Chevrolet Enjoy

The MPV segment is growing and Chevrolet wants a slice of this with its Enjoy MPV. The Enjoy is the third product of the SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile or the joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) of China and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co. For India the Chevrolet Enjoy has been extensively modified and by that we mean equipping it with a diesel engine and making some crucial changes to suit the Indian palette.The Enjoy looks quite pleasant. The Enjoy also is quite compact with a length of 4305mm and overall is a nicely balanced design that is simple. It does remind you of the Mercedes Viano and that says a lot! Our favourite part of the Enjoy’s styling has to be the front with its chrome surround three-dimensional grille and leaf style fog lamps. The headlamps are nicely shaped and all that chrome detailing upfront gives it a more premium look.  The Enjoy has 14 inch wheels and in our opinion they look a tad small considering the size.

Move to the rear and the design is simple but still quite pleasant. Inside thanks to its monocoque construction, the Chevrolet Enjoy ‘enjoys’ a more spacious interior due to its low floor and despite its relatively compact dimensions, the interiors feels airy and extremely spacious. We had the top of the line version on test which had two captain seats in the middle row and hence is a 7-seater. Other versions of the Enjoy have a bench in the second row thus making it an 8-seater. Space is very good on 2nd row and even on the third! The design itself is simple but well thought out and everything is easy to use. It lacks features like steering controls, Bluetooth, climate control and a dead pedal for the driver though you do get USB, Aux, single din audio system, height adjustable driver’s seat and roof mounted aircon at the rear. Boot space is quite generous especially since the third row can be folded. The Chevrolet Enjoy has a 1.3l SMARTECH Turbo-charged diesel with 76 bhp and a 1.4l SMARTECH petrol engine with 103 bhp. Let’s deal with the petrol first. While the spec sheet reads 103 bhp, it does not quite feel like that when you drive it.

Just like the Sail sedan we had tested earlier this petrol engine has to be revved if you have to get the best out of it. When we switched to the diesel it was a much better show as it suits the character of the car better. With 76 bhp and 188Nm of torque on offer it offers a more relaxed driving experience compared to the petrol the reason being that you do not have to work through the gears that much and it is far less noisy than the petrol when in full chat. The Chevrolet Enjoy has a MacPherson strut with coil springs and a stabilizer bar at front while at the rear there is a 5-link coil spring suspension. The soft suspension gobbles up all the bad roads and potholes that you can throw at it. The ride does not get overly choppy and it is quite comfortable. While we liked the ride quality of the Enjoy there was a fair bit of noise seeping into the cabin. We had both the petrol and diesel Enjoy’s for a full day and we managed to test its handling also. When it comes to handling the Enjoy is rear wheel drive and when shown some corners it actually does pretty good though there is some body roll but it is not hugely apparent. In the important issue of fuel economy  expect the diesel Enjoy to give 18.2 kmpl and the petrol to give 13.7 kmpl (ARAI). At a starting price of Rs 5.49 lakhs for the petrol and 6.69 lakh for the diesel, the Enjoy is brilliant value for money. For a detailed analysis read below.

Inside thanks to its monocoque construction, the Chevrolet Enjoy ‘enjoys’ a more spacious interior due to its low floor and despite its relatively compact dimensions, the interiors feels airy and extremely spacious. We had the top of the line version on test which had two captain seats in the middle row and hence is a 7-seater. Other versions of the Enjoy have a bench in the second row thus making it an 8-seater. The seats themselves are quite comfortable and legroom, headroom is quite good in the first two rows. Move to the third row and things are not bad though it will not be comfortable for three there so in our opinion it is best for two adults.

Still it is refreshing to note that you can actually fit anyone from the human species there. Speaking of getting in thanks to the low floor that we have earlier talked about, it is quite easy- something which many family members will no doubt appreciate. There are no sliding doors instead you get conventional ones but as said earlier it feels roomy inside and is no doubt the Enjoy’s biggest asset.The design itself is simple but well thought out and everything is easy to use. It may lack the sportiness of the Ertiga but it gets the job done. Where we feel the Enjoy lacks is in the quality department as the fit and finish could have been better. It also lacks features like steering controls, Bluetooth, climate control and a dead pedal for the driver though you do get USB, Aux, single din audio system, height adjustable driver’s seat and roof mounted aircon at the rear. Boot space is quite generous especially since the third row can be folded.