I own a manual version of this and it’s absolutely awesome. 5/5 safety 5/5 fuel economy. Such a smooth gear box. It also has all the modern techy stuff like apple car play. Awesome car
A lot of these stick-shift econoblobs use tensioned steel shift cables in lieu of a proper forged-steel shift lever. Cables stretch over time. Sure, it's probably wonderful now, but in five years? Who knows.
Got my wife a 2020 spark automatic. In the mountains it handles like a dream. Comfortable, easy to drive. Has plenty of hill climbing power and highway passing power/acceleration. It's a solid car. The engine seems very well built. Timing chain instead of belt on this 1.4. Very impressed.
@@fixman88 Me too. The belt breaks on a PT Cruiser somewhere between 90-110,000 miles. Cost you between $1800-2300 to replace. Yes, love timing chains!
@@ItsMe-ic7on There's a comment on here from a guy in Utah bragging about how well this car handles in the snow and ice. He says it handles the snow and ice so well that it's actually boring to drive in.
Great to see this comment. I live on the Oregon coast, and considered one of these for its efficiency and simplicity. My only concern was its ability to handle hills.
I got mine for 12k brand new out the door in San Diego California. I needed something cheap and reliable for rainy days when the motorcycle isn't an option.
@@AyAy008 I have had reliable cars from mazdas,Honda's, and Ford's to BMWs it's not the brand that makes a car reliable it's the owner my friend. Maybe yours didn't work because it was neglected
Javi Besides the BMWs, everything you had has a mostly good reputation, accept for Ford sedans. Good care can sometimes keep a car going, but sometimes, a car is garbage.
@@seanbarry2306 owned a e30 (370kmiles on same engine),e36 and a Z3 none of them ever gave me issues and all ran past 150k when I sold them the only difference is parts are more expensive so people neglect to fix problems when they first arise and wait until it fails completely rendering the car undrivable or they just don't have enough money to afford the car and in turn don't enjoy their car. Maybe that's what happened to you but I trust my German cars just as much as my American cars.
If anyone is interested, I'm on my second Utah winter in my 2018 Spark (pretty much exactly the same as in the vid) and I can vouch highly for the traction control. I've made plenty of snow tracks on my way to work and navigated many an icy corner. This thing kills it in the snow! It's so good it's almost boring, no whipping the back end around, no burn outs, just traction and flashing dash lights to let you know it saved your life... Again. 14,000 miles down and it's the perfect car for the 2 of us. Best 13k I ever spent on a car!
@@dougroberts3643 Just the stock tires from the factory, "Solus" is the brand (never heard of it). Still going too, 40k'ish miles now ... I never felt the need for winter tires.
@@christaylor467 Thanks for the reply. I have one more question I'm hoping you will answer. I see a lot of comments about how this car gets pushed around easily in strong winds. Some say it's hard to drive in windy conditions. I'm close to Lake Erie where it's flat and extremely windy. Especially in the winter months. Can you comment on any wind experiences you've had with it living in a mountainous state where winds can be an issue. Thanks
@@dougroberts3643 I would say that's a fair complaint. It catches the wind pretty good, not as much as a van, but more that my prior sedan. I've never thought it was hard to drive though. Being a thin car you've got a lot of room in your lane to play with, and it's not blowing you out of your lane, if you've got a hand on the wheel.
Got T-boned in my Spark on driver's side by a Kia Forte traveling at 60mph through a red light not long ago, walked away without so much as a bruise. Just felt like I got hit hard in a pillow fight.It had 58,000 miles on it when totalled, avg 3000 miles monthly, 35-50 startups a day 7 days a week, nothing but oil changes
@@chongpooka2769 well you can choose not to get something for your reason that your right but remember you don't buy a car that have accidents okay? if you're so worried about an accident why don't you get yourself a tank or a Hummer duh?
Oh my God. Ive wanted one of these for years. Also, I love small cars and really value mileage, too. I thought I was the only one who valued these things. Keep being who you are and thanks for this review.
We have a 2019 for my kid's first car. It is a perfect first car with great sight lines,full warranty and a decent infotainment that is easy to use and NOT distracting for a newer driver. It is easy to park, easy on gas and handles surprisingly well (it is really well damped). I have used it to commute to work on occasion and have averaged over 40mpg. As an aside, there is plenty of rebates as small CUVs dominate sales now. We bought ours for over 10K.
I’ve had a spark for commuting since 2013 and I’ve loved all 58,000 miles it’s taken me thus far. As soon as this one dies there is no doubt I will be snagging one of these new ones, I might try out the manual version this time though.
Fuel right now in Wisconsin is $1.34 per gallon. Filled my new 5 speed manual 1LT Spark for the first time, $10.92. SWEET! Fuel mileage for first tank, 38.55 mpg.
Oh my life is bad compared to yours. I have my 1st car, 2001 Chevy Trailblazer LS with Vortec 4200 Inline 6. I absolutely love everything about that characterful car (I am a car enthusiast) and its glorious engine which pulls like an angry rocket. However that amazing engine gets only 6 mpg, and combined with my 2021 CA fuel price of $4.80 for regular and 18.8 gallon fuel tank, I am in a monetary shithole...
A 2014 Chevy Spark was my first brand new car. Had about 115,000 miles when I got rid of it and it still ran like new when I pulled into the dealership the day I traded it in. It had a couple little cheap car quirks once the mileage got high but overall I drove it hard, loaned it out, used it for Lyft for a while (too small for that lol), and it never turned into a piece of junk. I leased a 2019 Ford EcoSport but I might go back to a 2020 Spark.
@Andrew Hey it was great, no issues through the whole lease and enjoyed the gas mileage, I gave it back in May and bought my dad's old 2010 BMW since the wife wanted to have a new car this time around lol.
@@100RentalCars Just in case you're still wondering; "whatever that is" (at 7:57) Is a Spark Tow Hook, which makes it easier to pull the car up onto a roll-back tow truck th-cam.com/video/Abag27-MnS4/w-d-xo.html
Great video! I just bought my 2017 Spark with 55k on 2/25 for $5400. I’m a 20 year old out-of-state college kid so I don’t need anything fancy, this is a perfect A to B.
Should always use the physical key. Car thieves scan for the remote signal and clone it. After that, all they gotta do is get new VIN's and move the car.
I own a 2015 Spark. I'm the second owner. It had only a single key. No fob, just a plain old key. I stopped by a locksmith that does automotive keys. The dude wanted 120 bucks for a duplicate key. Thanks but no thank you.
@@radioace318la Hey Radio, been awhile since your post. just thought I'd add to it even though most of us know the reason for the $$ cost of the key...... for those reading Radio's comment and this one.... Chev and a few other brands now use Chip-Keys.... AKA Smart keys. The key has an embedded chip in it that prevents the car from starting. the Security function of the key is the reason for the price,..... mine cost me about 90 Bucks.
Love my 2016 spark! 100k miles in 3 years, $200 a month payment & only $1k in maintenance including tires. A cooling/heated seat cover from Amazon, custom tune, k&n air filter = awesomeness
For the minuscule size, it gets up and goes with some energy. It can get going pretty quick too, I have easily done 90-100 mph in my CVT Spark. It accelerates excellently.
Own a Spark for about 2 years now. Its really a fantastic car given how little I spent. MPG is accurate in cold weather driving around 70mph. Cruising at 65 gets you 40+ even in cold. Warm weather really boosts your fuel efficiency. Even though its just 98hp I get a pretty even power band so its very peppy on highways. Its slowest starting off from 0. Ive owned small cars in the past that woulr struggle past 75mph but the Spark handles 80mph below 3000rpm (usually at about 36mpg). 83-84 is when you'll hit that 3000+ rpm mark, which drastically kills your fuel economy and you'll start to hear that engine. Which is really as fast as you'd ever want to go outside of Texas to avoid major traffic tickets. About noise: I dont know if they used the same stock tires but the ones that were fitted in my Spark were brutally noisy and wore down pretty fast. When I replaced my tires the road noise practically vanished. I dont hear a lot of wind noise unless I'm cruising in gusty conditions so it could be youre hearing road noise. Also the transmission itself is noisy right about 40mph when it shifts from the low to high gear (since its a 2 gear CVT)
Have one of these as a rental for a few weeks as my 2016 Civic got hit. Love it so far! I'm 6'6 and the driver's seat adjusts enough for me to drive it!
I financed a 2020 spark for Christmas last year. I love my little car she gets 32 to 42 mpg. I wanted a 2014 because i had been researching this little beauty for almost 3 years but he showed me the 2020 and she is red, so so cute and the main screen is awesome. I agree the back seat space is minimal unless they kids or dogs and well im single no kids so im happy:)
@@100RentalCars As an owner of a Mitsubishi Mirage, the only other true subcompact/ competitor to the Spark, I implore Spark CVT owners to change their CVT fluid out every 30k miles. This is vital to getting 200k miles out of these cars! Both the Mirage & Spark utilize the JATCO CVT7 transmission unit. For comprehensive data and detailed analysis of the CVT7, MirageForum.com is a great resource of owners and Mirage fleet mechanics.
Good luck with that. You know the intake hoses rot AFTER 3 YEARS in these things??? They're unadulterated pure crap. Of course they're nice new. Everything is. But some of the failures are shockingly early for this thing. And if it's made in the former Daewoo factory in South Korea.... NOTHING GOOD has come from that factory. Most of the problem GMs come from there and most original daewoos never even made it to 60K miles and VERY few made it past that.
