2013 Chevrolet Spark

The all-new Chevrolet Spark comes in three trims only – LS, 1LT, and 2LT. All the trims come with FWD as standard while buyers can pick between an automatic or manual transmission. The LS manual starts at $12,995 and the automatic costs $13,290. The 1LT starts at $14,595 while the automatic starts at $15,520. The 2LT starts at $15,895 and the automatic starts at $16,820. You cannot expect a lot of features from an entry-level hatchback, but there are some decent options available.

The only available optional packages are the LS, 1LT and 2LT Preferred equipment group packages. The LS includes some decent features, well enough for the base trim. The 1LT upgrades to better features, including an upgraded Chevy MyLink infotainment system. Bluetooth, SiriusXM. Meanwhile, the 2LT adds faux leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights and also includes some changes to the exterior. The front seats are heated. 

We Recommend

We would recommend getting the 1LT trim. It is comfortably positioned in the middle of the line-up and includes a simple yet functional interior. You get a much better and tolerable infotainment system with SiriusXM and Bluetooth. We would recommend getting the manual since it is both quicker than the automatic and also great for first-time learners.

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark comes with a 1.2-liter inline-4 motor good for a measly 84 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual, or as mentioned, you can have it in the optional four-speed automatic transmission for a little extra. The power is sent only to the front wheels. As you would expect, the engine is very sluggish. 

Such humble power is not meant to excite you for sure but does get you from point A to point B without any hassle. You can get onto the highway, but overtaking will take a lot of time and careful planning. While the manual transmission is snappier, the automatic feels a bit sluggish and cannot change gear quickly enough.

Among the competition here, the Spark is the weakest when it comes to power output and also when it comes to acceleration. It also has the weakest quarter-mile timing and a top speed of 18.3 seconds and 96 MPH, respectively. The Kia Rio and Honda Fit on the other hand are the quickest, with a 0-60 timing of 8.7 and 8.8 seconds, respectively.

The Spark’s tiny engine does not sip a lot of fuel. It returns an EPA estimate of 32 MPG for the city, 38 for the highway, and 34 for combined driving. The Spark is pretty frugal and economic. However, the size of its gas tank lets it down.

However, the tiny 9.2-gallon fuel tank is a disappointment since it fails to take full advantage of the frugality translating it into a healthy driving range. The range with the Chevrolet Spark is around 294/349/312 miles of city/highway/combined driving respectively.

In the competition above, the Honda Fit offers the worst fuel economy of 29 MPG while the Spark is the most efficient hatchback there. While the Rio and Fiesta are marginally behind in terms of economy, they ace ahead in the segment with their longer driving range. Thanks to their larger fuel tanks on tap that can hold 11.4 and 12-gallons, reducing the number of trips to the gas station. 

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark has a simple and functional interior. The materials used are mostly hard plastic but there are accents and interior trims that help elevate the interior visualization. The LS and 1LT get cloth upholstery, while the 2L T enjoys leatherette seat upholstery along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. There are dials and buttons laid out in an ergonomic fashion. The steering is a 3-spoke wheel. 

The front seats are high-back bucket seats with adjustable head restraints. The driver’s seat is 4-way manually adjustable with manual recline and the passenger’s seat is 2-way manual recline. The seats are comfortable, even for longer journeys but the limited shoulder room may not be for everyone. Headroom and legroom though are adequate and higher models like the 2LT also offer heated front seats. The rear seat is equally comfortable but the narrow bench is meant for two adults only. Folding the rear seats down manually can also be a hassle.

Being a hatchback, the Spark offers 11.4 cubic feet of cargo storage behind the rear row. This isn’t a whole lot of space, so don’t expect too much luggage or bags for a trip. For short trips or grocery shopping though, it should be fine. The rear seats also fold in a 60/40-split and can open up to 31.2 cu-ft of storage when needed.

The Kia and Ford are extremely cramped in the rear row and not ideal for adults. Meanwhile, the Fit and the Spark offer more space, making it more feasible. The Fit also has the best-in-class cargo capacity of 20.6 cubic feet, with the Rio and Fiesta being impressive too.

Some key interior features include:

• 4-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
• Leatherette seat trim
• Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel
• LT center stack trim
• Interior overhead courtesy lamp with OnStar controls
• Remote keyless entry

How intuitive is the 2013 Chevrolet Spark’s infotainment unit?

In terms of infotainment, the base trim of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark is bare bones with a small audio system and AM/FM radio. The 1LT and 2LT trims enjoy a 7” color touchscreen that runs on Chevy’s MyLink system. The resolution is crisp and the system is intuitive overall. However, it is quite slow and very sluggish to respond to inputs, with not being able to register taps sometimes. 

Available features on the 1LT and 2LT trims include AM/FM radio, Bluetooth streaming audio, voice recognition, Pandora and Stitcher smartphone compatibility, SiriusXM radio, and USB ports. A 6-speaker sound system is available, but the quality is below average. That’s about all you get.

Highlights of the infotainment system include:

• MyLink infotainment system
• A 7.0-inch color touchscreen infotainment
• SiriusXM radio
• AM/FM radio
• Bluetooth
• Pandora and Stitched smartphone compatible
• USB ports
• 6-speakers

The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is a small hatchback that is compact and light and looks like it is designed primarily with city-commuting in mind. With not much styling to go around, it still does a decent job of not appearing too bland. The overall body is pretty narrow and the front fascia houses two rather large headlights and a segmented grille. The grille is tiny and the hood itself is also not too large. However, the front end does seem to draw some inspiration from the Japanese in order to be a bit funky yet different. 

The side profile looks pretty normal, with it looking like any other regular hatchback. The rear door handles are casually integrated into the rear windows to preserve a clean look. The rear end also does not look very exciting, with some round taillights and brake lights and a single exhaust pipe that is neatly integrated into the rear bumper. The first two trims ride on 15” silver-painted aluminum wheels. The 2LT rides on 15” machine-faced aluminum with gray-painted pockets. Headlights are halogen DRLs throughout the entire range.

Among the competition here, the Spark is the lightest while the Fiesta is the heaviest. The Spark is also the most compact with the smallest wheelbase. It has the smallest length and the smallest width. However, it does have the tallest height. While the cramped dimension does limit its overall interior space, the Spark is surely one of the easiest-driving hatches that you can get. On the other hand, the Honda Fit is the longest, while the Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta are wider than their competitors. 

Some key exterior features include:

• 15” wheels
• McPherson front struts
• Chrome exhaust outlet
• Roof rails
• Halogen DRLs
• Chrome liftgate trim

Being an entry-level hatch, the Chevrolet Spark does not come with anything too special in terms of safety. Unfortunately, NHTSA has not crash-tested it yet. However, the Spark has been tested by IIHS. The IIHS rated it “Acceptable” in the small overlap front: driver-side and “Good” in all the other categories. Rest assured; it is pretty safe even though it does not come loaded with tons of features.

Some highlight safety features include:

• Hill Hold assist
• StabiliTrak w/ Brake Assist
• OnStar with Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services, Crisis Assist, and First Assist
• 10 airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system

If you want to give your kid a new car; or if you just want a car that will run hassle-free and offer great fuel economy, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Spark is a good choice. For people on a very tight budget, this tiny hatchback does a pretty good job as a daily commuter. It’s efficient, easy to drive, and gets a good dose of tech and features as well. However, if you need a bit more practicality and wholesomeness, the Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta are good alternatives to look at.