The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is set and ready to spark up this joint. How do we know? Sales figures are very strong – so far. We have yet to get our paws on one, but I can tell you that I’m excited to try one out.
There was a time when I pined for super cheap wheels like many of you. Sure, muscular cars are fun, but they are for folks with deep pockets. What about those who have to stretch each dollar? I love small cars and I get excited about the prospect of an automaker building something thrifty, yet, fun.
Despite the multitudes who bemoan tiny output from itty-bitty engines, I think the 2013 Chevy Spark may be a winner.
Here are three things you need to know about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark:
- It starts at $12,245 and at that price you get the 84 horsepower ECOTEC® 1.2-liter DOHC 4-cylinder MFI engine. You have to rev its nuts off to get maximum power, but that’s common for vehicles like this. Still, 6,400 rpm is lots of rotations for 84 ponies. It produces 83 lbs-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm, which is not that much. Fortunately, it weighs just 2,337 lbs. Get the four-speed automatic and your curb weight drops to 2,269 lbs. I always recommend the manual, and this Spark comes standard with a five-speed.
- The 2013 Chevy Spark is estimated to get 32 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. That’s near the top of the class if you compare it to the Scion IQ, FIAT 500 and Nissan Versa. The only base model vehicle that starts cheaper is the $11,770 Nissan Versa. The Versa is bigger, more powerful and much more spacious. It’s also painfully boring and as much fun as a polka compared to the Chevrolet Spark’s reggae/punk image.
- I sat in one and I can say it’s a hell of a lot roomier than you would think. It has a simple, playful interior design much like its big brother the Chevrolet Sonic. The back seats are useable for real passengers and, despite its tiny proportions, it can hold real stuff. Your college kid will delight at the 31.2 cubic feet of cargo room when the seats are down. That’s enough for half of a freshman’s apartment – AND – the 11.4 cubic feet of cargo room (seats up) is more than enough room for their senior year’s long bong, hacky-sac and vegan cookbook.
The only real issue I see is the possibility of a well equipped 2013 Chevrolet Spark intruding on the Chevrolet Sonic’s territory.
According to Chevy, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5-door hatchback LS 1LS can be competitively equipped for $15,560. Chevy also says the well equipped 2013 Spark 2Lt runs $15,795. That represents a problem for a bunch of us as we dig the Sonic a lot.
I guess that’s something we’ll have to look into if GM ever gives us a Spark to test. Remember, cars are slow up here. If they test well in Colorado’s difficult climate – imagine how good they will be in your neck of the woods? It might have enough Spark to light this joint!
For now, check out Roman’s and my review of a slick, little Chevy Sonic!
Photos via Chevrolet.com and General Motors
