2009 Chevy Spark

Chevy's Spark hasn't seen any earthshaking changes. It has the same face, body, engine and tranny that it had two years ago. It is still emblazoned with the same retina-searing colours we saw a while back and the same cost-conscious hand-winding rear windows.

But there seems to be a market for this car as GM Challenger sells a bunch of them without trying really hard. Maybe it's the recipe - three cylinder, fuel-injected distributor-less 800cc-engine, coupled to a three-speed-plus over drive automatic gear box; rigid monocoque construction, with thicker steel where needed for structural support; McPherson struts up front, to the relief of front- end men everywhere; Torsion Beam rearend - and Spark weighs in at 1,700 pounds soaking wet. The dimunitive three-cylinder makes 51 hp at 5,000 rpm and 52 lb ft of torque at 4400. She rolls on 13-inch wheels and tyres, and gets 50 mpg!

Spark's interior is a bit unconventional, with the main guage pod on the centre console and the idiot lights in front of ... well, the idiot. The front windows are powered; nothing much else is. Brakes and steering have boost, but there is no central locking and no power mirrors. Even airbags have been sacrificed to get the car into your hands as inexpensively as possible. It is at heart, a budget car.

great interior

The cup-holders are in the doors; the radio is dealer-added and the pocket provided by the console before the shifter is a stretch to reach. Its AC cools nicely, though, and there are tonnes of head room; legroom is adequate if you're 5' 10" and under. Those in the back don't fare nearly as well, however.

The trunk won't take a 100- pound cylinder without reconfiguring the car's interior pounder. But the rear seats fold flat, and then the cylinder can go in (I can hear the safety Nazis swelling up already; I don't recommend carrying it!) The controls are nicely weighted and feel expensive.

Spark's engine is a willing lump; it is a three-cylinder, but it's 800 cc has only 1,700 or so pounds to work against. It ain't no rocket, but we did climb to the nether regions of the speedometer on Dyke Road, St Catherine - with no adverse effects. The car didn't wander or hunt at speed, and even going over train lines didn't affect its gyroscope-like ability to track straight ahead. We also took it up to Plantation Heights, and while second is a long way from first, there was enough poke to make it a satisfying, fun drive.

good weight

It has very good weight distribution; a terminal understeerer, handbrake slides caused the rear to step out predictably, almost cautiously; easily corrected by a well-timed throttle lift and a touch of opposite lock. I would kill for 40 more horsepower on this chassis. Almost fun to drive. Almost.

But that isn't what this car is about. It is supposed to be a cost- effective way of getting from point A to B. There it succeeds in spades; Spark's driving dynamics are just gravy. With all of our testing, including one hill climb and several wide open throttle runs, we covered 100 km, and the gas needle didn't even move. If enough of these is sold, finance minister, Audley Shaw, will have to revise his Budget estimates.

mario.james@gleanerjm.com