The Daewoo Matiz is a segment-A or city car manufactured by Daewoo Motors from 1998 to 2002, GM Daewoo from 2002 to 2011, and GM Korea afterwards to the present.
This 5-door hatchback has a transversely-mounted front engine and a front-wheel driveline. It entered Australia as the first-generation Daewoo Matiz from 1999 until 2004, although production continued until 2008. Subsequent generations followed under various names. However, the second generation didn't make it back to Australia, returning only in the third and fourth generations as the rebranded Holden Barina Spark and Holden Spark, respectively.
First Generation: M100/M150 (1998–2008)
The Matiz M100 replaced the Daewoo Tico but also inherited its 0.8-litre petrol engine, now operating with a multipoint fuel injection system. It used a design from Italdesign Giugiaro, a concept originally drawn for the 1993 Cinquecento but which Fiat rejected. It was well-received in Europe and India, becoming Daewoo’s most fast-selling model at the time.
It shared the mechanicals and suspensions with its predecessor and Suzuki Alto, thus also had the same narrow width of these kei cars. The sole Australian trim of the M100 sported a 796-cc 3-cylinder S-TEC petrol engine which generated 38 kW and 69 Nm and only consumed 5.25L/100km. The powertrain transmitted this power through a 5-speed manual gearbox to the drive wheels and could attain a maximum speed of 144 km/h, accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h in 17 seconds. It featured dual front airbags, air-conditioning, and radio CD with four speakers.
A commercial version, the S model, was on offer from 2000 to 2002. It had four doors, two seats, and a spacious trunk or rear storage. It used the same powertrain as the other model. In 2002, the hatchback became available with automatic transmission.
A facelifted version M150 was released in 2000 with an upgraded engine but did not figure in Australia, which had the M100 until 2004.
In Europe, where the M100 hatchback was a best-seller, the NCAP test results of a 2000 model showed these results:
- Adult occupant safety – 3 stars out of 5
- Pedestrian safety – 2 stars out of 5
Second Generation: M200/M250 (2005–2009)
In 2004, a Chevrolet concept car called M3X previewed the next generation of the Matiz (M200) at the Paris Motor Show. It received a significant redesign of its upper body, upgrading of its S-Tec engine, and improvement in fuel economy brought about by a more streamlined shape. Other revisions included an updated interior and a modified suspension system that now made use of cast lower control arms in the front and twist-beam rear suspension.
Several markets, excluding Australia, received this version as the Chevrolet Matiz or Chevrolet Spark.
Third Generation: M300 (2009–2015)
The new Matiz M300 was based on the 2007 Chevrolet Beat concept car, a three-door, front-drive hatchback, which became famous as Skids in the Transformers movie (Revenge of the Fallen).
GM presented several pre-production versions before the unveiling of the production Spark at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009. Sales began in Europe and Australia in 2010 and the US in 2012.
The M300 was built on GM’s Global Small Vehicles platform in 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback styles. Under the Holden Barina Spark badge, it was offered to Aussie buyers with a 1.2-litre S-TEC II inline-4 petrol engine (59 kW, 107 Nm) with 5-speed Y4M HD manual gearbox. A 4-speed Aisin AW 80-40LE automatic transmission became an option in 2012. There were two trim levels, both powered by the same engine, with the following equipment:
- CD, base model – dual-front/head/side airbags, ABS, air-conditioning, 14-inch alloy wheels, brake assist, central locking remote, cloth trim, EBD, ESC, front fog lights, engine immobiliser, power mirrors/steering/windows(front), radio/CD player, rear spoiler, seatbelts with pretensioners (front), trip computer, traction control system
- CDX – adds: 15-inch alloy wheels, power windows (front and rear)
Fourth Generation M400 (2016–present)
The fourth generation, coded as M400, is called Holden Spark in Australia, where sales started in 2016. The following trims were on offer:
- LS, base trim – 1.4-litre 4-cylinder LV7 petrol with either CVT or 5-speed manual (73 kW, 128 Nm); new features include Apple CarPlay, adjustable driver’s chair, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, collapsible pedal release, child-seat/ISOFIX, DRL-LED, hill holder, intermittent wipers, multi-function control screen, multi-media pack, roof-mounted rear spoiler, satellite navigation, voice recognition system, Holden MyLink infotainment system
- LS Driver Assist – same engine and standard equipment as the base model but adds cruise control, park assist, and reversing camera
- LT – same engine, but paired exclusively with CVT; adds the following equipment to the standard: 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, cloth trim, front fog light, keyless entry/push-start button, leather-accented steering wheel, park assist, power windows, and reversing cam
Sales had been going downhill for the Light Car category in Australia, prompting Holden to phase out the Holden Spark in 2018. In the same year, Spark received a mid-cycle facelift including some exterior updates and new equipment for markets outside of Australia.
Only around 1,500 units of the combined Daewoo Matiz, Holden Barina Spark, and Holden Barina were sold in the country. If you're looking for parts for any of these nameplates or other cars that are no longer in production, the used car parts market would be your best bet. Try Carpart.com.au for hard-to-find auto parts and accessories. If you don't find them from our classifieds, feel free to send us a parts request message, and we'd gladly connect you to the most reliable sellers in the country.
-JMSL