I just bought a bare bones LS with a 5 speed for $9,995. (MSRP $14,095). Great 2nd car for running around town. Drives surprisingly well for a tiny car. The only thing that sucks on the LS is no power locks, windows or cruise control. My SUV has power everything but uses twice as much gas. I still have more fun in the Spark changing gears and it will eventually get passed on to my daughter as a first car.
armycopJK that’s a great price! 2020? I have a 2020 and it’s odd not to have power anything yet there’s Bluetooth, rear camera, on star, android auto and apple carplay. My 2020 sienna doesn’t even have android auto.
Great review....Have the 2015 LS model with a 5 speed manual. Bought used 3 years ago with 6K miles for $6000....Yep, just $6000 bucks., Have just changed the oil..that's it. Luv it! Get a realistic 42 mpg in the summer and 40 mpg in winter...mix of 80/20 hwy/city.
You got the right one. The manual transmission, in your car, will assure an extremely long life. Unfortunately, the 2020 comes with a CVT, the most unreliable transmissions ever made.
@@redorange Thank you for the information. It looks like I may be passing on getting one of these. Lately, I have been passing on trading in my vehicle a lot. I bought it new in 1996. I used to upgrade every four years to the newest models. But when the newest models started coming out worse than my current vehicle, I held on to it just a little bit longer to see if things would get better next year. Here it is 2020. I still have the last new vehicle I bought in 1996. I never wanted to become an old man with an old car. But it appears I am heading that direction. Maybe vehicles will get better next year. Let's see what is coming 2021.
I've got a base model 2013 spark, and I like most of the changes they've made to the interior over the last few years. They bumped the HP up from 84 to 98. The stereo system sounds much better, and the overall fit and finish looks better on the new one. The things I really don't like so much about the new spark is the front end, the exterior color is no longer accented on the dash and doors, and the gauge cluster is no longer a motorcycle inspired pod on the steering column.
I agree. I’ve got a 2015 and I love the color on the inside as well as the more sloped front end. I would love a better sound system but I’m planning on putting a new one in myself. It’s been a great car, I’ve had it for 3 years in a couple months and I hope to have it for another 4 or 5
I too like small cars and I'm a big fan. The Spark is a commuter runabout that'll take you places. Real good and detailed review. Look forward to more.
Had a bright lime green Spark as a rental. 109/week at Hertz! It was basic transportation, but got close to 40 Mpg on the Interstate. Very susceptible to crosswinds and heavy trucks passing. Great review, thanks for the upload. Looks cold up there!
Lime green? Awesome. I had an Enterprise manager tell me once that cars like that are "upgrade magnets". In other words, car rental places buy them because customers would rather pay the extra cost to upgrade to a different vehicle rather than be seen driving around in one. I thought that was hilarious. Personally, I love crazy colors on cars so I'll gladly take a lime green vehicle any day.
We are having so many problems with our vehicle right now. My daughter just told me she and her husband are gifting us a Chevy Spark 😊💗. They will be driving it down to us tomorrow. So your video was very informative. Thank you so much 👍
Just got this car last year (Sep't. 2021) and already have over 10,000 miles in it. Great little car which drives better than my 1969 Mustang. There is the CVT lag from standstill to getting into highway speed but it is not a problem once you are rolling. In the city, the car is more than adequate. I am glad that I got this Spark!
You missed the menu button on the turn signal stalk, that would give more options on the DIC screen. Also you use android auto for navigation. Connect your phone and it will put Google maps or wherever app you use on your phone on the screen and it will talk to you through the speakers
I currently have a 2021 model Spark as a rental while my 335i is at the body shop from an accident. Despite the lack of power, it’s still surprisingly fun to drive
I own a 2017 and love it. Have been looking at the 2020 Sparks at work. With your in depth look it seems it's not changed really from mine. Still I love the Chevy spark.
While this car is not great. It definitely fits the bill for someone who needs a small fuel efficient car for a couple of years until the find a better job refinish college. This is what the majority of Americans can really afford but most try to live beyond their means and drive expensive trucks or SUVs. Personally speaking, there were times in my life that I was so broke, I would have been happy to own this car!
I love these lil sparks. This gen especially. I would buy a 2 LT with Leatherette seats and heated seats power moonroof with the 5 spd manual. That would be a fun way to go. I don’t haul people so this or the new versa are on my to look at list.
Seth Thompson oh really you got top trim with a manual? I wish u would do a freeway vid. I’m interested in noise and rpm at 80 mph with the manual. I bet it’s a hoot to drive
@@JoesGoldenGarage my wife has a 2013 5 speed. Works great on the highway doing 75mph. I love driving it, however, I hate being a passenger in it. Hope they fixed the feeling that the passenger has. To me it seems like you're sitting sideways in it. For what it is, it's a great little car.
Wondering if Chevy should have kept this one going. Gas is more expensive than ever. Hybrid cars are a 4-6 month wait. Sparks are on the dealer's lot 1-2 days & sold. For $4,500 over retail. I got mine last week. Wanted a 5-speed but they're gone. This is the last month to get these imported. I'm 6'1" & have great headroom with the seat all the way up. If you're not on a bad road it's quiet. Also smooth, good handling, nimble, easy to park & good on gas. Fun to drive. I'm on my first tank & the gauge hasn't moved much. At idle the engine is so smooth you think it's off. No timing belt to replace every 60K miles for hundreds of dollars. Chain. Good for the life of the engine probably.
Tow hook. Lol. It seems most people don't know this. All cars have a place in the front and rear bumper where you screw it in for towing. You usually remove a small plastic cover which reveals the hole.
@@dethmaul Is this in the US? That's strange. Maybe they take it away for the US markets? Although I can't imagine why they would. I've never seen a car without it.
@@SDav21 Yep. I was pissed lol, i popped the rear one off and there was solid rail behind it. Popped the front one off and there was the threaded hole.
Im a guy and 38 who normally drives pickup trucks. I got the same car but a manual for a gas saver and a warranty. Plus out the door I got it for around 12,900 with the discounts and sales chevy was running. It's a 2020 blk 1lt with 5speed. Way more fun and if you can drive a manual or want to learn get the manual. The cruise control works well with the manual on the highway and did 75 without ever giving me a issue here in iowa. Folks in Mountain areas my not have that same experience. Only regret was I didnt get a sunroof..... .
I live in small town with realy narrow streets, and this car (Daewoo Matiz before naming it as a Spark) was the first choice for taxi companies. They are maybe basic but for driving short distances it is nice.
Protip - For regular 1 or 2-person use, leave the headrests out of the back seats. Store them wedged under the corresponding front seat, any rear passenger who'd benefit from using them will also need the legroom.
My 2015 Spark EV has 400 ft/lbs of torque and will effortlesslly accelerate from 0-60 in 7.7 seconds compared to the gasoline version's 11.9 seconds. (It's as quick as a 1967 Camero Z-28.) It's smoother, quieter and handles vastly better than the gasoline version. Very fun to drive. A true sleeper. And, since I charge it at home, it costs me $0 to drive. No oil changes. No timing belt. No tuneups. Nada. Batteries are warrantied for 8 years, 100,000 miles. You can buy them used for about $9000. Just thought I'd mention it.
I fell in love with the base model of this at the 2019 Toronto Autoshow, since they had the Base Model and the Fully Loaded model right next to each other. The base model included a 5-Speed Manual Transmission, Manual Windows, Manual Mirrors, Manual LOCKS, No cruise control, No buttons on the steering wheel and no Air Conditioning... but it did have Intermittent Wipers, the 7" touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, 4 speakers, a backup camera, and the fact that it only cost $10,000 Canadian Dollars which made it the cheapest car on sale in Canada, while also being the smallest too
Just managed to get through all the comments. Seems to me they can be divided into two categories. People who have owned them seem to love them, and people who have never owned or never driven them hate them. As for the CVT transmissions, I really don't know what the new ones are like, but Subaru Justys had them back in the eighties. The only ones we had to rebuild were the ones sold to pizza delivery joints whose young drivers didn't take much care of them. One of the people I worked with saw one of them standing on the brake and the gas at the same time to see if they could burn some rubber.
It was a toss up for me between the Spark and its only true class competitor, the Mirage. I thought the Spark looked better, handled better, faster, way bigger dealer network than the Mirage. I still went with the Mirage because it had alot more rear legroom space, better mpg, arguably more reliable, and a monster warranty. Also I learned you can Uber in a Mirage but you cant in a Spark.
@@zacharypeery4082 Well your buddy hasn't a clue. The reliability and fuel economy is still fantastic after 7 years and 80k miles. My only complaint is struts and brake drums can be hard to find aftermarket. It's a small workhorse, nothing more, nothing less. After reading about owner's experience with 2014 CVT Sparks and their issues I'm glad I went with the CVT Mirage. Now if I was shopping for a 5speed manual I'd go with the Spark however. Maybe in a few years I'll consider one, but until my Mirage gives out, which might be a long time, I'm sticking with my lil MItsu.
@@brunothepug8807 Oh I'm very aware. They both have their own spec version of the JATCO CVT7. I just know from experience Mitsubishi's INVECS III CVT programming is top notch and the underpowered 78HP engine compliments the CVT in terms of stress reduction and over all longevity. Other vehicles that had or has the CVT7 includes the Suzuki Swift, Nissan Versa, Cube, Juke, Jeep Compass, and Mitsubishi Delica D:5 AWC. Of those MFGs, Suzuki and Mitsubishi, IMO, usually have really good luck with JATCO CVTs.
