The Spark

[xcel]

Its small, kinda cute and sort of efficient…

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug. 3, 2012

2013 Chevrolet Spark - $12,245 to start and a 32/38 mpgUS rating with the 5-speed stick.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is a four-passenger, five-door hatch powered by a 1.25L I4 that was designed for small families overseas and the first-time buyer here in the US. It is currently the most affordable vehicle in the entire GM lineup and like its larger stable mates, includes the 10 standard air bags along with ABS, StabiliTrak and Hill Start Assist standard.

The Spark’s real draw however is the My-Link system with a seven-inch color touch screen radio including AM/FM/SiriusXM Satellite Radio that is capable of playing smartphone-based music, videos, photos, hands-free calling, Pandora, Stitcher and the crème de la crème, BringGo, an embedded app for “full-function GPS navigation” as an optional $50 upgrade to arrive later.

Spark Highlights

The Spark arrives as a 2,237 pound mini with a somewhat efficient 1.25L ICE and shod with 15” alloys, A/C and power windows as standard equipment.

Like the larger Sonic, the Spark’s interior includes a motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster with a full-color LCD.

When it comes to storage space, the Spark provides an 11.4 cu. ft. of cargo capacity behind rear seat and 31.2 cu. ft. with the rear seat folded.

Spark is covered by a five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty including roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, three-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty and a six-year/100,000-mile rust-through warranty.

It’s small but larger than the iQ and 500 it is competing against. Both of those vehicles are not 4 passenger cars no matter how they are marketed whereas we have sat in the Spark and 4 can “fit” in a squeeze. With the Sonic being what I consider GMs best fuel efficient offering, the Spark is one of the few GM vehicles I am looking forward to driving in the near future.

[TheStepChild]

Do they all have the luggage rack?

edit: Or is that a carrying handle?

[Jay]

Originally Posted by TheStepChild

...edit: Or is that a carrying handle?

In that case we'd call it "the Snark".

[300kmileprius]

38 MPG hwy?? Pretty silly when the new gas only altima is rated the same. Pathetic, miserable, and embarrassing.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by 300kmileprius

38 MPG hwy?? Pretty silly when the new gas only altima is rated the same. Pathetic, miserable, and embarrassing.

Ask our resident smartboi what he thinks about the accuracy of the EPA ratings for small cars.

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by 300kmileprius

38 MPG hwy?? Pretty silly when the new gas only altima is rated the same. Pathetic, miserable, and embarrassing.

It probably has higher aerodynamic drag than an Altima, being too tall and too short.

[TheStepChild]

hmm. drag not listed on edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/spa...ml?style=&sub=


but under models, they do list an electric

[brick]

Originally Posted by 300kmileprius

38 MPG hwy?? Pretty silly when the new gas only altima is rated the same. Pathetic, miserable, and embarrassing.

Sure, but you can have it brand new for 12 grand. That is the point of this car. Efficiency is a byproduct.

[Indigo]

38 MPG seems kinda low considering the Cruze gets above 40 MPG and is a much bigger car.

[MaxxMPG]

The Spark's Achilles Heel is its gearing. It's a city car, and the 32/38 EPA rating suggests it'd offer some nice numbers up to the 40-45mph range and it could be interesting with P&G at higher speeds. The Fiat 500 is rated 30/38, so the Spark has the edge in city EPA.

I'd like to see what Wayne can do with the Spark, since advanced techniques can offset much of the penalty of poor gearing. The curb weight for the Spark 5MT is 2236 pounds, which is not bad at all for a little bank vault of high strength steel stuffed with 10 air bags. Standard tires are the Goodyear Integrity, which served well over the years on the Prius II due to their low RRc.

The Spark's automatic shares the same gear ratios as the Aveo, as well as various B-segment Toyota vehicles (Yaris, Echo), which tells me the Spark is very likely still using the Aisin (Toyota) transmission GMDAT was using in the Aveo. It's a four speed, and the ratio spread is wide, so the little motor needs to really spin up prior to the 1-2 shift, and the low city number is the result. Sadly, most buyers will opt for the automatic and will get real world mpg on par with what most of us would get out of a midsize A/T sedan in city driving.

One interesting point - The Spark's 1.25L engine has a timing chain and not a belt. GM's Oil Life Monitor is included to reduce the number of unneeded oil changes. And the ATF "never needs changing". So it is set up for low maintenance costs.

Given a little time, someone looking for bargain basement transportation may be able to pick up a Spark LS during one of the many "Sale-A-Bration" "Red Tag" "Blue Tag" "You Pay What We Pay" events for about what most people are paying for a three year old used car.