2018 Chevrolet Spark

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark is available in four trim levels, namely: LS, 1LT, Activ, and 2LT. All trims come with a manual or a CVT gearbox. Pricing for the trims starts at $13,050 and goes up to $17,475 for the top trim. Despite low pricing, the LS trim is pretty well-equipped in terms of features it offers and has very practical and usable features, with a slight touch of modernity. These trims and their features have been listed below. The CVT option will cost a hefty $1,100 more.

The LT trims get an optional sunroof. On the 2LT trim, a Driver Confidence package is available that adds a couple of driver assistance features, for a premium of $195. The sunroof will cost $1,000, as it is a power sliding sunroof.

We Recommend 

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark 2LT trim is highly recommended, with the 5-speed manual. Priced at $16,375, this top-spec Spark not only undercuts many of its rivals by a few thousand dollars but also gets all the necessary interior features with a few creature comforts. The main reason to recommend the 2LT over the 1LT is the additional safety features, which can come in handy.

"Ask your dad how many horsepower his 1974 Mustang II had and he’ll tell you 10 less than the Spark in a car that weighed significantly more. Advances in engine and electronic technology allow 98 ponies to do a lot more today, giving the Spark snappy acceleration off the line, but still struggling to pass or merge at higher speeds."-KBB

2018 Chevrolet Spark Engine and Transmission 

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark is powered by a 1.4L I-4 naturally aspirated engine that outputs 98 hp @ 6200 rpm, and has a torque output of 94 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm. It comes with a 5-speed manual or a CVT, and we recommended the manual. Front-wheel-drive is standard.

This Chevy is made for the urban jungle, and its engine character tells so. However, it still needs all its horses to be used for decent drivability that can keep up with the traffic. The manual gearbox is more fun to drive and is better at shift times than the slow and lousy CVT.

The Kia and the Ford Fiesta get the biggest engines, whereas the Mirage gets a 1.2L Inline-3 engine which is rare. The Rio is also the only car that gets a 6-speed manual. All cars get FWD as standard. The Mirage makes the least power and torque among these four cars. The Rio has the most power and torque output at 130 hp and 119 lb-ft. The Fiesta is the most expensive car at 14,505 dollars. Peak torque kicks in the earliest on the Mirage, but it's the Rio and the Fiesta that get the most torque in the lower rpm's.

2018 Chevrolet Spark Acceleration

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark 1.4L with the 5-speed manual gearbox sprints from 0-60 mph in 10.4 seconds, and the quarter-mile comes up in 18 seconds. The top speed of the car is rated at 117 mph. With the CVT, the 0-60 mph run takes place in 10.2 seconds, with the quarter-mile coming up in 17.6 seconds. The CVT has a top speed of 114 mph.

The Fiesta has the quickest 0-60 mph time of 9.3 seconds, thanks to the precise gearbox and a lightweight body. The Spark is in second place, whereas the Rio takes 10.8 seconds, and the Mirage is the slowest at 12.2 seconds. The quarter-mile rankings are the same, but the Rio is faster than the Spark by 0.1 seconds. The Rio has the least top speed, whereas the Fiesta has the most top speed at 120 mph. 

2018 Chevrolet Spark Ride and Handling

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark has a soft suspension setup, which gives it a decent ride quality on even bad roads. However, too much speed and the car will get bouncy which will cause the underbody to touch the ground. The handling on the Spark is good enough around the city: it's planted, precise, and the suspension aids to deliver better performance. Around turns, the car is stable with a little body roll but there's not enough juice from the 1.4L I-4 engine to enjoy them.

The power steering on the Spark is very well weighted, with good steering control and there's a good response as well. Maneuvering in the city is a simple task, and the light body combined with this steering makes parking an easy task. High-speed stability is not the best, and we recommend sticking to the Spark to enjoy the urban jungle.

2018 Chevrolet Spark Braking

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark gets a braking setup of a 9.3-inch front brake rotor and a 7.9-inch rear brake rotor. The Spark has an impressive braking performance and stops from 60-0 mph at 120 feet. The brake pedal has a good feel to it, and there's some brake application even with the slightest modulation.