I like that you give full reviews such as sitting in the back and looking around. Will have to check to see if you have done other sub compact cars. Wish reviews showed under the back seats as well to see what storage there is.
My previous car was declared totalled because of its age and mileage when I killed a deer that ran out in front of my car. It was a Nissan Versa hatchback that I bought brand new in 2010. I REALLY liked that car. I am thinking about replacing it with a 2020 Spark. Your review provided some very useful information. Thanks.
It's nice to hear and read positives on the Chevy Spark. Tough to make a Go To car like the original VW Beetle. Young, alert, safe drivers would like it. A good used car comes with penalties, too.
Interesting 🤔... It's alot of value than what others are offering. Some people in the comment section are looking for a $14k car with a Cadillac CT6 interior. LoL. Sh!t, I'm driving a 2002 Honda CRV so I find this very nice. Lower your expectations people. LoL sit down and be humble. Great video BTW 😎👍🏽
The fact that it's a Daewoo is what concerns me. I remember Daewoo cars in the US, they were abysmal shitboxes. Better off with a Kia Rio or something unless you just have to have a tiny car for some reason.
@@nodak81 The Daewoo that this car spawned from was actually their most reliable car. My mom has a 2013 Spark since new and the only issue has been a broken rear door handle. Not bad.
I think you like small cars as I do for the Fun, practicality, fuel sipping, and low price. And when you spend less you have lower depreciation. I owned a 1986 Chevy Sprint 3 CYL 5 speed and I bought it as a winter beater stored my muscle and Classic Cars away and paid $700 for a 4 year old Sprint. I drove the piss out of that little 5 speed and it was like an extension of myself when I took the wheel. I drove plenty of Freeway time as well and back then the MPG were in the 5-0’’s and I spent $6 every 2 WEEKS for gas. $3 a week. I sold the car after 3 years for $1400 due to tiny specs of rust starting and every though I did my own rust repair I knew it would show up in other places soon. It was 8 years old. Back then all cars rusted. But man I put over 60K on that little car. And I had up to 4 of us adults in the car many times and on the highway. I would buy another one if I found one. Sure it was a death trap but the value was their.
Thinking bout getting one, it’s not like we’re taking family drives/trips much anymore. The groceries will fit and it’ll get me to work and back home, provided I don’t get smashed by pretty much any other vehicle on the road. That’s my only concern, getting into an accident in this thing.
I drive one every day and the only thing your gonna have to worry about in taking a hard or long corner is the front end just giving up and you go straight Gotta love understeer
Thanks so much for this excellent, informative review. I am deciding between the Spark and the Honda Fit. I do not drive very much so I am leaning towards the Spark.
go with the spark a cheaper car that will last longer..win win..its what i did i drive about 7500 miles a year ..should last a long time my last car,a chevy aveo was 12+ years old and had 91,000 miles on it when i traded it in.
There is no way this car is built to the same standard of manufacturing as a Honda Fit. Fit costs a few $1000 more, but worth every penny of the extra cost! Just whatever you buy, pull the routine maintenance on it...that is what kills most vehicles...lack of maintenance!
I love my 2020 Chevy Spark! It zips down the road faster than a lot of other cars and its really comfortable to drive. I know it's a small car, but to me it doesn't feel too small. I feel quite elevated inside, almost like in small SUV.
Yeah I’m 6 foot 3 and I drive a medium size suv but my spouse got this and I really enjoy driving it. Chevy did something great here. Car is just very smooth and economical. All the gadgets are just a cherry on top.
My old SMART car only took up 1/2 of a garage spot. This Spark takes up 7/9ths of a spot. So... it is still small enough to "create some space" in the garage 🤪
I own a 2015 LS. The OEM radio was also married to OnStar. I fixed that with an aftermarket radio. The only thing I lost with the upgrade was the OAT reading. No big deal. Mine is the 5-speed manual. As you said, I would expect more than the mid to high 30s on the highway. Mine does. If I keep my foot light on the gas I'm getting 42 on the highway. In the city, not so much. About 35 max. I can live with that. At just over 80k miles and not a single issue so far, I'm considering a brand new one. I think I may op for the automatic trans this time around. The only thing I see here that turns me off would be the marriage of OnStar to the rest of the entertainment system. I Do Not Care for that at all. Thanks for taking the time for your review. I found it very helpful Good Day from Louisiana.
Nice little car. I like the way it looks inside and out. One thing chevy is good at is designing aesthetically pleasing interiors. I hope everything is coming along well with the Prius situation.
Just what I need - the basics, some modern features like bluetooth, incredible mileage - I'm good to go. Some of us don't need the super deluxe everything. Make it work, give me some features, not too many. Love it.
Should mention the audio quality of the sound system in your review's. Add some light drifting lol 😂. And start up sounds with camera outside to pick up exhaust notes.
I’m a big guy and drive one of these because my girlfriend got one. I usually drive my 06 Mercury (thing is a beast). But this vehicle has been so enjoyable to drive. We have the LT model. The reactive breaking and the cruise control make driving a breeze. The models with daytime LED’s are just a cherry on top. Looks cool and you get fog lights all the time. The maintenance required on this car is nice because most things take smaller parts, meaning easy to fix yourself. The Spark picks up power quick, letting you enter highways and go from green lights easily. For the size you wouldn’t think it would have power, but even climbing hills the thing goes right up. Even in snow! Amazing vehicle and if you like saving money on gas and living that slick economy life then this is it. We average 30-40 miles a gallon with 50k miles on the odometer. I’ve even seen it say 50 mpg! Lol Great car, Chevy really did something great here and I mean it. Economy and luxury combined (We have the LT model) I’m not the type to drive a small car, I’m 6 foot 3 and I fit nice and cozy and I even have an arm rest. The touch screen and ease of use the car has is incredible. For the price it’s a no brainer. Save gas, long distance travel is fine (we took a 3hr trip and it was great) and you’ll feel pretty comfortable doing it.
I will take the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage over this. Better reliability, better warranty, better owner satisfaction, larger rear seat especially in the G4, larger cargo area in hatch and sedan, much cheaper after huge rebates and dealer discounts through Mitsu and you can get a fully loaded top trim Mirage or Mirage G4 for the price of a base model and you get more standard features in the base model. I owned a 2015 Mitsu Mirage ES with nav and back up cam, a 2017 Mitsu Mirage G4 SE loaded and both were awesome cars and made me love Mitsubishi for how practical they were, reliable, feature packed, great warranty and just had a unique feeling. We now own two 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL Touring’s with S-AWC (top trim loaded) we bought new in October 2019 and absolutely love them. The new 2021 Mitsu Mirage and Mitsu Mirage G4 have been updated styling wise inside and out and have added even more features. Plus you get thousands of MSRP as I did in my 2017 Mitsu Mirage G4 SE. It was over $18,000.00 new because it was a top trim loaded one and I got it for $12,714.00 after discounts and rebates which was cheaper than a base model. Plus the fuel economy was amazing you could top 50 mpg on the highway and do miss that. I now get about 27 mpg on highway in my Eclipse Cross. You also get more room inside especially in the rear seat and cargo area in both hatch and sedan. The 3 cylinder engine in the Mirage has proven to be super reliable and has been out since 2012 in other countries and has had no major issues. One person traded their CVT 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage with 414,000 miles on it at White Bear Mitsubishi and got another new Mirage. Plus it had no engine or transmission issues! Look it up. My co worker owned her 2015 Mirage ES CVT for 5.5 years as she got it in 2014 and she traded on a new 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE with remote start and factory rockford Fosgate package. Back in 2014 she was set on a Chevy Spark and we went to Altoona PA to look at them and drive it and the sales person said we could not drive the car due to engine issues that were being reported and they had a stop sale for a short time. Well that was enough, and glad we did because it turned out the 2013-2015 Chevy Sparks had major engine issues with pistons. You can still find the videos and complaints online. Sure the Mirages 3 cylinder might be a lil more gruff and have a lil more vibration (3 cylinder vibrate more in all cars) but its reliable and time tested and proven plus Mitsubishis CVTs are reliable and they are Jatco but it must be something in the way the program theirs but they have far less failures than say Nissan. Overall I think the new Spark is a good car but for me I think the Mirage is a better value with a longer warranty, better mpg, better reliability and owner satisfaction proven by its owners who own the car and not auto reviewers and sites, more standard features and cheaper running cost. In the end everyone has their own opinions and thats why there are so many car brands and models and one person loves a car and one hates it but in the end you have to check them out and decide for yourself. This is based on my personal history and after owning 5 Mitsubishis now I have loved each one. We have also owned several new Hyundais and Kias and I owned a new Chevy Cavalier new in 2005. Really all my cars were good but the worst was my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS. We bought it new in 2014 and traded it 1.5 years later with like 13,000 miles on it due to the non stop issues like engine whining on start up and had timing cover replaced due to the issue, steering clunking and loose and had many parts replaced until the whole steering rack and pinion was replaced, loud clunky suspension, car would get stuck in park all the time and would have to use a screw driver to pop the shift lock, car would randomly not start and had to be towed several times, interior rattles and creaks, awful fuel economy way way way under what the window sticker stated, and in the end it ruined Hyundai for us and that was when we made our switch and traded it on a new 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT with S-AWC and have been with Mitsubishi ever since.
