A bright Spark from an old flint: The Chevy Spark takes on where the Matiz left off

Sourya Biswas
18 December 2007

One of the most anticipated hatchbacks, given the erstwhile 'favourite' status of the Matiz, was Chevy's Spark. And now that its' back on the road, it has started to enliven its erstwhile fan following as well.

“Cute“ is the word that comes to mind when one has a first look at the latest hatchback offering from General Motors – the Spark from the Chevrolet stable. This impression is further reinforced by the ongoing advertising campaign featuring an animated Spark winking, and being winked at, by men and women alike, thereby underlining its targeted customer base of today's youth.

The Chevrolet Spark is a product of GMDAT (GM Daewoo Auto & Technology), the joint entity that was formed after GM bought Daewoo's assets after the latter's bankruptcy. After the takeover, GM modified some of Daewoo's existing models and relaunched them – the Nubira became the Optra, and the Matiz metamorphosed into the Spark.

With the Spark, GM continues its practice of naming the same car differently in different markets. It is sold as Wuling Spark in China, Chevrolet Joy in Pakistan, Pontiac Matiz in Mexico and Chevrolet Matiz in Europe. The car was recently launched in Mumbai, or shall we say re-launched, with much fanfare by GM's CEO Rick Wagoner himself.

However, the Daewoo Matiz in its new avatar has a lot going for it than just appealing looks. Take the high-efficiency inline petrol engine for example. It delivers an output of 63bhp@5400rpm, giving rapid acceleration and fuel-efficiency of around 13 kmpl on city roads, slightly better than its nearest competitor, the Zen Estilo. Coupled with its compact styling and easy handling, the Spark is the ideal vehicle for some zippy city driving. The engine is a definite improvement over the Matiz, with more power and acceleration.

Of course, the Spark has a tough act to follow in its predecessor. The Matiz had been an extremely popular vehicle on Indian roads, briefly outselling even the Marutis and Hyundais, before Daewoo's bankruptcy did it in. GM has made several alterations to the Matiz to create the Spark, and the utility of some are a matter of personal opinion.

Consider the layout of the dashboard. While the placement of the speedometer in the middle maybe welcomed by some as giving the impression of more space, it will definitely need some getting used to. Also, a young driver may not want to let his concerned parent sitting on the rear seat know the actual speed at which he is driving. Of course, the clear digital displays at the side eliminate the need to peer through the steering wheel to decipher dial readings. In the end, it's more a personal than a technical choice.