Micro Spark makes a big impression
Holden’s new Spark is the first-ever micro car to be considered for Car of the Year honours in New Zealand. says it deserves to be an award finalist.
Appropriate name, huh? Holden’s new Spark is sparking increased sales in the micro segment of New Zealand’s new vehicle market.
In terms of total sales it is only a little segment, last year accounting for just 1 per cent of the market with a total of 1988 of the pint-sized hatchbacks going out to customers.
But so far this percentage has doubled to 2 per cent via 1661 sales to the end of September, which would indicate sales for the whole year might surpass 2200. And while that’s peanuts in a market that is expected to roar past 140,000 new vehicles sales for the first time, it does show that there is interest in well-built and well-specified little cars that can be offered with prices that make them competitive against used Japanese imports.
And leading the way is the Holden Spark, which in September made it on to the list of New Zealand 15 top-selling passenger cars for the first time. It jumped in there in 14th spot via 173 sales – which, while not that many when compared to the 481 September sales achieved by the top-selling car the Toyota Corolla, were still significant. Why? Because the Spark sales represented more than 60 per cent of total micro segment sales for the month.
It has to be said that a car giveaway campaign held by a major supermarket chain, that saw several dozen of the little Holdens given away, would have significantly contributed to the spike in Spark sales. So too might have Holden New Zealand’s ‘‘Add Fuel and Go’’ marketing initiative, in which motorists can lease an entry LS version of the Spark for $99 a week, with the only extra cost being fuel.
But this shouldn’t take anything away from the fact that the new Spark, which is built on an entirely new global platform and is powered by a new General Motors-developed 1.4-litre engine, is a very good little car – clearly the best in the mcromini segment. In fact the car is so good that it has just made the list of 10 finalists for this year’s New Zealand Car of the Year award, and from memory we think this is the first time a micro car has been a part of a COTY final consideration.
The Spark is actually the second such model to be sold in New Zealand. The first-generation version was known in other parts of the world as the Chevrolet Spark but was sold in New Zealand and Australia as the 1.2-litre Holden Barina Spark even though it was a hatch that was completely different to the larger 1.6-litre Holden Barina.
With this second-generation model Holden has come to its marketing senses and is selling the car simply as what it should be called – a Spark. Mind you, while it might also be called by that name in North America, in mainland Europe it is called the Opel Karl, and in the UK it is called Vauxhall Viva, reviving that famous name after a hiatus of 25 years. Spark is the smallest and least expensive vehicle in the Holden lineup.
The entry LS version retails for $16,490 with manual and $17,990 with a CVT automatic, and the top auto-only LT version carries a pricetag of $19,990. These prices are pretty well lineball with the likes of the Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Micra, and Suzuki Celerio.
This latest model boasts a longer wheelbase and a wider track than the Barina Spark it replaces, and this means there is more room inside despite the fact exterior length is about the same as before thanks to less front overhang. The roof is about 40mm lower, although once you get inside you wouldn’t know it, because good modern industrial design has freed up more interior room. There’s not a lot of load space however; with all seats in use it is a very tight 185 litres.
The interior does feel substantial though, which may be a strange thing to say about a pint-sized hatch such as this. But it really is nice inside, with our LT version featuring jet black Sportec seat trim, a well designed dash area and centre console, and such extras as push-button start and reversing camera. A significant feature is General Motors’ very latest MyLink technology that includes a 7-inch colour touch-screen that can be swiped just like a smartphone to navigate through numerous infotainment options including