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.

Let's go over the much-discussed exteriors once more. The smooth Korean curves of the Matiz have been given an Italian dressing in the Spark, and the effect is noticeable – soft, yet bold. Of course, not all Matiz-lovers will agree, considering the muscular nature of the new European styling that in their eyes may have ruined the aesthetic beauty of its predecessor. The V-shaped hood gives the car a pleasant, smiling appearance, with the oval headlights resembling droopy eyes. No wonder the commercials feature a winking vehicle.

However, the aerodynamics have not been sacrificed on the altar of beauty, with the highlighted wheel arches, strong shoulder lines and structured sides lending it a streamlined, futuristic look, unlike the Wagon R, another of its competitors on Indian roads. The torsion beam rear axle provides better wheel control than the trailing link axle used in the Zen Estilo, with the McPherson struts with anti-roll torsion bars and gas-filled shock absorbers providing a smooth, jerk-free ride. Some people have complained about the feel of the doors when shutting them, but again, this is a matter of personal opinion.

Coming to the interiors, they are cause for both satisfaction and mild disappointment. Notwithstanding the smaller height as compared to the Santro, headroom is not noticeably different, although the legroom is slightly less. Also, unlike the Estilo, the rear seat's backrest can be adjusted to enable the transportation of longer objects without problems. But the comfort of the Santro's rear seats cannot be matched. Moreover, the plastic of the dashboard and the covers of the seats do give an impression of some cost cutting in this department. Also, height-adjustment for the driver's seat is not offered in the topmost variant.

Laying to rest safety concerns, the Spark offers central locking and rear door child locks as part of standard fitment, along with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as an option in its topmost variant. Specifically distinct load paths with an energy absorbing hexagonal profile protect the passengers in the event of a head-on or rear collision. In the event of a side impact, the car's central pillar protects the occupants. Additional safety features include pressure-absorbing steering column, knee padding and a fuel valve that cuts off supply if the car overturns. However, airbags are not available.

The USP of the Spark is definitely the engine. The new 1.0L 4-cylinder 8-valve Single Over Head Camshaft (SOHC) engine is a free-revving unit that delivers a lot of power without grunting, and the refinement is noticeable. Although the peak torque of 90Nm is developed at a relatively high 4300rpm (compared to the Santro's 96Nm at 3000rpm) translating to marginally lower pulling power, the effect is felt only on steep inclines. The engine further benefits from intelligently spaced gear ratios that provide excellent drivability. Tubeless tyres are standard in all variants.

The initial pricing was cause of some concern, priced as it was a little above its competitors. However, with the recent festival discount of Rs. 50,000 being offered on this car, sales of the Spark have really taken off. For a first-time car buyer like Mr. Rahul Paul, 25, a software engineer in Hyderabad, that was the deciding factor. ''I had almost decided on the Santro, when this fantastic offer came up'', he says. That, and the fact that the Santro has been a regular fixture on Indian roads and desperately in need of a makeover. All this makes the Spark a worthy contender in this competitive segment.

One thing that the Spark provides in abundance is variety, with the car being available in five variants (one more if you count the highest variant with an additional option pack) and a gamut of attractive colours - Icy Blue, Mint Green, Fiery Red, Casablanca White and Platinum Metallic. The Spark is priced from Rs.3.25 lakh for the entry-level 1.0E to Rs 4.09 lakh for the top-end 1.0LT, ex-showroom Mumbai. However, this was before the festival discount. As the customer would say, ''Let the good times roll''.

A comparison of the base versions of the Chevrolet Spark and its two main competitors, the Hyundai Santro and the Maruti Zen Estilo, is given below: