The Tiny 2013 Chevy Spark – Chevrolet Fails to Reach Elusive 40 mpg Goal

Today’s automotive trends are favoring smaller cars more than ever before. Fuel economy figures have become even more important than they were in previous generations – let the respective niche markets have their powerful muscle cars and sports cars. Many average buyers would normally look at fuel economy first and everything else later; in most cases, 40 mpg would be more than enough. But in the case of the 2013 Chevy Spark, it isn’t.

The EPA disclosed the 2013 Spark’s fuel economy last month, and the little Chevy hatchback, as it turns out, is just a few miles per gallon shy of 40, even for highway driving conditions. The 83-horsepower, 1.2-liter version with five-speed manual transmission, according to the EPA, can go 32 mpg for city driving and 38 mpg for highway driving. That’s shy of the 40 mpg highway mileage estimated for other comparable vehicles, such as the Nissan Versa sedan and even the Spark’s bigger brother, the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact. However, the Spark’s city figures are slightly better than those of the Sonic and Versa.
At only 145 inches, the 2013 Chevy Spark is one of the smallest vehicles one can purchase nowadays. Yet despite its small dimensions, the Spark can comfortably sit tall drivers and passengers in front. Headroom and leg room in the rear seats is quite ample. The interior looks quite plush for a super-subcompact priced quite affordably, another plus point for the Spark. But this isn’t the vehicle you’d want if you’re looking for one with raw power and performance, even the kind relative to its car class. Engine options include the basic 67-horsepower, 1.0-liter four-cylinder variant and the 83-horsepower version mentioned above. Its starting price of $11,770 won’t set you back too much – if you’re looking for an extremely affordable price point, you should look no further than 2013′s version of the Chevrolet Spark.