Chevrolet Tavera

The Chevrolet SRV is coming to us like the perfect but late birthday gift. You are surprised to get one after you have ripped through the wrappers of everything else, yet it is sad because you know someone forgot your birthday in the first place. Still you love it because it is exactly what you have always wanted. Let me explain.

There was a time not so long ago when the enthusiast driver in India longed for a car with a modicum of performance. No, that breed was not looking for hyper exotics that they would never be able to afford, but a well built, sporty looking car that developed a minimum of 100 bhp (hello, 100 bhp on Indian roads is equivalent to 150 on European roads, trust me) is what they wanted. Some solace came in the form of the Honda City VTEC - it had the engine and the go but lacked looks and everything else. The Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX promised a lot and satisfied those who committed - but then Fiat had its share of worries in India. Sure, there were more powerful cars, but they weighed an additional tonne and had far too many zeroes in their price tags.

Right when this breed decided to bury their hopes and buy another Honda City VTEC (again 100 bhp, you see) or worse still, settle for a red Swift (it is kind of er… sporty), comes the Chevy SRV. All right, it is a fastback based on the Optra, but who cares - it looks right. Just right. It actually looks like a design study submitted by Italdesign to Alfa Romeo and rejected by the Milanese firm because it smiled too much. The front-end treatment is very ’90s Chevrolet, but the rear-three quarters and even the profile owe it to sporty front-wheel driven Alfas of late. Especially the tapering rear tail lamps.

Therefore, you may argue that it is the hatchback version of the Optra. However, it is a ‘proper car’ in the traditional definition of things. The new generation Daewoo Nubira that resides under its skin was designed and developed with European customers in mind. Moreover, it feels like a loosely built Opel rather than a tightly built Suzuki.

Inside, the familiar Optra settings have been made better by the use of faux aluminum accents and a sportier overall theme. Open the door, sit inside, run your fingers over the steering and dash, and the SRV feels robust and ready. In other words, it is neither the silky and refined perception of the Honda City nor the oh-so-functional and clinical approach of the Swift that you get. Instead what you get is a car that you want to thrash from the word go. And yes, though I am not the most talented to comment on music systems, I can tell you that the SRV is the ideal car for you to chuck the rear seats and load it to the brim with sub-woofers. Moreover, when you play Led Zep loud, its panels will not join the chorus with vibrations for sure.

Unfortunately, General Motors India has decided to launch the SRV only with the fuel efficient and refined 1.6-liter motor instead of the spunkier 1.8. However, new injection mapping ensures that the 1598cc 16-valver develops a neat 100 bhp at 5800 rpm and 14 kgm of turning force at 4500 revs. The problem is this motor uses a rather down-to-earth five-speed manual box to transmit its power. To begin with, there is a great deal of gearbox whine that intrudes into the cabin (on occasions, it even sounds good!) and makes you think that you are about to drive a full-blooded Camaro rather than a Daewoo-derived Chevy.

Then, as I said before, the SRV is thrash-ready and dropping the clutch closer to the redline gets the car to sprint to 60 kph in 5.13 seconds and to 100 kph in 12.05 seconds. Not exactly the numbers that would trouble someone who is used to the old Honda City VTEC, but the story has just begun. The car feels surefooted through the gears and you really want to exploit that motor for whatever it is worth without unduly worrying about valves being sent through the bonnet. Given the space, our test SRV managed 160 kph easily and the car felt safe while at it. Relatively short gearing, while good for fuel economy, is not exactly rewarding for the driver. But manage to engage third as quickly as possible and you will be biting the fleshier part of the power band and loving it.

The ride on offer is nothing short of brilliant for a car of its class (move over Palio, we have a grown-up hatch that rides better) and handling is neutral until you start pushing the performance envelope. It under steers like most front-wheel drivers ought to, but extremely good hands will be able to get the SRV to carry three digit speeds around reducing radius corners with ease. But I can tell you that it is even more fun to push the SRV into tight corners at lower speeds with a bit of help from the handbrake for induced over steer behavior - I managed a neat 180-degree number without any effort, but with more tuition, one can get to go tail-wagging.