A few years ago, I took my dog and rented one of these to drive cross country. I never got the back seat to fold forward, but thanks for showing everyone how. I had put my folded up dog crate behind the front seat, that was probably why could not figure it out. Most Enterprise rentals don't have owner manuals unless the cars are very new in my experience. But everywhere I went, people admired the car. I ent like the 9 gallon gas tank, I wish it were more but probably most people would not drive the car cross country. :)
I'm probably going to get some flack for this, but I have the 2014 Spark EV and I absolutely love my car. Of course the electric drivetrain makes it act differently than the base Spark. Mine is quite peppy and fun to drive. The downside is it is a city commuter. It was a redesign of the internal combustion engine Spark to satisfy zero emission requirements in California. I can make do with the range, even as I near 80k miles(slight battery degradation from 82 mile range maximum to 76 mile maximum). Now with more electric fast charge stations popping up, road trips aren't impossible either. I've done two hundred twenty mile trips between Portland to Seattle multiple times. But, it would be nice to have perhaps double my current range. Other than that, I absolutely love my Spark ^_^
I narrowed down my choices to the 2020 Spark and the Toyota Yaris. I had a hard time deciding, but I wanted a small car, so I chose the Spark. Liking it so far. I got the 1LT out of the door for fourteen six in August.
@@brianrokita253 I've only had 3 issues with my 2013, The Radio decides to timewarp itself to its design date and time (probably a internal battery or something), painted surfaces have worn off in 6 years where they have been touched often, and the Ignition key is easy to bump and turn off the car while driving. That's it, pretty damm good for a cheap car, even if the headlights look funny. I'd add the weird Windshield wiper connections that make me have to buy wiper blades from GM, but that's not a design failure, but one GM did intentionally.
@@biffbutowski2447 It'll turn off at anytime you bump the keys, I'm 6 foot tall, and I had sat in Sparks before, but the ones with Cloth seats my knees hit the climate controls. The Pleather seats in my spark sit a little lower and I fit, and its comfortable enough, but yeah, if I slouch a bit it turns off the car if I'm not careful.
8:00 tow hook. There will be a little circle on the bumper, front or rear, maybe both, that pops out and you thread the hook in to attach the tow truck.
go with the KIA 2017 Automatic 4 plus with navigation and sound system upgrades. Key less entry and push bottom.It is awesome!Fast and super quite and three drive modes!JUST BE CAREFUL CAUSE YOU WILL GOT 80 THINKING YOUR ARE GOING 60!Mine even had a spare tire!And the glove dept is huge/center sliding front armrest with deep "things" you want to store.Even the upgraded sound system is the best I have has in a car.The back seat goes down very easy and effortlessly ,I love it with the puddle light and you can change the lighting and drive modes.Even dances to the music if that what you want or all white,the choice is yours.
Yeah. This is a good city car. For highway cruising in the Midwest, you would feel uncomfortable almost immediately. Almost no suspension travel, no curb weight, no sound deadening, short , & short wheelbase. I just sold my Cruze, and I barely found it adequate for highway driving in Michigan.
I have a 2017 Spark LS that just hit 40k ODM that I got for 10k. Still runs like new ! :) I drive it pretty hard, and take a bunch of road trips; which the car handles it really well.
@@woof4428 I sold mine once it hit 56k, but it had been running perfectly fine since I bought it at 0 miles. For some reason I still have been getting health updates from the new owner and it seems fine lol
We just purchase one and we like it. Saving gas and money but thanks for showing how fold the seats. I was so mad because no idea how to make room for stuff. Good review and excellent Car choice
I inadvertently bought the manual Transmission build back in April. 2018 version , new to me ..... Not regretting it at all. It will blow the doors off of the automatic version easily. The 2018 model of the LS has the M400 , ( 1.4 litre ), engine in it.... and it flies down the highway and up hills easily. The odd thing I did notice is that the Reverse gearing ratio is similar to 2nd gear !! You can back up faster at idle in this thing than going forward in first ..... The other oddity that I noticed too, is the 2nd to 3rd gearing ratio. the legs on the 3rd gear are a little longer than you presume at the start of a highway - hill climb, first to second great then rev up to say 4000 and shift to 3rd..... The engine gets po'd and hits 2200 rpm and then at about 3100 gets happy again and rips up to 3500, 4000 then you slip into 4th { now at 90 kms/ hr),rpms now at 3200 and you run up to ~ 3500 -3800 rpms ,(110 ~115 kms}. and into 5th. For anything over a 20 degree slope , 4th gear is awesome and will tear up the tarmac , accelerating you upwards without issue. 5th gear is great for Eco-thinking ,( economy ).... but on hills use 4th gear and keep the revs around 3200 to 4000 rpms ( 60 -70 mph) ... on the straight track per se, 5th will easily run you up over 90 mph quickly easily, But the car is very light and not as planted as other cars.... so you might not want to get racy with it when its windy out, as it can get dicy as the steering is super sensitive.
I own a manual version of this and it’s absolutely awesome. 5/5 safety 5/5 fuel economy. Such a smooth gear box. It also has all the modern techy stuff like apple car play. Awesome car
mine is a ls and right hand drive hence everything is km but layout except for indicators and wipers is more or less the same.it is a 2017.
A lot of these stick-shift econoblobs use tensioned steel shift cables in lieu of a proper forged-steel shift lever. Cables stretch over time. Sure, it's probably wonderful now, but in five years? Who knows.
Scowler evidently not you. You’re wrong about this car.
Do you drive in snow
@@scowler92 Rats. I have a manual and was hoping to keep it for awhile. Maybe not so much now.
Got my wife a 2020 spark automatic. In the mountains it handles like a dream. Comfortable, easy to drive. Has plenty of hill climbing power and highway passing power/acceleration. It's a solid car. The engine seems very well built. Timing chain instead of belt on this 1.4. Very impressed.
You had me at Timing Chain.
@@fixman88 Me too. The belt breaks on a PT Cruiser somewhere between 90-110,000 miles. Cost you between $1800-2300 to replace. Yes, love timing chains!
How does it do on steep hills in the snow and ice? Cuz that's the only way to get to my house
@@ItsMe-ic7on There's a comment on here from a guy in Utah bragging about how well this car handles in the snow and ice. He says it handles the snow and ice so well that it's actually boring to drive in.
Great to see this comment. I live on the Oregon coast, and considered one of these for its efficiency and simplicity. My only concern was its ability to handle hills.
I got mine for 12k brand new out the door in San Diego California. I needed something cheap and reliable for rainy days when the motorcycle isn't an option.
A reliable Chevy 🤣
@@AyAy008 I have had reliable cars from mazdas,Honda's, and Ford's to BMWs it's not the brand that makes a car reliable it's the owner my friend. Maybe yours didn't work because it was neglected
Javi Besides the BMWs, everything you had has a mostly good reputation, accept for Ford sedans. Good care can sometimes keep a car going, but sometimes, a car is garbage.
@@seanbarry2306 owned a e30 (370kmiles on same engine),e36 and a Z3 none of them ever gave me issues and all ran past 150k when I sold them the only difference is parts are more expensive so people neglect to fix problems when they first arise and wait until it fails completely rendering the car undrivable or they just don't have enough money to afford the car and in turn don't enjoy their car. Maybe that's what happened to you but I trust my German cars just as much as my American cars.
@@AyAy008 so far so good (: had 250k miles when I swapped in a 383 into my El Camino. Take care of your stuff and it'll last my friend
I think the universe knows I like this car 😭 ITS SO CUTEEEEEE
Ikr
Joseph Brady creep
Chantay Price كيوت ها مقول غير يويل امهاا و ديوسهاا
@@disneyfan9099 ?
@Area 51 Massacre ??
If anyone is interested, I'm on my second Utah winter in my 2018 Spark (pretty much exactly the same as in the vid) and I can vouch highly for the traction control. I've made plenty of snow tracks on my way to work and navigated many an icy corner. This thing kills it in the snow! It's so good it's almost boring, no whipping the back end around, no burn outs, just traction and flashing dash lights to let you know it saved your life... Again.
14,000 miles down and it's the perfect car for the 2 of us. Best 13k I ever spent on a car!
I know it's two years later but I'm hoping you can tell me what tires you run on the Spark in the winter. Thanks
@@dougroberts3643 Just the stock tires from the factory, "Solus" is the brand (never heard of it). Still going too, 40k'ish miles now ... I never felt the need for winter tires.
@@christaylor467 Thanks for the reply. I have one more question I'm hoping you will answer. I see a lot of comments about how this car gets pushed around easily in strong winds. Some say it's hard to drive in windy conditions. I'm close to Lake Erie where it's flat and extremely windy. Especially in the winter months. Can you comment on any wind experiences you've had with it living in a mountainous state where winds can be an issue. Thanks
@@dougroberts3643 I would say that's a fair complaint. It catches the wind pretty good, not as much as a van, but more that my prior sedan. I've never thought it was hard to drive though. Being a thin car you've got a lot of room in your lane to play with, and it's not blowing you out of your lane, if you've got a hand on the wheel.
Thanks for sharing! I live in Toronto and I’m considering getting a Spark but I wasn’t sure how it drives in the snow 🙂
Got T-boned in my Spark on driver's side by a Kia Forte traveling at 60mph through a red light not long ago, walked away without so much as a bruise. Just felt like I got hit hard in a pillow fight.It had 58,000 miles on it when totalled, avg 3000 miles monthly, 35-50 startups a day 7 days a week, nothing but oil changes
scottsaustin Maybe the commentator above who believes these are unsafe should read your testimony.