The Fiesta has the best braking performance with a stopping distance of 118 feet. The Spark has a stopping distance of 120 feet. The Mirage and the Rio take the most stopping distance at 127 feet. The Rio gets the largest front brake rotor at 11 inches, whereas the smallest front brake is on the Mirage at 9 inches. Rear brake sizes are similar, but the Kia Rio gets the biggest rear brake at 8 inches, whereas the Mirage has the smallest brake at 7 inches.

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark with the manual five-speed transmission has a fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined. The CVT Spark has a fuel efficiency of 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highways, and 33 mpg combined. The Spark gets a fuel capacity of 9 gallons, which gives it a range of 261 miles in the city and 351 miles on the highway with the 5-speed manual gearbox.

Spark is behind its competitors in terms of range. The Mirage has the best-combined mileage at 36 mpg, followed by the Spark, and the Rio at 32 mpg. The Fiesta has the least at 30 mpg. In the city, and on the highway, the Fiesta is the least efficient.  In terms of range, the best city range is found on the Rio at 335 miles, whereas the best highway range is on the Rio as well at 440 miles. This is due to ti the higher tank capacity on the Rio. The Spark's mileage is the least among the four cars. 

"The 2018 Chevrolet can hold four adults, and its interior isn't quite as bare-bones as you might think." -TheCarConnection

2018 Chevrolet Spark Seating and Comfort

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark's interior is small, and cost-cutting is seen right from the start. However, it's very functional and there has been excellent usage of interior space. There are some Chevy factors in there. It's quite simple and basic, but that has not compromised the car's quality levels at all. Hard plastics make up for most of the interior surfaces, with higher trims getting some simulated leather surfaces which adds to the charm. The fit and finish are excellent, with no panel gaps anywhere. The knobs and buttons layout is simple, easy to reach and use. A metallic grey trim does lighten up the ambiance in the otherwise dull interior.

The Spark car seat 5 passengers but four at most with comfort. The front seats are quite comfortable with decent cushioning, and there's decent support than even on the pricey Chevy Bolt. The rear space is misleading in some ways: It does not look big, but two adults can fit in comfortably. The tall roof opens up a lot of headroom, but taller passengers might have to adjust. In terms of visibility, the tall roof with the large windows and the compact size help to provide a good amount of visibility all around the car. Getting in and out of the Spark is an easy task, thanks t the large doors that open wide. 

All four cars here seat up to five passengers. The Mitsubishi Mirage and the Fiesta have the most headroom in the front row, whereas the Fiesta has an ample amount of front legroom at 42.2 inches. The Fiesta does this by better interior space management and a smaller trunk. In the rear, the Rio has the most headroom, whereas the Mirage has the most legroom. The Fiesta has the least rear legroom at 31.2 inches. Some interior features on the Spark are:

• Cruise Control
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Push-button start
• Air conditioning
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel

2018 Chevrolet Spark Infotainment System

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Chevy's MyLink interface system and OnStar as standard for every trim. There has been no compromise on the features provided. This makes Spark's infotainment system our favorite in this class which comes with a lot of useful features. The interface has sharp graphics, with a straightforward menu layout. Touch inputs are recognized quickly, with no lag at all.

Also, this system supports multi-gesture control which is an excellent feature at this price point. Some standard features include an AM/FM Stereo, and a 4-speaker sound system. The 2LT trim gets an upgraded driver information display. Some other infotainment features include:

• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Chevrolet On-Star Communication System
• Bluetooth
• USB Connectivity
• 6 Speaker Audio System

2018 Chevrolet Spark Cargo Capacity

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark gets a standard cargo capacity of 11.3 cu-ft which can be increased to 27.2 with the rear seats folded. That is quite less on cars in this segment, but it's enough for local jobs and basic loads. Luggage loading is not a problem with the wide-opening cargo door.

The most standard cargo space is seen on the Rio at 17.4 cu-ft, with the Mirage just behind at 17.2 cu-ft. The Fiesta has a space of 14.9 cu-ft. The Spark has the least at 11.1 cu-ft. In terms of maximum cargo capacity, the Mirage provides the most at 47 cu-ft, followed by the Rio at 32.8 cu-ft. The Fiesta has the least maximum cargo capacity available at 32.8 cu-ft.

