When I splurged and paid an extra $1 per day for the Enterprise “Manager’s Special” instead of the cheapest sub-compact rental, I hoped I’d get a Toyota Corolla or a Chevy Malibu for the price of a Chevy Spark. Nope! A 2020 Chevy Spark LT was exactly what the manager pulled out for my rental. Crud. And oh well.
So I took the key and plopped into the Spark’s upright driver’s seat. Looking around, I found a snug cocoon of hard plastics and rough textiles. The swooping design wasn’t bad—in a more imaginative color, my eyes might even think it stylish—but my fingers could only find penny-pinching cheapness.
Ahead of me was a simple—though not unattractive—gauge cluster containing the speedo, tach, and a crude digital display for the gear selection and odometer. Centered on the dash was a modest-sized infotainment screen for the radio, smartphone connectivity and the reversing camera. Rotary knobs controlled the temperature (red for hot and blue for cold), vent choice, and fan speed. At my right knee was a basic PRNDL shifter, and, without stretching, I could reach over to the passenger’s door. The Spark appeared to be a basic car, just enough to get me home without freezing or being bored to tears. It seems that $16,400—the starting price of a Spark LT—doesn’t buy you much these days!
But when I started driving the Spark, I began wondering if maybe there was something “special” about the manager’s choice after all. The Spark was light and full of feedback, the automotive equivalent of a deep sniff of coffee after an hour in the scented-candle store. Yes, it drove like a 1990’s economy car—it was tin-can light, devoid of luxury, and worrisomely underpowered—but after all the heavy sensory-depriving Cadillacs, BMWs and Mercedes, it was great to be back in a car that was distilled to its essence.
It’s as if GM of Korea (where it was developed as a Daewoo) took a $25k compact car and acid dipped it, again and again, to strip it to its core components. Through repeated washing, the four-passenger Spark slimmed-down to an amazing 2,312 lbs and an economical $13,400. (2,312 lbs! That’s 29 lbs lighter than a 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata.) While it’s nowhere as snazzy or posh as compacts like the Corolla or Civic, the Spark’s Colin Chapman lightweight goodness can be felt from the driver’s seat.
I love driving, and the Spark unabashedly involves me in the act. Its tires rumble over the pavement, sending vibrations (good, in my opinion) into the body and steering. It reacts promptly to steering inputs, first leaning on its soft suspension and squidgy tires, then settling into a nice cornering stance. Its suspension delivers adequate ride comfort—it’s a little choppy at times, but the seats soften the blows—without hiding the machine’s, well, machinations. And its 98 hp 1.4L engine works quietly (unless wrung to the redline) yet has enough oomph to run with fast highway traffic. Yes, the Spark is a car on the move, and it makes no effort to hide it. I love it!
(The CVT transmission programming is fantastic at balancing quiet running with the moment’s power needs. When driving sedately, the transmission keeps the revs down for a calm driving experience. You must pay very close attention to notice that the rpm doesn’t climb in lockstep with the mph. Under full throttle, the CVT mimics a close-ratio gearbox and repeatedly runs from 5k to 6k rpm. Never does the Spark churn at one RPM for maximum power.)
Oh, sure, the driver can tell he’s working with very little. Highway grades and headwinds are reasons for concern; the Spark strains to climb steep hills, sending the driver looking for the A/C switch to free up a few extra horses. The brakes feel dull and uninspiring. (Though my tester’s life as a rental car may be to blame.) The thin window pillars make for excellent outward visibility but leave you wondering about your safety; do you really dare challenge merging traffic? You feel like you are driving a 1990’s economy car on 2020’s highways!
I’m not being fair: by 1990’s standards, the Spark LT is positively brimming with highfalutin options. There’s central power locking, power windows, hill-hold assistance, phone charging, and a back-up camera. By 2020’s standards, the Spark LT has exactly one compelling feature: Chevy’s modern infotainment system. It comes with 4G LTE WiFi, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, satellite radio, and (surprisingly clear) Bluetooth calling.
So what can you do with the sub-compact Spark? Move two adults comfortably, or four in a pinch. While the Spark has two back seats, they are really only useful if the front passengers cooperate and scootch forward. Kids in car seats won’t fit easily in the back either: I tried installing my daughter’s high-back booster seat, but it was unsafely pushed forward by the headrest. (The headrest may be removable with more effort.) Rear-facing infant seats don’t stand a chance given the limited legroom.
For moving goods, the Spark is equally compromised. The trunk is very modest, with most of its space is vertical rather than horizontal, and its floor deep below the bumper. Couples renting a Spark from the airport will likely overflow the trunk and use the rear seats for additional stowage; parties of 3 or 4 are advised to upgrade to a larger car!
And that’s the Chevy Spark: basic transportation with enough verve in its step to please driving enthusiasts (without turning off everyone else). For $15k, I’d recommend a used Civic or Corolla over a new Spark. But if the rental manager hands you the keys to the Spark, drivers will enjoy their trips nonetheless!
Mike's Steering Column 