Heck, why am I talking about silly stunts with a car that has a fully-grown sister in the Optra? Because, dear reader, with the SRV, you can. In addition, more than that, you would ‘want’ to when your SRV is painted a tantalizing Subaru rally blue. The Chevy SRV is not for those who want maximum car for their money, nor is it, as we found out, the quickest car you can buy. However, for approximately Rs 8 lakh on-road, you get a car with a certain degree of character and one that is surprisingly fun to drive. We also found out that, despite all the antics, the SRV returned 11-12 kmpl on a regular basis - which is phenomenal for a car that is on the heavy side. Then, it is more practical than the proper three-box sedans to live with - at least inside our congested towns.

The SRV is a car that has doors that ‘thunk’ shut while other cars today ‘click’ shut. In the SRV, you ride through potholes while you drive around them in other modern cars. With the SRV you may wake up one fine morning with the intent of going for a long drive with your music for your company while with other modern cars, you commute. It is traditionally individualistic than stand-out-modern-chic. If only we got cars like the SRV some ten years back.

Performance

Look superb, no look back, although it is person specific. Especially I like the curve at the back. I suggest you to go for a rear wing spoiler specially fitted (extra accessory). The SRV without option pack does not have any spoiler but with option pack, it has one roof spoiler (fitted on the roof - rear). You insist for a rear wing spoiler (cost - 7000) as it keeps the rear curve intact in turn that keeps the car beautiful looking, and discard the rear roof spoiler. Actually this model is designed in Italdesign Giugiaro Design Studio that designed Ferrari like cars in the past,,, so beauty is assured,,, Its not a funky/flashy looking car instead it has a solid sporty and aristocratic look that will catch your attention gently. In my opinion, Honda city (new models) is a funky/flashy looking car, there is no aristocracy in it.. SRV is superb in this department.

Engine: 1588 cc, 16V DOHC, VGIS petrol (I guess it is the same engine that OPTRA uses - DOHC is more powerful than SOHC)

Power: 101 PS @ 5800 rpm, (adequate power but initially its a little bit sluggish to accelerate.. don’t know why… may be the car I have driven was just out from cargo.. it did not even have the Speedo meter configured)

Max torque: 140 NM @ 4500 rpm (decent enough to driver in city condition… but baleno is superb in this department… baleno has almost linear torque…)

Transmission: 5 speed manual
Suspension: All independent McPherson Struts (amazing suspension, gentle at bumps and potholes_

Wheelbase is as big as corolla and bigger than most of the cars in this segment, it is 2600 mm… Ground clearance: very important, it has best in its category… 185mm without option pack (i.e. with 185/65 R14 tyres), and with option pack, it has amazing 195mm ground clearance (i.e. with 195/60 R15 tubeless tyres)… Dash broad is uncluttered, decent, and professional looking… Steering is a bit hard (probably due to the reason - it was very new - just out from cargo)… Horn is not placed well (with option ‘pack u might get a good steering wheel with horn placed well)… Back seats are comfortable and spacious…

Fuel efficiency: Do not know… as there was no meter configured during my test drive… but probably a little bit higher than the OPTRA… as it shares the same engine where SRV is lighter and engine is probably improved… One thing I need to add here about the engine type - there are different types of engines available in the market 2 popular among them are SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft) and DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft). To make the discussion short, DOHC is more powerful. Maruti baleno uses SOHC engine, SRV, Corolla uses DOHC. Ferrari cars use DOHC. Therefore, there is no doubt that DOHC is more powerful than SOHC. Now the question comes about fuel efficiency… Technically, if you read the functionality of DOHC engine it should be more fuel efficient than SOHC…

Actually, DOHC engine burns fuel more when required, when you push the throttle for more power, when you want to accelerate your beast to overtake the poor (?) Maruti 800. Therefore, the fuel efficiency for DOHC engine largely depends on the nature of the driver and driving quality. There are examples that an OPTRA giving over 18 KMPL in highway - one rally driver reported it. I do not know how much truth is in it, but I believe if you drive carefully DOHC engine will pay you back. Drive your vehicle gently, accelerate with a little patience, you will get very fuel efficiency out of your vehicle. Otherwise, be indecent and impatient, push your vehicle hard, meet with accident, and pay more for fuel.

