Auto India, Car India

Spark is a fuel efficient and compact sized hatchback, designed specially for the crowded Indian cities. The price range is kept optimum so as to reach a maximum number of target class customers.

Highlighting Features :
The new Chevy Spark is approx 3.5 meter long hatchback. The hatchback is made very compact to suit to the traffic congested roads in India. General Motors is headed to capture most of the small segment market and hence it has introduced most of all recent comfort and safety features in this hatchback. Just take a look at the following specification statistics!

General statistics -

• Name and Model : Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LS
• Ex showroom price (Mumbai) : Rs 3,66,469 (may vary)
• Body type : Hatchback
• Available colors :
  Blazing RedIntense BlackCasablanca WhitePlatinum Metallic
• Engine type : Petrol
• Maximum power : 63 ps @ 4500 rpm
• Maximum torque : 9.3 kg-m @ 4200 rpm
• Top speed : 156 km/h
• Steering : Power
• Brakes : Front Disc, Rear Drum
• Transmission : 5 speed automatic
• Alloy wheels? : No
• Fuel tank size : 35L
• Fuel efficiency :
  16.2 kmpl (For highways)12.4 kmpl (For city)
• Seating Capacity : 5
• AC / Non-AC : AC without climate control
• Music system : FM/CD player with front and rear speakers

Comments -
The new Chevy Spark is a hatchback with new trendy look, compact size and shape, varied interior features and satisfactory engine performance.The small segment is made available in four attractive colors. As per the latest industry trend, the overall body orientation is made downward to reduce the aerodynamic resistance. The ORV mirrors contain side turn indicators. Blinking of these ORVM indicators at high speeds, looks awesome. The other most eye-catching thing at the rear is the big, red-eyed indicators. The wheels are provided with wheel covers, which again add up to the shape compactness of the car. The five-door body of spark is made more and more rounded to increase its size compactness. This exterior size compactness comes at the price of interior space. The rear seats find very less boot space. This makes long journeys quite uncomfortable.

The car is powered by a small 1.0L 4-cylinder inline engine that produces 63 ps @ 4500 rpm. The engine uses SEFI fuel system. In short the engine performance of the car is perfect. Most of other features included are comparable to sedan. The suspension system is standard. The front side contains McPherson Struts with Anti-roll bar. The rear end contains at torsion beam axle. Being a small segment car, the suspension system has no much option to share the shock absorbing duty. However the currently installed system functions well and offers enough comfort to passengers on pot-holed roads.

The interior contains many comfort features including the AC and heater and outside temperature display. As mentioned previously the car is designed to offer compactness. This has resulted in a quite clumsy interior. The seat size is standard and all seats are covered with leather fabric. The front seats contain cup holders, but the rear seats, miss the same. The seats are given a lumbar support.

The spark scores much when considered for the safety features in its class. The hatchback contains side impact beams providing side impact safety. It also contains the standard central door locking system and rear door child safety lock. A highlighting safety feature is the brake assist system. This system senses quick braking necessities by the user due to risky situations and apply rapid brakes. The distance to stop the car is lowered by almost 20% with the brake assist system.

The front windows are assisted with power. Other driver’s comforts include remote fuel lid opener, keyless entry and a cigarette lighter. The Audio system is 2-DIN, with 4 speakers.

Pros :

• 1.0L, 4-cylinder inline engine with SEFI fuel supply system
• Front suspension- McPherson Struts with Anti-roll bar
• Rear suspension- Torsion beam axle
• Power steering, with leather steering wheel
• Power windows (front)
• Remote fuel lid opener
• Cup holders(Front)
• Lumbar support to seats
• Air conditioner and heater
• Leather seats
• Outside temperature display
• Cigarette lighter
• Wheel covers
• ORVM indicators
• 2 DIN audio system with 4-speakers
• Brake Assist system
• Central locking
• Child safety lock
• Anti-theft alarm
• Side impact beams
• Keyless entry

Cons :

• Very small sized
• Comparatively less fuel efficient

Bottom Line :The first impression of the car leaves you guessing about its performance at the road. The rivals such as WagonR or Santro are designed to fill the feature-price barrier. However the manufacturers of Spark seem not very clear about their aims. They have tried to add everything at one.

The car is surely feature rich and performs satisfactorily at, both highways and the crowded city roads. The car is among the nicely built models in its class, but not the best! If you want that your small hatchback should contain most of the recent comfort features, at a lower price, then Chevy spark should be a good option.