"The 2018 Chevy Spark makes the most of its small size, and no longer looks toylike—just minimal—inside or out." -TheCarConnection

2018 Chevrolet Spark Design and Dimensions

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark has excellent looks, with a smart and aggressive front with a sporty and simple rear. Sharp styling lines run all over the Spark's boxy body. At the front, the Spark has a nearly flat nose with two large headlamps. The round foglights and a blacked-out front bumper increase the sportiness of the car. Along the sides, the small wheels with cute wheel arches look great, and the door handles next to the rear window (C-pillar region) gives it a coupe-type look.

At the rear, the look is complemented by a roof-mounted spoiler, with vertically placed kidney-shaped large taillights. A body-colored rear bumper completes the look. The 2018 Chevrolet Spark hatchback is a city car, and its dimensions are made for tight spots and easy parking. The Chevrolet Spark weighs 2246 lbs, has a length of 143 inches, with a wheelbase of 93.9 inches. The car has a width of 62.8 inches and a height of 58.4 inches, with a decent ground clearance of 6.6 inches. This compact sizing gives the Spark a lot of benefits while maneuvering in the city. 

The Spark is the smallest car in this competition, but the Mirage is the lightest. The Rio has the most length and the most width at 160 inches and 67.9 inches respectively, whereas the Mirage has the most height at 59.4 inches. The Wheelbase on the Rio is the longest at 101.6 inches, whereas the 93.9-inch wheelbase of the Spark is the tightest in this competition.

Some exterior features of the Spark are:

• Roof Rails
• Power Sunroof
• Foglights
• Alloy wheels
• Chrome door handles
• Rear spoiler

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark has not been rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS, but the IIHS claims the same rating that the 2016 Spark had. That car had received mostly a rating of 'Good' with a few exceptions. Where the Spark shines is the optional active safety features that are very unusual in cars at this price point. GM uses a platform on the Spark that has been borrowed from Daewoo, a small car platform. Standard safety features on the Spark include a Tire pressure monitoring system, an engine immobilizer, brake assist, anti-braking system, and child seat anchors. Some other safety features include:

• Airbags
• Traction control
• Stability control
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane-departure Warning
• Blind-spot monitorings

2018 Chevrolet Spark vs 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is the most direct competitor to the Chevy Spark. However, the Spark is the better car in many ways. First of all, the Mirage gets a smaller and less powerful engine which makes it a slow and sluggish car to drive. The Spark has better performance runtimes than the Mirage. Both the cars are made for the city, but the Chevy is a better handler on the highway. Even in the city, the Chevy has more precise handling with better driving dynamics. Concerning fuel efficiency, the Mirage betters the Spark with its better fuel efficiencies. It also gets a longer range.

In the interior, both the cars are quite basic, but it's the Spark that has the most appeal to the interior. The Mirage's interior feels cheap, low-quality, and can be quite noisy as well. The infotainment on the Spark is easier to use and more fluid. Coming to design language, the Spark has a better body design. The Spark has not been tested for safety, but the Mirage gets a rating at least, despite it getting the least rating among compact cars. In terms of pricing, the Spark is the more affordable one and a clear winner against the bring the least  It also has lighter than the Spark, has a smaller engine, and has the best in class fuel efficiency also. The Mirage is also more spacious than the Spark.

2018 Chevrolet Spark vs 2018 Ford Fiesta

The 2018 Ford Fiesta is a better car than the Spark in many ways. The Fiesta makes more power, has better performance times, and also benefits with its sharper handling and steering. The Fiesta is more fun to drive as well. However, the Spark has better fuel economy whereas the Fiesta has a better range. The Fiesta also is a much better car on the highway and hence is a solid choice in subcompact cars. The Spark has more standard features than the Fiesta hatchback.

The interior on the Fiesta is more spacious, and also more premium than on the Spark, with a better front row. The Fiesta has more standard cargo capacity, whereas the Spark gets the most maximum capacity. Also, the Spark's infotainment unit is clean and neat, and one of the easiest systems in this segment. The Fiesta also has better safety ratings than the Spark. In terms of pricing, the Ford is around $1,500 more, but it's a better car overall.

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark brings to the table a capable engine, with decent handling, easy maneuverability, and an excellent fuel economy. It also has a well-designed interior that comes with a ton of standard features. The infotainment system is excellent and very easy to use as well. The available active safety features make it a worthwhile option in this segment as well.

All this comes at a mere price of just above $13,000. However, the small cargo area, no safety ratings, and less spacious rear seating take away the perfect small car title from the Spark. All in all, we still believe the Spark is a great car to own and use in the city.