Stepping inside the micro machine I was welcomed with a multitude of space. There was never a time I felt shoehorned into the car or cramped behind the wheel. Even the back seat offered a truly impressive amount of leg and headroom, proven by my 6-foot-6-inch Newfie friend fitting himself behind the driver’s seat while it remained in my preferred position (and I am 6’1”). Curiously, I was more comfortable back there than I was in the second row of the Infiniti JX I drove over Christmas – either a testament to the Spark or a massive mark against that luxo-crossover.
   2013 Chevrolet Spark 2LT Automatic. Click image to enlarge |
Interior materials are what you would expect in a car starting in the low teens. Lots of hard, dull plastic treatments with some nicer, shiny bits thrown in to save face. The seat surfaces are made of a material not of this world – a pleatherette-vinyl concoction with a horribly stamped pattern. Colour plastic inserts in the dash and doors do liven up what could have been a bland interior, giving the Spark a funky feel to match its exterior flash.
Back in the driver’s seat, I was presented with a novel instrument cluster designed to resemble that of a motorcycle – except the execution was backwards. In the Spark, the speedometer is an analogue dial with the tachometer playing second fiddle in digital form. On a motorcycle, this would be the other way around, with engine revs being much more important than how fast you’re going. This bugs me – and not just because I am a biker – but because the tachometer isn’t true. Revs are shown in increments in the LCD instead of the natural, smooth sweep of a needle across the dial face. Yes, I know, the Spark isn’t a performance car and your current road speed is probably much more important (I can’t see many Sparks pulling weekend track duty). But, still, argh.
  2013 Chevrolet Spark 2LT Automatic. Click image to enlarge |
In all trim levels, Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system is available (a $1000 option on the LS and standard on other trims), made up of a seven-inch touch screen that garners attention in the small car’s dash. The screen, while not too big, is definitely a focal point in the car, and bright enough to see during glaring sunlight hours. Combined with six speakers, Bluetooth streaming audio, SiriusXM radio, and a USB/iPod/MP3 input jack, you’ll have everything you need to serenade your ears with auditory bliss. Stitcher streaming app compatibility is also available, a feature I personally enjoyed. If you have the Stitcher app on your Android or iOS phone, you can stream newscasts and other unique programming using your phone’s data plan (millennials have fancy phones and lots of data!) into the MyLink system. And it’s free. You can’t beat free.
The suspension isn’t top notch, but totally adequate in city driving, and keeps the Spark easily between the ditches on the highway in windy conditions. Just make sure to avoid bigger bumps and potholes, as the experience is far from pleasant (probably more due to the size of the car than its engineering).
It’s also quite safe. Chevrolet has packed a total of 10 airbags into the pint-sized hatchback, covering occupants from head to knees. OnStar Automatic Crash Response is also provided for times when bad gets really bad and you aren’t coherent enough to hit the emergency button after an accident.