That’s the only thing stopping me from getting one, every other car on the road would wreck this thing easy in any accident
@@chongpooka2769 well you can choose not to get something for your reason that your right but remember you don't buy a car that have accidents okay? if you're so worried about an accident why don't you get yourself a tank or a Hummer duh?
😆 you would of been dead 😆... they say avoid tractor trailers on hiway you could be blown away...
Every spark I’ve been looking at doesn’t seem to have power locks. Did yours? If not, how would you unlock the passenger side door for passengers?
Oh my God. Ive wanted one of these for years. Also, I love small cars and really value mileage, too. I thought I was the only one who valued these things. Keep being who you are and thanks for this review.
The thing you took out of the glove box is a tow hook.
We have a 2019 for my kid's first car. It is a perfect first car with great sight lines,full warranty and a decent infotainment that is easy to use and NOT distracting for a newer driver. It is easy to park, easy on gas and handles surprisingly well (it is really well damped). I have used it to commute to work on occasion and have averaged over 40mpg. As an aside, there is plenty of rebates as small CUVs dominate sales now. We bought ours for over 10K.
I’ve had a spark for commuting since 2013 and I’ve loved all 58,000 miles it’s taken me thus far. As soon as this one dies there is no doubt I will be snagging one of these new ones, I might try out the manual version this time though.
Fuel right now in Wisconsin is $1.34 per gallon. Filled my new 5 speed manual 1LT Spark for the first time, $10.92. SWEET! Fuel mileage for first tank, 38.55 mpg.
I get 32mpg to 36mpg in my Hyundai Kona
Oh my life is bad compared to yours. I have my 1st car, 2001 Chevy Trailblazer LS with Vortec 4200 Inline 6. I absolutely love everything about that characterful car (I am a car enthusiast) and its glorious engine which pulls like an angry rocket. However that amazing engine gets only 6 mpg, and combined with my 2021 CA fuel price of $4.80 for regular and 18.8 gallon fuel tank, I am in a monetary shithole...
A 2014 Chevy Spark was my first brand new car. Had about 115,000 miles when I got rid of it and it still ran like new when I pulled into the dealership the day I traded it in. It had a couple little cheap car quirks once the mileage got high but overall I drove it hard, loaned it out, used it for Lyft for a while (too small for that lol), and it never turned into a piece of junk. I leased a 2019 Ford EcoSport but I might go back to a 2020 Spark.
@Andrew Hey it was great, no issues through the whole lease and enjoyed the gas mileage, I gave it back in May and bought my dad's old 2010 BMW since the wife wanted to have a new car this time around lol.
How much did it help with the trade in?
@@haydenmorrisonn The Spark? I think the dealer only gave me about $3,500 back then for the trade in.
Was it a auto or a manual?
@@LittleSecretVintageSocialClub It was a stick.
Bought one, really nice car to drive. Taking it camping behind my motorhome for running around while camping.
Randy Barentine that’s why we got one!
Nice profile picture 🇺🇸
Love my Spark. Best car I have ever had. Amazing fuel economy and it fits in any parking spot. I recommend it whole heartedly!
Well said!
@@100RentalCars Just in case you're still wondering; "whatever that is" (at 7:57) Is a Spark Tow Hook, which makes it easier to pull the car up onto a roll-back tow truck
th-cam.com/video/Abag27-MnS4/w-d-xo.html
Куплю спарка
8:28
Great video! I just bought my 2017 Spark with 55k on 2/25 for $5400. I’m a 20 year old out-of-state college kid so I don’t need anything fancy, this is a perfect A to B.
$5400! NICE! And well done. By buying smart (and hopefully investing some of your money), you're setting yourself up for success. Keep it up!
That was a hell of a deal.
Remember when keyless entry was a luxury feature? 😂 the good old days of putting the key in the door
Should always use the physical key. Car thieves scan for the remote signal and clone it. After that, all they gotta do is get new VIN's and move the car.
@@scowler92 Need the remote lock to set the car alarm.
I own a 2015 Spark. I'm the second owner. It had only a single key. No fob, just a plain old key. I stopped by a locksmith that does automotive keys. The dude wanted 120 bucks for a duplicate key. Thanks but no thank you.
@@radioace318la Hey Radio, been awhile since your post. just thought I'd add to it even though most of us know the reason for the $$ cost of the key...... for those reading Radio's comment and this one.... Chev and a few other brands now use Chip-Keys.... AKA Smart keys. The key has an embedded chip in it that prevents the car from starting. the Security function of the key is the reason for the price,..... mine cost me about 90 Bucks.
yeah, ummm . the Chip allows the vehicle to be started..... not my typo'd; " prevents "..... lol ,
Stay Safe
Love my 2016 spark! 100k miles in 3 years, $200 a month payment & only $1k in maintenance including tires. A cooling/heated seat cover from Amazon, custom tune, k&n air filter = awesomeness
Can you drop the link to the heated seat cover? I live in Chicago and I’m dying Ahaah
I love my spark, it's a great city car, it may not be ideal for people who do a lot of city driving but in the city it is maneuverable and peppy.
For the minuscule size, it gets up and goes with some energy. It can get going pretty quick too, I have easily done 90-100 mph in my CVT Spark. It accelerates excellently.
Own a Spark for about 2 years now. Its really a fantastic car given how little I spent. MPG is accurate in cold weather driving around 70mph. Cruising at 65 gets you 40+ even in cold. Warm weather really boosts your fuel efficiency. Even though its just 98hp I get a pretty even power band so its very peppy on highways. Its slowest starting off from 0. Ive owned small cars in the past that woulr struggle past 75mph but the Spark handles 80mph below 3000rpm (usually at about 36mpg). 83-84 is when you'll hit that 3000+ rpm mark, which drastically kills your fuel economy and you'll start to hear that engine. Which is really as fast as you'd ever want to go outside of Texas to avoid major traffic tickets.
About noise: I dont know if they used the same stock tires but the ones that were fitted in my Spark were brutally noisy and wore down pretty fast. When I replaced my tires the road noise practically vanished. I dont hear a lot of wind noise unless I'm cruising in gusty conditions so it could be youre hearing road noise. Also the transmission itself is noisy right about 40mph when it shifts from the low to high gear (since its a 2 gear CVT)
Have one of these as a rental for a few weeks as my 2016 Civic got hit. Love it so far! I'm 6'6 and the driver's seat adjusts enough for me to drive it!
Had one as a rental and really liked it , great little car !
I financed a 2020 spark for Christmas last year. I love my little car she gets 32 to 42 mpg. I wanted a 2014 because i had been researching this little beauty for almost 3 years but he showed me the 2020 and she is red, so so cute and the main screen is awesome. I agree the back seat space is minimal unless they kids or dogs and well im single no kids so im happy:)
A coworker just bought one since his 15 year old Blazer just died!
Nice! And wow, that's quite a switch: blazer to spark. I hope your coworker is happy with it
100 Rental Cars correction, he actually got a ford ranger. He was looking at a spark and a sonic though
@@100RentalCars As an owner of a Mitsubishi Mirage, the only other true subcompact/ competitor to the Spark, I implore Spark CVT owners to change their CVT fluid out every 30k miles. This is vital to getting 200k miles out of these cars! Both the Mirage & Spark utilize the JATCO CVT7 transmission unit. For comprehensive data and detailed analysis of the CVT7, MirageForum.com is a great resource of owners and Mirage fleet mechanics.
@@kylemas2005 fluid and filters change or just fluid?
Good luck with that. You know the intake hoses rot AFTER 3 YEARS in these things??? They're unadulterated pure crap. Of course they're nice new. Everything is. But some of the failures are shockingly early for this thing. And if it's made in the former Daewoo factory in South Korea.... NOTHING GOOD has come from that factory. Most of the problem GMs come from there and most original daewoos never even made it to 60K miles and VERY few made it past that.
I grew up with a 2007 Aveo and a 2013 Sonic, so I naturally love the appearance of this vehicle.
I just bought a bare bones LS with a 5 speed for $9,995. (MSRP $14,095). Great 2nd car for running around town. Drives surprisingly well for a tiny car. The only thing that sucks on the LS is no power locks, windows or cruise control. My SUV has power everything but uses twice as much gas. I still have more fun in the Spark changing gears and it will eventually get passed on to my daughter as a first car.
armycopJK that’s a great price! 2020? I have a 2020 and it’s odd not to have power anything yet there’s Bluetooth, rear camera, on star, android auto and apple carplay. My 2020 sienna doesn’t even have android auto.
I've got 2012 model. Bought it used in great condition a year ago. Very reliable, fuel efficent and trouble free.
KannX I think you mean a 2013 if you are in the usa
@@disneyfan9099 I'm from Poland and I've got 2012 M300 model. Mechanically it's same as the one in this video.
Great review....Have the 2015 LS model with a 5 speed manual. Bought used 3 years ago with 6K miles for $6000....Yep, just $6000 bucks., Have just changed the oil..that's it. Luv it! Get a realistic 42 mpg in the summer and 40 mpg in winter...mix of 80/20 hwy/city.
I have a 2016 Spark with a 5 speed and with all highway driving I'm averaging 45 mpg.
