City dwellers and those who have trouble parallel parking: Rejoice! Chevrolet has introduced the Spark, the first mini-car that the bow-tie brand has sold in the United States.
Looking like a Chevrolet Sonic that was left in the dryer too long, the aggressively sculpted styling makes the most of the available sheet metal, despite clownishly oversized headlights that are the same length as the hood of the car. Still, the Spark has a distinctively spunky look despite its short-but-tall stance and feminine colors, such as the test car’s “Techno Pink.”
Climbing inside, you’ll find Chevy made no attempt at accenting the interior with fake wood or faux carbon fiber; there are no mock metallic accents or leather seating surfaces. Instead, this car’s honest design reflects its price in the pecking order. The plastics that decorate the cabin are nicely grained, but they are just that: plastic. Seats are vinyl and, thankfully, 2LT models have front seat heaters and an armrest for the driver’s seat. The overall design is fun and strangely refreshing.
All Chevy Spark models come with air-conditioning, power windows and 10 air bags. Opt for the pricier 1LT or 2LT models, and you get a 7-inch touch screen with Chevrolet’s MyLink. This infotainment system, designed for use with your smartphone or MP3 player, features a USB port, Bluetooth audio streaming, Pandora Internet Radio and Stitcher Smart Radio. And the on-screen graphics are modern and sophisticated.
All that said, I wasn’t thrilled to find a four-speed automatic transmission on the test car. While good for an EPA rating of 28 mpg city, 37 highway, the five-speed manual transmission returns 32 mpg city, 38 highway — closer to what you’d expect given the size of the car.
As you might expect, the Spark’s fuel economy comes at the expense of performance. Its 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine produces 84 horsepower — enough to power this car adequately around town. Highway merging calls for a long on-ramp, lots of patience, or an empty highway. The spark in the Spark comes from style, not engine power.
You’ll find, however, that the car’s quick steering makes this poky little puppy fun to drive, but the car’s short wheelbase returns a fairly busy ride that crashes and bangs over most road imperfections.
The best part of the Spark: its affordability. Starting at less than $13,000, the fully loaded test car cost $16,720.
So even those of modest means can revel in a bit of hedonism.
There’s enough goodness in the Spark to spark sales, especially for city dwellers. While its small size takes some getting used to, its big heart is easy to appreciate.
Facts and figures on the 2013 Chevrolet Spark:
• Engine: 1.2-liter four-cylinder
• Wheelbase: 93.5 inches
• Length: 144.7 inches
• Weight: 2,269 pounds
• Cargo space: 11.4-31.2 cubic feet
• EPA rating (city/highway): 28/37 mpg
• Base price, base model: $12,995
• Base price, test model: $15,970
• As tested: $16,720
All prices include destination charges.