2021 Chevrolet Spark

Is the Chevrolet Spark a Good Car?

There's a lot to like about the Spark. Its small size and easy maneuverability make it well-suited to city driving, though it can feel underpowered and unrefined at higher speeds. This Chevy also carries a solid predicted reliability rating. However, the front seats are uncomfortable, and the second row is small, even for a subcompact car. Also, despite being a hatchback, the Spark doesn't have much cargo space.

Why You Can Trust Us: 24 Reviews Analyzed

We analyzed 24 Chevrolet Spark reviews – along with reliability ratings, fuel economy estimates, and more – to help you decide if the 2021 Spark is the right new car for you.

This 2021 Spark review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2016.

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined auto industry experience. To remain objective, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team manages the advertising on our site.

Should I Buy the Chevrolet Spark?

The Spark is one of the best values out there. It has one of the lowest MSRPs of any new vehicle on our site, and it comes standard with cool features like an infotainment system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Despite boasting these features, the base model surprisingly lacks basic amenities such as power door locks, power windows, and keyless entry.

Find a 2021 Chevrolet Spark for sale near you »

2020 vs. 2021 Chevrolet Spark: What’s the Difference?

There are no major differences between the 2020 and 2021 Spark.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Spark »

Here are the key changes for the Chevrolet Spark since it was fully redesigned for 2016:

• 2017: Spark EV discontinued
• 2018: no notable changes
• 2019: refreshed front end styling; gained available automatic emergency braking; Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system introduced
• 2020: no notable changes
• 2021: no notable changes

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Spark, 2019 Spark, and 2020 Spark reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Much Does the Chevrolet Spark Cost?

The 2021 Chevy Spark starts at $13,400, making it one of the least expensive new cars you can buy. The car's top trim level retails for $16,800, which is still low compared to the highest-priced models of most other subcompact cars.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Chevrolet dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Chevrolet deals page.

Chevrolet Spark Versus the Competition

Chevrolet Spark vs. Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa was fully redesigned for 2020, and it's one of just a few new cars that retail for less than $15,000. It's a little pricier than the Spark, but it's probably a better pick for most buyers. The Versa is a five-seat sedan, while the Spark is a four-person hatchback. The Nissan has a little more second-row room, a nicer interior, and a much longer list of standard safety technology. It also has more room in its trunk than the Spark has behind its second row. Neither car has particularly impressive acceleration or handling, but both are adequate for driving around town.

Compare the Spark and Versa »

Chevrolet Spark vs. Chevrolet Sonic

The Chevrolet Sonic and Spark are similar in a few ways. Both have mixed interior quality and comparable feature offerings by trim. For example, both come standard with an infotainment system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, but power windows and door locks are optional. The Sonic, however, is available as a sedan or a hatchback, and it serves up plenty of cargo space and a roomy second row. The Sonic also has a peppy turbocharged engine and agile handling, making it more fun to drive than the Spark. The Sonic costs more than the Spark, but it’s the superior pick.

Compare the Spark and Sonic »

Compare the Spark, Versa, and Sonic »

Spark Interior: You Get What You Pay For

Spark Cargo Space

The Chevrolet Spark hatchback rates poorly for cargo space and utility. Behind the rear seats is just 11.1 cubic feet of space, which is less than what you’ll find in the trunks of many subcompact sedans.

You can fold the rear seats to open up 27.2 cubic feet of space, but that's still less room than rival hatchbacks in the class. The second row doesn't fold completely flat, making it difficult to haul larger, squared-off items. Additionally, the lower cargo hold lip is high off the ground, which could complicate loading.

How Many People Does the Spark Seat?

The Chevy Spark holds four people. The front seats have a pretty upright position that affords good visibility, and there's plenty of room for taller people. However, the cushions aren't that comfortable, and the seats lack side support. The Spark's small number of seat adjustments makes it harder to find an agreeable position.

The Spark's second row is cramped, to put it simply. The sloping roof intrudes on headroom, and legroom comes up very short.

Spark and Child Car Seats

The Spark has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this system the second-highest rating of Acceptable for its ease of use. The tether anchors are hard to find, and the lower anchors are set deeply in the seats, though there's enough room to maneuver your hands around and attach the car-seat straps.

Spark Interior Quality

This small Chevy's cabin is a mix of hard plastics and some slightly nicer materials. It's what you'd expect from an entry-level small car. Interior quality is generally good, but a lot of outside road and wind noise permeates the cabin, especially at higher speeds.