You got the right one. The manual transmission, in your car, will assure an extremely long life. Unfortunately, the 2020 comes with a CVT, the most unreliable transmissions ever made.
Indrid Cold 2020 comes with either a manual or CVT.
@@redorange Thank you for the information. It looks like I may be passing on getting one of these. Lately, I have been passing on trading in my vehicle a lot. I bought it new in 1996. I used to upgrade every four years to the newest models. But when the newest models started coming out worse than my current vehicle, I held on to it just a little bit longer to see if things would get better next year. Here it is 2020. I still have the last new vehicle I bought in 1996. I never wanted to become an old man with an old car. But it appears I am heading that direction. Maybe vehicles will get better next year. Let's see what is coming 2021.
I've got a base model 2013 spark, and I like most of the changes they've made to the interior over the last few years. They bumped the HP up from 84 to 98. The stereo system sounds much better, and the overall fit and finish looks better on the new one. The things I really don't like so much about the new spark is the front end, the exterior color is no longer accented on the dash and doors, and the gauge cluster is no longer a motorcycle inspired pod on the steering column.
I agree. I’ve got a 2015 and I love the color on the inside as well as the more sloped front end. I would love a better sound system but I’m planning on putting a new one in myself. It’s been a great car, I’ve had it for 3 years in a couple months and I hope to have it for another 4 or 5
I too like small cars and I'm a big fan. The Spark is a commuter runabout that'll take you places. Real good and detailed review. Look forward to more.
Had a bright lime green Spark as a rental. 109/week at Hertz! It was basic transportation, but got close to 40 Mpg on the Interstate. Very susceptible to crosswinds and heavy trucks passing. Great review, thanks for the upload. Looks cold up there!
Lime green? Awesome. I had an Enterprise manager tell me once that cars like that are "upgrade magnets". In other words, car rental places buy them because customers would rather pay the extra cost to upgrade to a different vehicle rather than be seen driving around in one. I thought that was hilarious. Personally, I love crazy colors on cars so I'll gladly take a lime green vehicle any day.
@@100RentalCars I'm with you, love odd colors like that. 😃
10:43 That whole process really made me appreciate how easy my Honda Fit is!
We are having so many problems with our vehicle right now. My daughter just told me she and her husband are gifting us a Chevy Spark 😊💗. They will be driving it down to us tomorrow. So your video was very informative. Thank you so much 👍
Just got this car last year (Sep't. 2021) and already have over 10,000 miles in it. Great little car which drives better than my 1969 Mustang. There is the CVT lag from standstill to getting into highway speed but it is not a problem once you are rolling. In the city, the car is more than adequate. I am glad that I got this Spark!
You missed the menu button on the turn signal stalk, that would give more options on the DIC screen. Also you use android auto for navigation. Connect your phone and it will put Google maps or wherever app you use on your phone on the screen and it will talk to you through the speakers
I currently have a 2021 model Spark as a rental while my 335i is at the body shop from an accident. Despite the lack of power, it’s still surprisingly fun to drive
I own a 2017 and love it. Have been looking at the 2020 Sparks at work. With your in depth look it seems it's not changed really from mine. Still I love the Chevy spark.
While this car is not great. It definitely fits the bill for someone who needs a small fuel efficient car for a couple of years until the find a better job refinish college. This is what the majority of Americans can really afford but most try to live beyond their means and drive expensive trucks or SUVs. Personally speaking, there were times in my life that I was so broke, I would have been happy to own this car!
I love these lil sparks. This gen especially. I would buy a 2 LT with
Leatherette seats and heated seats power moonroof with the 5 spd manual. That would be a fun way to go. I don’t haul people so this or the new versa are on my to look at list.
A 5 speed manual and a sunroof? Yes please.
There is an optional hot suspension (dealer installed) that would make the five speed an interesting car
I have the exact car you describe. A 2019. Its an awesome little commuter. Parking sucks at work too so the size was a huge plus.
Seth Thompson oh really you got top trim with a manual? I wish u would do a freeway vid. I’m interested in noise and rpm at 80 mph with the manual. I bet it’s a hoot to drive
@@JoesGoldenGarage my wife has a 2013 5 speed. Works great on the highway doing 75mph. I love driving it, however, I hate being a passenger in it. Hope they fixed the feeling that the passenger has. To me it seems like you're sitting sideways in it. For what it is, it's a great little car.
Wondering if Chevy should have kept this one going. Gas is more expensive than ever. Hybrid cars are a 4-6 month wait. Sparks are on the dealer's lot 1-2 days & sold. For $4,500 over retail. I got mine last week. Wanted a 5-speed but they're gone. This is the last month to get these imported. I'm 6'1" & have great headroom with the seat all the way up. If you're not on a bad road it's quiet. Also smooth, good handling, nimble, easy to park & good on gas. Fun to drive. I'm on my first tank & the gauge hasn't moved much. At idle the engine is so smooth you think it's off. No timing belt to replace every 60K miles for hundreds of dollars. Chain. Good for the life of the engine probably.
love this car. Bought brand new one in 2017 . Not a single problem with it . Thinking about buying another one.
Tow hook. Lol. It seems most people don't know this. All cars have a place in the front and rear bumper where you screw it in for towing. You usually remove a small plastic cover which reveals the hole.
There's not one on my rear bumper on my 2017 spark, just the front. There's a plastic door, but nothing behind it when you take it off.
@@dethmaul Is this in the US? That's strange. Maybe they take it away for the US markets? Although I can't imagine why they would. I've never seen a car without it.
@@SDav21
Yep. I was pissed lol, i popped the rear one off and there was solid rail behind it. Popped the front one off and there was the threaded hole.
@@dethmaul Look in the Spare tire compartment in the hatch for the screw in hook if it isn't in the Glove Box.
@@scannermb
Not what i said.
Im a guy and 38 who normally drives pickup trucks. I got the same car but a manual for a gas saver and a warranty. Plus out the door I got it for around 12,900 with the discounts and sales chevy was running. It's a 2020 blk 1lt with 5speed. Way more fun and if you can drive a manual or want to learn get the manual. The cruise control works well with the manual on the highway and did 75 without ever giving me a issue here in iowa. Folks in Mountain areas my not have that same experience. Only regret was I didnt get a sunroof..... .
I live in small town with realy narrow streets, and this car (Daewoo Matiz before naming it as a Spark) was the first choice for taxi companies. They are maybe basic but for driving short distances it is nice.
Protip - For regular 1 or 2-person use, leave the headrests out of the back seats. Store them wedged under the corresponding front seat, any rear passenger who'd benefit from using them will also need the legroom.
I'm sure glad you took the gas cap off. I was dying to know what was in there.
Lol
It's been two years since your comment but I had to smash the thumbs up 👍. Hilarious 😂
My 2015 Spark EV has 400 ft/lbs of torque and will effortlesslly accelerate from 0-60 in 7.7 seconds compared to the gasoline version's 11.9 seconds. (It's as quick as a 1967 Camero Z-28.) It's smoother, quieter and handles vastly better than the gasoline version. Very fun to drive. A true sleeper. And, since I charge it at home, it costs me $0 to drive. No oil changes. No timing belt. No tuneups. Nada. Batteries are warrantied for 8 years, 100,000 miles. You can buy them used for about $9000. Just thought I'd mention it.
I fell in love with the base model of this at the 2019 Toronto Autoshow, since they had the Base Model and the Fully Loaded model right next to each other. The base model included a 5-Speed Manual Transmission, Manual Windows, Manual Mirrors, Manual LOCKS, No cruise control, No buttons on the steering wheel and no Air Conditioning... but it did have Intermittent Wipers, the 7" touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, 4 speakers, a backup camera, and the fact that it only cost $10,000 Canadian Dollars which made it the cheapest car on sale in Canada, while also being the smallest too
Just managed to get through all the comments. Seems to me they can be divided into two categories. People who have owned them seem to love them, and people who have never owned or never driven them hate them.
As for the CVT transmissions, I really don't know what the new ones are like, but Subaru Justys had them back in the eighties. The only ones we had to rebuild were the ones sold to pizza delivery joints whose young drivers didn't take much care of them. One of the people I worked with saw one of them standing on the brake and the gas at the same time to see if they could burn some rubber.
Modern CVTs are garbage. Toyota and Honda make the best ones but even those will die early compared to a normal automatic.
@@nodak81 You have knowledge of this? Not criticising. Just asking.
I have 2017 and CVT is excellent. O problems with it and wouldn't even know it was a CVT transmission
Just let a CVT do it's thing. Come to complete stop, take off smoothly and go.
It was a toss up for me between the Spark and its only true class competitor, the Mirage. I thought the Spark looked better, handled better, faster, way bigger dealer network than the Mirage. I still went with the Mirage because it had alot more rear legroom space, better mpg, arguably more reliable, and a monster warranty. Also I learned you can Uber in a Mirage but you cant in a Spark.
Howe the mirage holding up? My buddy said it is only a 3 cylinder and complete POS
@@zacharypeery4082 Well your buddy hasn't a clue. The reliability and fuel economy is still fantastic after 7 years and 80k miles. My only complaint is struts and brake drums can be hard to find aftermarket. It's a small workhorse, nothing more, nothing less. After reading about owner's experience with 2014 CVT Sparks and their issues I'm glad I went with the CVT Mirage. Now if I was shopping for a 5speed manual I'd go with the Spark however. Maybe in a few years I'll consider one, but until my Mirage gives out, which might be a long time, I'm sticking with my lil MItsu.
