopping hooks to add to the comfort, while there is also a driver front storage to keep some more things. The back seat is foldable to add more space to the boot compartment and to accommodate some bigger things inside. Then there is a day and night internal rear view mirror, while the passenger side sun visor has a vanity mirror as well.

Engine and Performance

This all new Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT has been equipped with a lively 1.0 litre petrol engine, which has 4 cylinders that have been fitted with 8 valves in it . This single over head cam shaft (SOHC) Smart Tec power plant has been integrated with some brilliant innovative technologies , which assist in the better performance of this engine and also help in generating impressive fuel efficiency. This 995cc petrol mill has a dual distributor less ignition system (DDLI) and then there is the advanced sequential MPFI (multi point fuel injection) supply system with an advanced optical sensor and the motorized throttle intake system (MTIS) as well. All these inventive technologies combined together ensure an amazing pick up along with maximum power and torque generation, which makes this engine one of the most silent, maintenance free engine. This 1.0 litre petrol motor has the ability to churn out a maximum power output of 61.74 Bhp at 5400 Rpm along with a peak torque yield of 90.3 Nm at 4200 Rpm and is skillfully coupled with a smooth and efficient five speed manual transmission gear box. The company claims that this all new Chevrolet Spark has the capacity to generate a healthy mileage of 18 kmpl, when driven under standard driving conditions. The 995cc Smart Tec motor has the capacity to propel this hatchback from 0 – 100 kmph in just about 15.1 seconds , while the refreshed Chevrolet Spark can achieve a top speed of close to 153 kmph, which is quite outstanding .

Braking and Handling

The front wheels of this hatchback have been fitted with solid disc brakes, which are very sturdy and efficient. While the rear wheels get self adjusting drum brakes for enhanced braking in any road conditions. The suspension system is robust with the front axle getting a McPherson strut type , which also has anti roll bars. The rear axle of this hatchback has been equipped with a torsion beam axle, which assists in keeping this car stable. The shock absorbers are gas filled, while the rear end shock absorbers have been filled with hydraulics for added comfort to the rear seat passengers.

Safety Features

This all new Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT is the top end variant in the lineup and has been incorporated with some very crucial safety features. The list comprises of a centrally high mounted stop lamp at the rear end, rear door child locks and the advanced 2.5 miles per hour impact proof front as well as rear bumpers. This hatchback also has a collapsible steering column along with a head lamp leveling device and side impact beams as well. This latest hatchback also has a pair of front and rear fog lamps, which enhances the visibility of the driver, a rear defogger to add to the convenience while driving in the rainy season. This hatchback also has a door open warning lamp in the new instrument cluster along with central locking for added security and protection of the hatchback.

Comfort Features

This high end trim, Chevrolet Spark LT has been loaded with some wonderful and very practical convenience features. The list includes a powerful and efficient air conditioning unit, a 2-Din music system with speakers that has Radio FM, CD player and other input options such as an Aux-in port and also a USB interface . There is also a roof mounted antenna for better quality reception. This all new Chevrolet Spark has a remote release of the fuel filler as well as the boot lid, a front room lamp, internally adjustable external rear view mirrors, a digital temperature bar graph, a brilliant instrument cluster with a digital tachometer, low fuel warning lamp and quite a few other notification lamps. The new hatchback also has a digital clock, battery voltage indicator, a power steering, front and rear power windows, remote central locking and also a rear defogger.

Pros

Refined exteriors, lively interiors, good internal features.

Cons

Not very spacious, engine can be better, mileage can be improved.