A little short on spark

Interior
As much as the exteriors are impressive, the interiors are disappointing. Spark does not score any extra points for aesthetics and though I don’t have an issue with the instrument panel being moved to the centre, it defies logic, and only makes you adjust your vision a bit for no particular benefit. The car is genuinely short on space, and whatever little it offers, is not intelligently utilised. Not only are the rear passengers in varied degrees of discomfort, even the ones in the front seats have little leg space.

Ride and Handling
Spark shares the same suspension as the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, but as the car is lighter, it is even more effective. Add to it the feather-touch steering, which makes the overall ride and handling the best in not only its class but in the industry as well. The engine noise is exceptionally low, and the car is very stable even at 130-140 kph, making it difficult to detect any vibration in the steering wheel, gearbox or even the rear-view mirrors. This is a welcome departure from the segment leaders Santro and Wagon R, which are noisy beyond 100 kph. The road grip is very good and the car held its own even at hair-pin bends in hills.
However, we did encounter a few problems, especially with the accelerator pedal, which is very heavy for a car of this size. Further, the lack of vibration elsewhere is compensated here, as it keeps vibrating even when the engine is not being pushed.

Powertrain
We expected the Spark to be designed as an urban runner with almost zero capabilities on the highway. We humbly submit to being absolutely wrong. The car belts out the same 63 bhp on paper that the Santro, Wagon R and Zen Estilo give even with a lighter 1 litre engine. This had to have a flip side though. Unlike the other three cars, the gush of power is not refined and the car feels a little under-powered at lower speeds. While the compact exterior and ultra-light steering ensure that the car is equipped to tackle congested city traffic, the engine fails to deliver, and it takes a lot of time to rev up between red lights.
On the highway, much to our surprise, the car is a revelation. Beyond 60 kph, the power suddely rushes in and goes well beyond 100 kph. We recorded the top speed at 140 kph, which was easily achievable, though there was an obvious lag between 120 kph and 140 kph.

Fuel Economy
Fuel consumption figures for Spark compare favourably with competition, though it does not raise the bar. In the city, it gave us 12 kpl with AC, while on the highway it did 15-16 km for a litre. Spark’s light engine and lithe frame ensure that it is not a heavy car unlike the U-VA and hence the mileage is rather good for a Chevrolet vehicle.

Last Word:
Value for Money Spark is an exciting car and is a generation ahead of Matiz. So if you loved the Daewoo vehicle, there’s a good chance you’ll fall for it. On a comparative basis, things are different because the competition has moved ahead as well. Spark does have killer looks and great ride and handling, but lacks refinement and space. Fuel economy is good, not exceptional, and at Rs 3.09-3.89 lakh it is a little expensive, more so as you can get a Santro Xing for less. Spark is for you if you want to stand out in the crowd, but don’t mind paying a little extra for that.