@@kylemas2005 just FYI, JATCO makes the CVT's for both Spark and Mirage.
@@brunothepug8807 Oh I'm very aware. They both have their own spec version of the JATCO CVT7. I just know from experience Mitsubishi's INVECS III CVT programming is top notch and the underpowered 78HP engine compliments the CVT in terms of stress reduction and over all longevity.
Other vehicles that had or has the CVT7 includes the Suzuki Swift, Nissan Versa, Cube, Juke, Jeep Compass, and Mitsubishi Delica D:5 AWC. Of those MFGs, Suzuki and Mitsubishi, IMO, usually have really good luck with JATCO CVTs.
I like that you give full reviews such as sitting in the back and looking around. Will have to check to see if you have done other sub compact cars. Wish reviews showed under the back seats as well to see what storage there is.
Thanks for your effort with the back seat fold down really appreciate seeing it done!
Looks like a pain in the butt!
My previous car was declared totalled because of its age and mileage when I killed a deer that ran out in front of my car. It was a Nissan Versa hatchback that I bought brand new in 2010. I REALLY liked that car. I am thinking about replacing it with a 2020 Spark. Your review provided some very useful information. Thanks.
It's nice to hear and read positives on the Chevy Spark. Tough to make a Go To car like the original VW Beetle. Young, alert, safe drivers would like it. A good used car comes with penalties, too.
Well said!
I love these lil cars. So efficient! That was tow hook for the front bumper in the glovebox. Those lines on back up camera are called trajectory.
These are wonderful little cars that can EASILY last 15 years with a manual transmission. I´m not a fan of the CVT at all though.
Interesting 🤔... It's alot of value than what others are offering. Some people in the comment section are looking for a $14k car with a Cadillac CT6 interior. LoL. Sh!t, I'm driving a 2002 Honda CRV so I find this very nice. Lower your expectations people. LoL sit down and be humble. Great video BTW 😎👍🏽
The fact that it's a Daewoo is what concerns me. I remember Daewoo cars in the US, they were abysmal shitboxes. Better off with a Kia Rio or something unless you just have to have a tiny car for some reason.
@@nodak81 The Daewoo that this car spawned from was actually their most reliable car. My mom has a 2013 Spark since new and the only issue has been a broken rear door handle. Not bad.
Nodak81 true, but cars have come a long way from the dark ages of what was considered a budget car. But then again, some cars are still junk.
They're selling these for $9995.00 LS/Auto here in Austin, see em all over the place.
Yes sir, I got one like this 2020 Spark LT for under $12k !
@@dustincribbs5501 Congrats, if you got the automatic, make sure you replace the fluid @ 30K - CVTs & dirty tran oil don't mix!
I've got the big brother, the 2014 Sonic. And I love it!
I think you like small cars as I do for the Fun, practicality, fuel sipping, and low price. And when you spend less you have lower depreciation. I owned a 1986 Chevy Sprint 3 CYL 5 speed and I bought it as a winter beater stored my muscle and Classic Cars away and paid $700 for a 4 year old Sprint. I drove the piss out of that little 5 speed and it was like an extension of myself when I took the wheel. I drove plenty of Freeway time as well and back then the MPG were in the 5-0’’s and I spent $6 every 2 WEEKS for gas. $3 a week. I sold the car after 3 years for $1400 due to tiny specs of rust starting and every though I did my own rust repair I knew it would show up in other places soon. It was 8 years old. Back then all cars rusted. But man I put over 60K on that little car. And I had up to 4 of us adults in the car many times and on the highway. I would buy another one if I found one. Sure it was a death trap but the value was their.
I really like that they kept the cruise control on such low cost car !!
Agreed!
My spark does not have cruise control
@@biffbutowski2447 sorry to hear that
So glad you reviewed this tiny car. Another excellent video. 👍. Thanks for posting.
Thinking bout getting one, it’s not like we’re taking family drives/trips much anymore. The groceries will fit and it’ll get me to work and back home, provided I don’t get smashed by pretty much any other vehicle on the road. That’s my only concern, getting into an accident in this thing.
Crash test revue all around was 3 and 4-star rating...
Me too.i just watched a crash test.
So you buy a car with the idea it will get wrecked??? I buy a car with the idea I will get a long term of use out of it.
These are great little cars. We sell a lot of them at our Chevy store.
I bet! Would you buy one? Just curious.
@@100RentalCars Honestly I'm not much for small cars. My primary car is a Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I'm more partial to (slightly) larger vehicles.
I drive one every day and the only thing your gonna have to worry about in taking a hard or long corner is the front end just giving up and you go straight
Gotta love understeer
I think it picks up speed pretty quick. I luv it
👍👍👍
It definitely does not pick up with 98 HP 🤣😭
@@supremesoldier354 It weighs 2200 pounds, it's very light so the power to weight ratio is good.
Thanks. I'm getting one of these next week.
Thanks so much for this excellent, informative review. I am deciding between the Spark and the Honda Fit. I do not drive very much so I am leaning towards the Spark.
go with the spark a cheaper car that will last longer..win win..its what i did i drive about 7500 miles a year ..should last a long time my last car,a chevy aveo was 12+ years old and had 91,000 miles on it when i traded it in.
There is no way this car is built to the same standard of manufacturing as a Honda Fit. Fit costs a few $1000 more, but worth every penny of the extra cost! Just whatever you buy, pull the routine maintenance on it...that is what kills most vehicles...lack of maintenance!
I love my 2020 Chevy Spark! It zips down the road faster than a lot of other cars and its really comfortable to drive. I know it's a small car, but to me it doesn't feel too small. I feel quite elevated inside, almost like in small SUV.
Yeah I’m 6 foot 3 and I drive a medium size suv but my spouse got this and I really enjoy driving it. Chevy did something great here. Car is just very smooth and economical. All the gadgets are just a cherry on top.
My old SMART car only took up 1/2 of a garage spot. This Spark takes up 7/9ths of a spot. So... it is still small enough to "create some space" in the garage 🤪
Just now finding out what a chevy spark is and man idk why I think these cars are so cute for some reason. Just adorable 😍 I think I want one!
I own a 2015 LS. The OEM radio was also married to OnStar. I fixed that with an aftermarket radio. The only thing I lost with the upgrade was the OAT reading. No big deal. Mine is the 5-speed manual. As you said, I would expect more than the mid to high 30s on the highway. Mine does. If I keep my foot light on the gas I'm getting 42 on the highway. In the city, not so much. About 35 max. I can live with that. At just over 80k miles and not a single issue so far, I'm considering a brand new one. I think I may op for the automatic trans this time around. The only thing I see here that turns me off would be the marriage of OnStar to the rest of the entertainment system. I Do Not Care for that at all. Thanks for taking the time for your review. I found it very helpful
Good Day from Louisiana.
I've bought motorcycles more expensive than this!
I own a 2017 Spark LS with auto trans. Great car. Fun to drive. Can't beat the low price....
This car has taken me to Baltimore and phily on a full tank back forth from NYC the best small car ever made
Nice little car. I like the way it looks inside and out. One thing chevy is good at is designing aesthetically pleasing interiors. I hope everything is coming along well with the Prius situation.
The cost! For the cost its allright!
Exactly. I get that people want a nicer vehicle, but for this price point I think it's a great buy.
We bought ours in 2020 for 11,700 what a deal it was compared to the overpriced cars now
Just what I need - the basics, some modern features like bluetooth, incredible mileage - I'm good to go. Some of us don't need the super deluxe everything. Make it work, give me some features, not too many. Love it.
Mileage is not incredible. It’s actually pretty low.
Should mention the audio quality of the sound system in your review's. Add some light drifting lol 😂.
And start up sounds with camera outside to pick up exhaust notes.
I’m a big guy and drive one of these because my girlfriend got one. I usually drive my 06 Mercury (thing is a beast).
But this vehicle has been so enjoyable to drive. We have the LT model.
The reactive breaking and the cruise control make driving a breeze.
The models with daytime LED’s are just a cherry on top. Looks cool and you get fog lights all the time.
The maintenance required on this car is nice because most things take smaller parts, meaning easy to fix yourself.
The Spark picks up power quick, letting you enter highways and go from green lights easily.
For the size you wouldn’t think it would have power, but even climbing hills the thing goes right up. Even in snow!
Amazing vehicle and if you like saving money on gas and living that slick economy life then this is it.
We average 30-40 miles a gallon with 50k miles on the odometer. I’ve even seen it say 50 mpg! Lol
Great car, Chevy really did something great here and I mean it. Economy and luxury combined (We have the LT model)
I’m not the type to drive a small car, I’m 6 foot 3 and I fit nice and cozy and I even have an arm rest.
The touch screen and ease of use the car has is incredible. For the price it’s a no brainer. Save gas, long distance travel is fine (we took a 3hr trip and it was great) and you’ll feel pretty comfortable doing it.
I will take the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage over this. Better reliability, better warranty, better owner satisfaction, larger rear seat especially in the G4, larger cargo area in hatch and sedan, much cheaper after huge rebates and dealer discounts through Mitsu and you can get a fully loaded top trim Mirage or Mirage G4 for the price of a base model and you get more standard features in the base model.