Steering: No tilt that has disappointed me a lot… as at this price range most of the cars have tilt steering… Boot Space: Adequate, but not very spacious… Seats: Spacious and luxurious, back seats are positioned in a very comfortable way, Colors: Platinum metallic - I have seen this colored picture only… However, it seems very good… Velocity: It is a blue with probably a shade that symbolizes speed, so the name… Intense Black: good Blazing Red: I do not like red as the color of my car… Accidentally I have taken test drive on this colored SRV… but it was also looking very good…. I will probably decide between platinum metallic and velocity (curious to see how it looks like on SRV). Verdict: I have driven that car for couple of hours and I have just enjoyed driving it…, I am going to buy it…

Being a passenger in the SRV may not be as exciting as taking the wheel, but it is no less luxurious. Legroom abounds, in both the front and the rear. In fact, even with the front seats pushed back to their stops, there was still ample space for backbenchers. At one point, I was driving around with three people on the 40:60 collapsible rear benches, and never did I hear a single word of complaint from any of them. In addition, for coffee addicts, an armrest with cup holders unfolds out of the middle of the rear backrest if need be. For those extended weekend getaways, there is a lot of space for luggage in the deceptively small looking boot. Occupants of the SRV are going to love it, no matter where they are sitting.

When I turned the ignition key for the SRV the first time and revved up, all I wanted to do all day was sit there and listen to the 1.6-litre, inline-four thrum in response to my right foot. The mill is the same as the Optra 1.6, churning out 101PS at 5800rpm and 140Nm of torque at 4500 rpm, but shorter gearing on the SRV (especially the first three gears) means it is quicker off the line than its cousin. During speed tests, the SRV turned in a zero to 100 km/h time of 12.78 seconds and a top speed of 175.98 km/h on the V-box, which was not bad at all for a vehicle tipping the scales at 1230kg. The SRV’s five-speed manual gearbox is fairly slick and precise, and shifting gears on this car is not a chore like it is on some others.

The SRV works in the city, sure, but how does it behave once it hits the highways and our favorite set of twisties? Well, we did take it out on the narrow, winding roads near Pune, and the SRV acquitted itself with grace. Keep the revs northward of the 3000rpm mark and the SRV rewards you with vigorous acceleration. Steering is light and responsive, and at the same time, has tactile feel. Handling is, by and large, neutral and the SRV doesn’t display pronounced under steer like most front wheel drive hatchbacks. Push it hard through a corner and the SRV holds its line, making it ideal for a spot of spirited driving. And the SRV’s 195/60 R15 Goodyear GT3 tyres offered high levels of grip even while cornering hard in the wet, so certainly, the car’s handling/cornering abilities are none too poor.

The SRV employs independent suspension all round - McPherson struts on both axles with an A-frame arm in the front, and dual wishbones and a trailing arm at the rear. Low speed ride quality is not too bad, though it could have been better damped. Things get better at higher speeds, and potholes, speed-breakers, and rumble strips are dispensed with impunity. As a package deal, the SRV offers a very workable tradeoff between supple ride quality and outright handling abilities.

Coming to another very important factor - fuel efficiency -the SRV does reasonably well. In tests, it returned a figure of 9.8kmpl in the city and 17.5kmpl on the highways. Overall fuel efficiency was around 11.7kmpl, which we think is all right for a 1.6-litre engine. The SRV costs Rs 7.84 lakh (OTR Pune), which is sure to attract the young and the moneyed. Shell out an additional Rs 59,971 and you have the choice of upgrading your SRV with an options pack that includes goodies like 15-inch alloy wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, an Alpine music system with a remote, a front bumper that stays relatively undamaged up to speeds of 8km/h and a driver’s side airbag. Just one thing here - we would have liked the airbag to be a standard fitment! So there you have it. The SRV looks good, and drives well. In a market littered with half a dozen boring old hatchbacks, with little or no character, this is one sporty, stand-out car - one that you’ll love driving, and showing off to your neighbors. Yes, we are impressed!

Technical Specification

Car Body Type: Hatchback
Segment: C+ Segment

Engine

Engine: 1598cc, 16V DOHC, VGIS
Engine Type: Petrol
Maximum Power: 101bhp @5800rpm
Maximum Torque: 140kgm @4500rpm
Fuel Consumption: N/A
Gears: 5 Manual
Top Speed: N/A

Features

Air Conditioner: Yes
Central Locking: Manual
Steering: Power
Power Windows: Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment: Manual
Tacho Meter: Yes
Door Mirror: Both Side Electric
Stereo: Yes
CD Changer: No
Fog Lamps: Yes
Body Color Bumpers: Yes
Rear A.C. Vent: No
Remote Boot: Yes
Remote Fuel: Yes
Rear Defogger: Yes
Rear Wiper: Yes
ABS: No
Airbag: Yes
Ground Clearance: 185.00 cm
Kerb Weight: 0.00
Fuel Tank: 0.00
Alloys: Yes