The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Space for four
- Usable cargo space
- Excellent app-based navigation
- Supremely easy to park
Dislikes
- Fuel economy a little disappointing for the size, weight
- Narrow, small seats
- More conventional colors reserved for Spark EV
- EV model only offered in CA, OR
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark enters the minicar fold with a space-efficient package and some of the best infotainment and connectivity technology in any affordable car; and while performance of the standard Spark is lackluster, the Spark EV breaks out as one of the best-performing, most efficient electric cars. Too bad the EV is offered on such a limited basis.
The success of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, and how it fits right into a niche that didn't exist just a few years ago, serves as a reminder that small-car tastes sure have changed. Interest in small cars has surged over the past several years; factor in the idea that, for younger people, smartphones and connectedness often come before wheels. In all, you end up with a new batch of small cars like the Spark, for which styling and features aren't thrown to the wayside.
Addressing both of those new concerns is the Spark, which is a very small five-door hatchback that, at exactly three feet shorter than the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, fits into the city in ways that few other cars on the market do. But with somewhat more 'grown-up' proportions than most other cars in this class, the Spark doesn't quite look as small as it is at first--provided you haven't parked it next to a Chevy Suburban, that is. Overall, accent lines, black-plastic panels that continue the window line, and a large Chevy twin-opening grille help to hide the slab-sided, snub-nosed box-on-wheels look. A long roof spoiler extends to frame the rear window opening, giving depth to the rear and improving the Spark's aerodynamics, too.
The Spark makes no attempt to be especially upmarket inside--just cheap and cheerful. The textured hard-plastic dash isn't particularly uplifting, while the synthetic cloth seats won't have anyone fooled as upmarket. But we like the body-color inserts on the door trim, inside the door bins, and on the dashboard; they bring in some attitude, and recall the painted interior metal found in economy cars (and sports cars) of the Sixties. Inside, the instrument panel has a motorcycle-influenced instrument panel, with a pod mounted on the steering column and a small vehicle information display. All LT trim levels feature a 7-inch color touchscreen display in the center stack.
The 84-horsepower, 1.2-liter four-cylinder Ecotec engine included in most Spark models provides a decidedly old-school economy-car performance. The Spark comes standard with a five-speed manual gearbox, and if you drive aggressively you can hustle it along; a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) replaces the former four-speed automatic transmission this year. While we haven't driven this model with the new CVT, we hope it's faster than the former automatic, without too much of the coarse engine drone that afflicts small cars with such a transmission.
With the manual transmission, the Spark is EPA-rated at 32 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 34 mpg--as good as anything in the class, but slightly lower than various larger compact sedans. The new CVT does improve fuel economy to 30 mpg city, 39 highway (34 Combined)--up 2 mpg versus last year's automatic.
One other model, available only in California and Oregon, is the Spark EV. This is the quickest of the new crop of 'affordable' all-electric models, with a 0-60 mph time of just 7.6 seconds, and up to 400 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 105-kW electric motor system. Meanwhile its 21-kWh battery pack helps provide an EPA-rated 82 miles of driving range—and based on what we saw on this first drive, that will be quite easy to achieve. GM has also claimed that it's the world's most efficient production passenger car—at least, on an mile-per-gallon-equivalent basis.
No matter which model, the ride quality isn't great, and you'll feel nearly every bump, pothole, ridge, and ripple. It's tall enough that passengers will feel the Spark leaning on hard corners, while its relatively small wheels and tires worked hard to hold the road. The electric power steering offers some road feel, and while it's hardly as fun to toss around as the MINI Cooper, the Spark can change lanes into spaces other cars couldn't fit into, and it's a joy to park.
Seats in the Spark in front are a little small and narrow for American-sized pilots and passengers, and taller drivers might find their knee brushing the climate controls at times (a little more rearward travel would be useful). The rear seatback is upright, but with a little negotiation between front- and back-seat riders, four adult male humans can occupy the Spark and travel in reasonable space. That's more than can be said for the MINI Cooper or Fiat 500. With the rear seat up, the Spark has 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space--enough to hold 10 to 12 full paper grocery bags with ease--which expands to 31.2 cubic feet when the 60/40 split rear seat is flipped and folded down.
Ten airbags are included as part of the Spark's standard equipment, as are electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes. Outward vision is good, too, despite the lack of a rear camera system. The Spark earns a four-star Overall rating from the federal government, with impressive five-star side and side pole ratings. And in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, the Spark and Spark EV were the only minicar models to achieve an 'acceptable' in the tough new small overlap frontal test.