I owned a 2015 Mitsu Mirage ES with nav and back up cam, a 2017 Mitsu Mirage G4 SE loaded and both were awesome cars and made me love Mitsubishi for how practical they were, reliable, feature packed, great warranty and just had a unique feeling. We now own two 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL Touring’s with S-AWC (top trim loaded) we bought new in October 2019 and absolutely love them. The new 2021 Mitsu Mirage and Mitsu Mirage G4 have been updated styling wise inside and out and have added even more features. Plus you get thousands of MSRP as I did in my 2017 Mitsu Mirage G4 SE. It was over $18,000.00 new because it was a top trim loaded one and I got it for $12,714.00 after discounts and rebates which was cheaper than a base model. Plus the fuel economy was amazing you could top 50 mpg on the highway and do miss that. I now get about 27 mpg on highway in my Eclipse Cross. You also get more room inside especially in the rear seat and cargo area in both hatch and sedan. The 3 cylinder engine in the Mirage has proven to be super reliable and has been out since 2012 in other countries and has had no major issues. One person traded their CVT 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage with 414,000 miles on it at White Bear Mitsubishi and got another new Mirage. Plus it had no engine or transmission issues! Look it up.
My co worker owned her 2015 Mirage ES CVT for 5.5 years as she got it in 2014 and she traded on a new 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE with remote start and factory rockford Fosgate package. Back in 2014 she was set on a Chevy Spark and we went to Altoona PA to look at them and drive it and the sales person said we could not drive the car due to engine issues that were being reported and they had a stop sale for a short time. Well that was enough, and glad we did because it turned out the 2013-2015 Chevy Sparks had major engine issues with pistons. You can still find the videos and complaints online. Sure the Mirages 3 cylinder might be a lil more gruff and have a lil more vibration (3 cylinder vibrate more in all cars) but its reliable and time tested and proven plus Mitsubishis CVTs are reliable and they are Jatco but it must be something in the way the program theirs but they have far less failures than say Nissan.
Overall I think the new Spark is a good car but for me I think the Mirage is a better value with a longer warranty, better mpg, better reliability and owner satisfaction proven by its owners who own the car and not auto reviewers and sites, more standard features and cheaper running cost. In the end everyone has their own opinions and thats why there are so many car brands and models and one person loves a car and one hates it but in the end you have to check them out and decide for yourself. This is based on my personal history and after owning 5 Mitsubishis now I have loved each one. We have also owned several new Hyundais and Kias and I owned a new Chevy Cavalier new in 2005. Really all my cars were good but the worst was my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS. We bought it new in 2014 and traded it 1.5 years later with like 13,000 miles on it due to the non stop issues like engine whining on start up and had timing cover replaced due to the issue, steering clunking and loose and had many parts replaced until the whole steering rack and pinion was replaced, loud clunky suspension, car would get stuck in park all the time and would have to use a screw driver to pop the shift lock, car would randomly not start and had to be towed several times, interior rattles and creaks, awful fuel economy way way way under what the window sticker stated, and in the end it ruined Hyundai for us and that was when we made our switch and traded it on a new 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT with S-AWC and have been with Mitsubishi ever since.
I am renting one and I'm thinking about buying one. Small engine Small tires Small car = FUN
A few years ago, I took my dog and rented one of these to drive cross country. I never got the back seat to fold forward, but thanks for showing everyone how. I had put my folded up dog crate behind the front seat, that was probably why could not figure it out. Most Enterprise rentals don't have owner manuals unless the cars are very new in my experience.
But everywhere I went, people admired the car. I ent like the 9 gallon gas tank, I wish it were more but probably most people would not drive the car cross country. :)
I'm probably going to get some flack for this, but I have the 2014 Spark EV and I absolutely love my car. Of course the electric drivetrain makes it act differently than the base Spark. Mine is quite peppy and fun to drive. The downside is it is a city commuter. It was a redesign of the internal combustion engine Spark to satisfy zero emission requirements in California. I can make do with the range, even as I near 80k miles(slight battery degradation from 82 mile range maximum to 76 mile maximum). Now with more electric fast charge stations popping up, road trips aren't impossible either. I've done two hundred twenty mile trips between Portland to Seattle multiple times. But, it would be nice to have perhaps double my current range. Other than that, I absolutely love my Spark ^_^
I just bought one but with a 5 speed. I like it.
for get the hassle of folding the seats down for storage, just leave it the way it is. Just store stuff on the seats and floor board.
I narrowed down my choices to the 2020 Spark and the Toyota Yaris. I had a hard time deciding, but I wanted a small car, so I chose the Spark. Liking it so far. I got the 1LT out of the door for fourteen six in August.
Nice, congratulations!
I have a 2014 Chevy spark I love mine the only complaint is exceleration it’s a drag o and when the wind is blowing hard it’s goes with the wind😬
I was looking at buying one. It gets blown with the wind??
@@rosterdam_art unfournalty yes but not that bad really good on gas it’s actually pretty rummy inside super cute you should get one👍🏾👍🏾
@@andipres5153 thank you!
What about going up hills
Its a fine driving companion if you have a 5 speed manual. The older cars have more interior room as well.
im satisfied with my 2015 manual transmission spark i bought it for $7300 when it was three years old.
@@brianrokita253 I've only had 3 issues with my 2013, The Radio decides to timewarp itself to its design date and time (probably a internal battery or something), painted surfaces have worn off in 6 years where they have been touched often, and the Ignition key is easy to bump and turn off the car while driving. That's it, pretty damm good for a cheap car, even if the headlights look funny. I'd add the weird Windshield wiper connections that make me have to buy wiper blades from GM, but that's not a design failure, but one GM did intentionally.
@@twotone3471 so far so good on mine just oil changes i don't really drive that much (about 7500 a year) so hopefully that will add a couple of years.
@@twotone3471 wow!!! Did it turn off on the freeway!
@@biffbutowski2447 It'll turn off at anytime you bump the keys, I'm 6 foot tall, and I had sat in Sparks before, but the ones with Cloth seats my knees hit the climate controls. The Pleather seats in my spark sit a little lower and I fit, and its comfortable enough, but yeah, if I slouch a bit it turns off the car if I'm not careful.
8:00 tow hook.
There will be a little circle on the bumper, front or rear, maybe both, that pops out and you thread the hook in to attach the tow truck.
go with the KIA 2017 Automatic 4 plus with navigation and sound system upgrades. Key less entry and push bottom.It is awesome!Fast and super quite and three drive modes!JUST BE CAREFUL CAUSE YOU WILL GOT 80 THINKING YOUR ARE GOING 60!Mine even had a spare tire!And the glove dept is huge/center sliding front armrest with deep "things" you want to store.Even the upgraded sound system is the best I have has in a car.The back seat goes down very easy and effortlessly ,I love it with the puddle light and you can change the lighting and drive modes.Even dances to the music if that what you want or all white,the choice is yours.
Yeah. This is a good city car. For highway cruising in the Midwest, you would feel uncomfortable almost immediately. Almost no suspension travel, no curb weight, no sound deadening, short , & short wheelbase. I just sold my Cruze, and I barely found it adequate for highway driving in Michigan.
I have a 2017 Spark LS that just hit 40k ODM that I got for 10k. Still runs like new ! :) I drive it pretty hard, and take a bunch of road trips; which the car handles it really well.
Nice! I'm glad it hear it's working out.
Update ?? I’m thinking of getting one
@@woof4428 I sold mine once it hit 56k, but it had been running perfectly fine since I bought it at 0 miles. For some reason I still have been getting health updates from the new owner and it seems fine lol
@@2gd2fail lol that’s great thanks!
Just last month bought a 2020 Caribbean Blue Spark with 5-speed manual. Had 22,000 miles.
i'd do instacart or uber eats in a car like that. 1 thing i would never do is go on the interstate with it. thanks for the video. liked and subbed.
We just purchase one and we like it. Saving gas and money but thanks for showing how fold the seats. I was so mad because no idea how to make room for stuff. Good review and excellent Car choice
I inadvertently bought the manual Transmission build back in April. 2018 version , new to me ..... Not regretting it at all. It will blow the doors off of the automatic version easily. The 2018 model of the LS has the M400 , ( 1.4 litre ), engine in it.... and it flies down the highway and up hills easily. The odd thing I did notice is that the Reverse gearing ratio is similar to 2nd gear !! You can back up faster at idle in this thing than going forward in first ..... The other oddity that I noticed too, is the 2nd to 3rd gearing ratio. the legs on the 3rd gear are a little longer than you presume at the start of a highway - hill climb, first to second great then rev up to say 4000 and shift to 3rd..... The engine gets po'd and hits 2200 rpm and then at about 3100 gets happy again and rips up to 3500, 4000 then you slip into 4th { now at 90 kms/ hr),rpms now at 3200 and you run up to ~ 3500 -3800 rpms ,(110 ~115 kms}. and into 5th. For anything over a 20 degree slope , 4th gear is awesome and will tear up the tarmac , accelerating you upwards without issue. 5th gear is great for Eco-thinking ,( economy ).... but on hills use 4th gear and keep the revs around 3200 to 4000 rpms ( 60 -70 mph) ... on the straight track per se, 5th will easily run you up over 90 mph quickly easily, But the car is very light and not as planted as other cars.... so you might not want to get racy with it when its windy out, as it can get dicy as the steering is super sensitive.
Stuff will only fall out of that groove of you accelerate really hard. In this car, you won't accelerate really hard, don't worry.
love this car. 2020 version has rearview camera, bluetooth, everything i want!! cheap, affordable, fuel efficient, reliable.