The U-VA gets a more powerful petrol option. And it
just about matches the diesel’s value. Well, almost
Chevrolet has been making some fairly good-looking cars in
India. Such as the Optra which was an attractive car in its time, the sporty
Cruze, and the handsomely proportioned Captiva. The exception was the
not-quite-so-good-looking U-VA. To address that, Chevy recently did a revision.
![Description: Chevrolet Sail U-VA](http://sportstoday.us/image/032013/Chevrolet%20Sail%20U-VA%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Sporty%20And%20Stylish%20Car_1.jpg)
Chevrolet Sail
U-VA
Called the Sail U-VA, it gets a new face with a signature
twin grille, new clear headlamps and redone lines that make the car look
sharper than the outgoing model. At the rear are new tail-lamps and a
redesigned bumper. But despite all this, it still looks bland. You have to be a
Chevy loyalist to like this styling.
There are two engine options – a 1.2-liter MultiJet diesel
(Fiat sourced) and a 1.2-liter petrol. We have the petrol, which puts out 85bhp
and 113Nm. The engine is not what you’d call free-revving, and to go quick, you
really need to give it some beans. It’s alright until 110kph, but after that it
takes a long time to hit its top whack of 150kph. The five-speed manual tranny
that the motor is coupled to feels pretty smooth and the shifts are accurate
and precise.
The Sail U-VA returns 14.5kpl on the highway and 12kpl in
town – not the best in its class but not unacceptable either. If you work the
throttle, it’ll hit 100kph from standstill in 13.85 seconds. The brakes manage
to stop the car within a respectable distance, especially compared to the
Marutis.
![Description: Interior looks dated, although the beige is abundant](http://sportstoday.us/image/032013/Chevrolet%20Sail%20U-VA%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Sporty%20And%20Stylish%20Car_2.jpg)
Interior looks
dated, although the beige is abundant
The Sail U-VA excels in giving you an excellent ride. It
soaks up the bumps with such ease, and saves your spine from the punishment
that the roads are designed to put it through. It certainly doesn’t handle as
well as a Swift but that shouldn’t be a problem as long as you’re not from The
Mad Max School of Driving.
![Description: Chevrolet Sail U-VA center consoler](http://sportstoday.us/image/032013/Chevrolet%20Sail%20U-VA%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Sporty%20And%20Stylish%20Car_3.jpg)
Chevrolet Sail
U-VA center consoler
The styling on the inside too is not something you’d brag
about. It’s all grey and the plastics are not in class-leading quality. But
apart from that, the Sail U-VA is quite roomy and the rear seat is wide enough
for three. In the features department, the top-end model that we had gets a
digital tachometer, remote locking, phone connectivity and power windows
all-around.
The base variant of the Sail U-VA is priced at $10,839, the
bells-and-whistles version goes up to $12,565, which is almost identical to the
Maruti Swift. The Sail U-VA is a good choice if you’re looking for space and
ride quality. For anything more, look elsewhere.
![Description: The verdict of Chevy Sail U-VA is 4/10](http://sportstoday.us/image/032013/Chevrolet%20Sail%20U-VA%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Sporty%20And%20Stylish%20Car_4.jpg)
The verdict of
Chevy Sail U-VA is 4/10
The specs
§ The numbers: 4cyl,
1199cc, petrol, 85bhp, 113Nm, 5M, FWD, 0-100kph – 13.85sec, 30 – 50kph (3rd)
– 4.48sec, 30-50kph (4th) – 6.75sec, 50-70kph (5th) – 9.82sec,
80-0kph 25.06m, 13.2kpl, 150kph
§ The cost: $12,565
§ The verdict: The
Sail U-VA has ride and space going for it, but the bland styling and average
dynamics are party poopers
§ 4/10
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