The base LS model of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark starts at $12,995. For about $1,500 more, the 1LT adds MyLink with the 7-inch touchscreen dashboard display, a USB port, Bluetooth audio pairing, audio controls on the steering wheel, and built-in Sirius XM radio with 3 months of free service. It also includes remote keyless entry, power door locks, an anti-theft system, power door mirrors, cruise control, and floor mats. Add the 2LT and you get 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, leatherette seats with heated fronts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, plus a long list of cosmetic upgrades. For 2014, the Spark gets new automatic headlamps and daytime running lamps, while the 2LT model gets heated power-adjustable body-color side mirrors with integrated turn-signal lamps.
All Spark models come standard with air conditioning, power windows, a rear-window wiper, and a trip computer. And even base cars have 15-inch painted aluminum wheels--no plastic covers over slotted metal wheels here. Infotainment is actually much better than what's offered in most other small cars, and even better than the systems in some much more expensive vehicles. The Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system includes an AM/FM stereo with the 7-inch display (Sirius XM can be added), Bluetooth streaming, and compatibility with Pandora and Stitcher apps. The Spark is the first Chevy to offer a navigation system that's not built into the car, but runs via an optional $50 smartphone app called BringGo. It compresses the entire North American map database into a 2GB app that runs on the user's smartphone and essentially transmits the display to the vehicle system. New for this year, if you have an iPhone, you can use Siri hands-free through the system (using your smarphone's data connection, again). Altogether, we think this is a great solution, as Chevy says its Millennial buyers wanted in-car navigation, but compared its cost to running Google Maps on their smartphones.
Exterior colors remain wild, with Lime and Grape Ice are new hues introduced for 2014; and this year there are a few more dealer-installed accessories, such as roof-rack cross rails, a fog lamp kit, and interior trim kits.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Styling
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark doesn't break any new ground on the outside, but its racier motorcycle-influenced interior transcends its miserly intent.
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark is a minicar on the outside, but it packs in the interior space of a subcompact--as well as an interior design that's a step above the anonymity you might expect to find in one of the cheapest cars on the market.
As a very small five-door hatchback that's a full three feet shorter than the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, the Spark fits into the city in ways that few other cars on the market do. But with somewhat more 'grown-up' proportions than most other cars in this class, the Spark doesn't quite look as small as it is at first--provided you haven't parked it next to a Chevy Suburban, that is.
Thankfully, the Chevy Spark is more than just a bulbous or boxy skate. On the outside, the Spark has a number of details that help avoid a completely slab-sided look--like accent lines, black-plastic panels that continue the window line. Meanwhile, a bit Chevrolet twin-opening grille help to hide the snub-nosed look. A long roof spoiler extends to frame the rear window opening, giving depth to the rear and improving the Spark's aerodynamics, too.
The Spark makes no attempt to be especially upmarket inside, which we find rather charming compared to cars that are trying to look premium from a distance (and then not deliver up close). Cheap and cheerful is probably the best way to describe it. The textured hard-plastic dash isn't particularly uplifting, while the synthetic cloth seats won't have anyone fooled as upmarket. But we like the body-color inserts on the door trim, inside the door bins, and on the dashboard; they bring in some attitude, and recall the painted interior metal found in economy cars (and sports cars) of the Sixties.
The instrument panel itself has a motorcycle-influenced design, with a pod mounted on the steering column and a small vehicle information display. The center stack in LT trim levels features a 7-inch color touchscreen display.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Performance
The 2014 Spark isn't a strong performer in gasoline form; but the all-electric Spark EV is much perkier.
The 84-horsepower, 1.2-liter four-cylinder Ecotec engine included in most Spark models provides a decidedly old-school economy-car performance. The Spark comes standard with a five-speed manual gearbox, and if you drive aggressively you can hustle it along; a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) replaces the former four-speed automatic transmission this year. While we haven't driven this model with the new CVT, we hope it's faster than the former automatic, without too much of the coarse engine drone that afflicts small cars with such a transmission.
As for the Spark EV, it's the quickest of the new crop of 'affordable' electric models, with a 0-60 mph time of just 7.6 seconds, and up to 400 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 105-kW electric motor system. It's extremely quiet and responsive, thanks to its 105-kW (140-hp) electric motor. And among electric cars, we've found it more eager than the Leaf, more tossable than the Fit EV,, and better integrated overall than the Smart Electric Drive.