Spark Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Spark comes standard with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System, which is one of the best-reviewed interfaces on the market. The display looks good, and it's easy to find the functions you want. The rest of the center stack features clearly marked buttons and knobs.

• Standard infotainment features: a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, two USB ports, voice recognition, a four-speaker stereo, and a Wi-Fi hot spot
• Available infotainment features: a six-speaker stereo and satellite radio
• Other available features: power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted controls, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and a sunroof

Read more about interior »

Spark Performance: City Slicker

Spark Engine

The Chevrolet Spark is one of only two new cars you can buy with less than 100 horsepower: The Spark has 98, trouncing the 78 horses provided by the Mitsubishi Mirage. The Spark's meek four-cylinder engine propels it away from a stop just fine, but it takes a lot of coaxing to accelerate quickly or get up to higher speeds.

The standard five-speed manual transmission is a good match for the engine. The other option is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT can occasionally cause the engine to drone and sound unrefined, and it doesn’t make the most of the engine's limited power.

Spark Gas Mileage

The 2021 Spark gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29-30 mpg in the city and 37-38 mpg on the highway. Those estimates are about average for a subcompact car.

Spark Ride and Handling

The Spark has light, accurate steering that makes it easy to zip through crowded urban streets or fit into tight parking sports. Its short length and tight turning radius don't hurt either. On the highway, this little car can be a bit less composed and jittery. And while it generally rides smoothly over small bumps in the road, larger imperfections upset the cabin a bit more.

Read more about performance »

Spark Reliability

Is the Chevrolet Spark Reliable?

The 2021 Spark has a predicted reliability rating of four out of five, which is about average for the class but above average compared to the market as a whole.

Chevrolet Spark Warranty

Chevrolet covers the Spark with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Spark Safety

Spark Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed two crash tests on the Chevrolet Spark, giving it the highest rating of Good in both the moderate overlap front test and the side test.

At the time of writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not crash tested the 2021 Spark.

Spark Safety Features

Standard advanced safety features:

• Rearview camera

Available advanced safety features:

• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Rear parking sensors

Read more about safety »

Spark Dimensions and Weight

The Spark is 11.9 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 2,246 to 2,312 pounds.

Where Is the 2021 Chevrolet Spark Built?

Chevrolet builds the 2021 Spark in South Korea.

Which Chevrolet Spark Model Is Right for Me?

The 2021 Chevrolet Spark comes in four trims: LS, 1LT, ACTIV, and 2LT. A four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, and a five-speed manual transmission are standard in every trim. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional in each trim for $1,100.

Those on the tightest of budgets should appreciate the base model's solid list of standard features, including an infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. However, you'll need to spend about $2,000 extra for the next highest trim level to get basic amenities such as power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. Active safety features beyond a rearview camera are limited to the top trim with an optional package.

Chevrolet Spark LS

The 2021 Chevrolet Spark LS starts at $13,400. Standard features include cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a rearview camera, and an infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, two USB ports, voice recognition, a four-speaker stereo, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

Chevrolet Spark 1LT

The Spark 1LT trim starts at $15,300 and builds off the base model with alloy wheels, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, steering wheel-mounted controls, and heated outside mirrors. A sunroof is a $1,000 option.

Chevrolet Spark ACTIV

With a base price of $16,400, the Spark ACTIV features synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lights, a touring-tuned suspension, and sportier exterior design elements.

Chevrolet Spark 2LT

The Spark 2LT retails for $16,800. Additional features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and rear parking sensors. When equipped with the CVT, the 2LT is available with the $295 Driver Confidence package, which adds forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Chevrolet dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Chevrolet deals page.

See 2021 Chevrolet Spark specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2021 Chevrolet Spark comes with an abundance of technology and has a low starting price. For those reasons, its main appeal is value. However, if you have a larger budget, search around the subcompact car class, and you'll find many rivals that have more space, a nicer interior, and better performance than the Spark.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Even among very small cars, the Spark is just marginal. Its sub-$14,000 starting price is appealing, but you can get a bigger and fresher car for not much more money." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The Spark no doubt has a bargain starting price, but you’ll have to make plenty of compromises if you get the least-expensive LS model. A 1LT or higher trim is a better bet. Even then, be aware of the Spark’s shortcomings. Among them are limited seating for four, a weak powertrain, lack of advanced safety systems and considerable road noise." -- Autotrader
• "The 2020 Spark proves that not every cheap car has to feel like it, thanks to Chevy packing a lot of value into it." -- Car and Driver (2020)