With the manual transmission, the Spark is EPA-rated at 32 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 34 mpg--as good as anything in the class, but slightly lower than various larger compact sedans. The new CVT does improve fuel economy to 30 mpg city, 39 highway (34 Combined)--up 2 mpg versus last year's automatic.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Comfort & Quality
Surprisingly, Chevy managed to fit an adult-usable backseat into the Spark.
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark has a very well designed interior that makes the most of what's essentially a minicar exterior. And that includes what, surprisingly, works out to be an adult-sized back seat.
The front seats in the Spark are a little small and narrow for American-sized pilots and passengers, and taller drivers might find their knee brushing the climate controls at times (a little more rearward travel would be useful). In back, two adults can get in and be comfortable for trips across town, provided there can be a little negotiation between front- and back-seat riders. That's more than can be said for the MINI Cooper or Fiat 500--but of course as in any car this size (and width), it's only good for two across.
With the rear seat up, the Spark has 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space--enough to hold 10 to 12 full paper grocery bags with ease--which expands to 31.2 cubic feet when the 60/40 split rear seat is flipped and folded down
No matter which model, the ride quality isn't great, and you'll feel nearly every bump, pothole, ridge, and ripple. It's tall enough that passengers will feel the Spark leaning on hard corners, while its relatively small wheels and tires worked hard to hold the road. The electric power steering offers some road feel, and while it's hardly as fun to toss around as the MINI Cooper, the Spark can change lanes into spaces other cars couldn't fit into, and it's a joy to park.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Safety
The Chevrolet Spark has better safety scores than most other minicars—and it's an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark might just be one of the safest minicar picks, as it has no serious blemishes, no poor grades on its report card.
The Spark includes ten airbags. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are also part of a good list of standard safety equipment.
The federal government has given the Spark a four-star Overall rating, with four stars in the frontal category and five stars for side impact—including an impressive five stars in the federal side pole test.
Ratings are also in from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and they're quite good--with top 'good' results for frontal, side, and rear tests, as well as the roof strength test. And in the tough new small overlap frontal test, the Spark earned a second-best 'acceptable' rating; in fact it was the only one to achieve a passing grade in that test in a recent IIHS roundup of vehicles from the minicar segment.
Outward vision is good, too, despite the lack of a rear camera system.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Features
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark comes with a decent feature set; but the optional infotainment and navigation system is a standout.
The Chevy Spark is one of the cheapest new cars on the American market, so it's no surprise that its standard-feature list is very...basic. But there are some real standouts available as options or in the upmarket trims.
All Spark models come standard with air conditioning, power windows, a rear-window wiper, and a trip computer. And even base cars have 15-inch painted aluminum wheels--no plastic covers over slotted metal wheels here. Infotainment is actually much better than what's offered in most other small cars, and even better than the systems in some much more expensive vehicles. The Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system includes an AM/FM stereo with the 7-inch display (Sirius XM can be added), Bluetooth streaming, and compatibility with Pandora and Stitcher apps.
The Spark is the first Chevy to offer a navigation system that's not built into the car, but runs via an optional $50 smartphone app called BringGo. It compresses the entire North American map database into a 2GB app that runs on the user's smartphone and essentially transmits the display to the vehicle system. New for this year, if you have an iPhone, you can use Siri hands-free through the system (using your smarphone's data connection, again). Altogether, we think this is a great solution, as Chevy says its Millennial buyers wanted in-car navigation, but compared its cost to running Google Maps on their smartphones.
For 2014, the Spark gets new automatic headlamps and daytime running lamps, while the 2LT model gets heated power-adjustable body-color side mirrors with integrated turn-signal lamps.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Fuel Economy
Gasoline versions of the Spark still don't hit 40 mpg on the highway -- yet the Spark EV is the most efficient car on the market.
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark, at least in gasoline form, is nothing spacial from a fuel-efficiency standpoint. And for a car this small, a lot of shoppers might frankly be shocked to find out that it managed just 30 or 31 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway.
Versus last year's four-speed automatic transmission, the new CVT automatic is an improvement--rated at 2 mpg better.
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, on the other hand, is the most efficient vehicle available in the U.S. market, according to GM (and in terms of miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). Its 21-kWh battery pack helps provide an EPA-rated 82 miles of driving range—and based on what we saw on this first drive, that will be quite easy to achieve.
