Compare the2021 Chevrolet SparkVS 2020 GOAT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Spark has standard driver and passenger side airbags combined with three-point seat belts, a combination which is 29% more effective in preventing injury and death than seatbelts alone.

To maximize occupant safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Spark have pretensioners to eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Spark are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up.

The Spark has shoulder harnesses for all passengers. Shoulder harnesses are 10% more effective than lap belts in preventing injuries from collisions. Recent studies indicate that lap belts alone may cause as many or more injuries than they prevent.

The Spark has standard child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors.

The Spark has standard front and rear seat side-impact airbags and head airbags for both seat rows, which act as a forgiving barrier between the passengers and the door. Combined with high-strength steel door beams this system increases protection from broadside collisions.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Spark deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions.

The Spark has standard four-wheel antilock brakes for quicker stops and controlled steering ability, especially under poor traction conditions.

The Spark LT Auto offers optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether.

For much better traction, the Spark has front-wheel drive. While accelerating, the rear wheels of a rear-wheel drive vehicle can break loose, causing it to fishtail or even spin and lose control completely. ‘Oversteering’ or spinning in a rear wheel drive car requires counter-steering, and backing off the gas may not help.

To prevent wheelspin and loss of control under poor traction conditions, full range traction control is standard on the Chevrolet Spark.

The Spark has standard StabiliTrak®, which uses the antilock brake hardware along with powerful software and additional sensors to detect the beginning of a skid. StabiliTrak® then intervenes by automatically applying the brake at one appropriate wheel, preventing a skid. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study showed that skid control systems reduced single-vehicle car crashes by 30%.

The Chevrolet Spark has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous.

The Spark LT Auto’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane.

The Spark LT offers optional Rear Park Assist to help warn drivers about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind their vehicle. The Spark also has a standard backup monitor to help drivers see any and all obstacles behind their vehicle.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Spark uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams.

Compared to metal, the Spark’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire.

The Spark’s gas tank is mounted inside the frame rails in front of the rear axle to optimally protect the fuel tank in a collision. A gas tank mounted behind the rear axle is more susceptible to rear collisions.

The Spark has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. Without a GPS response system if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

The Chevrolet Spark weighs 1246 to 1312 pounds. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Spark is safe:

	Spark
Overall Evaluation	GOOD
Structure	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD
Head injury index	212
Peak Head G-forces	no hit
Neck Tension	1 kN
Chest Compression	25 mm
Femur Force	.7 kN/2.1 kN
Tibia index	.43/.59

(This test is not comparable to the NHTSA NCAP 35 MPH front crash test.)

In a 31 MPH side-impact test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashes a 3300 pound sled into the side of new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Spark is safe:

	Spark
Overall Evaluation	GOOD
Structure	GOOD
	Driver
Head Protection Rating	GOOD
Head Injury Rating	GOOD
Torso Injury Rating	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	ACCEPTABLE
Head Injury Criterion	433
Shoulder Movement	39 mm
	Rear Passenger
Head Protection Rating	GOOD
Head Injury Rating	GOOD
Torso Injury Rating	GOOD
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	GOOD

Warranty

The Spark comes with a full 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car.

The Spark comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. Chevrolet will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty fully covers the Spark 5 years or 60,000 miles long for any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts.

The Spark’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and 100,000 miles long.

There are 2940 Chevrolet dealers in the United States, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Spark’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Spark’s engine. If a rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Spark has an overhead cam design, rather than an old pushrod design.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Spark has a standard 375-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Spark’s reliability at 50 points.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above the industry average.

Engine

The Spark’s 1.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 98 horsepower and 94 lbs.-ft. of torque.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Spark gets excellent fuel mileage:

		Spark
	1.4 4 cyl./5-Spd.Manual	29 city/38 hwy
	1.4 4 cyl./5-Spd.Manual	29 city/37 hwy
	1.4 4 cyl./Auto	30 city/38 hwy
	1.4 4 cyl./Auto	30 city/37 hwy
		n/a

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Spark uses regular unleaded gasoline.

The Spark has 9 gallons of fuel capacity, for longer range between fill-ups.

The Spark has a tether attaching its gas cap, to prevent its loss. If the gas cap isn’t tethered it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Spark at 5 out of 10. This means the Spark produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Spark offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration.

To help the driver achieve optimum performance and fuel economy, the Spark has a standard up-shift light to indicate when to shift based on power needs and conditions.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the Chevrolet Spark from rolling backwards on a steep slope.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Spark’s brake rotors and drums are large:

	Spark
Front Rotors	9.3 inches
Rear Drums	7.9 inches

The Spark’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Spark has large 185/55R15 tires.

The Spark’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Spark has standard 15-inch wheels.

The Chevrolet Spark’s wheels have 4 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength.

The Spark has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. If a vehicle has no spare tire you are forced to repair the tire and if that fails you will have to call roadside assistance and get towed. Even run-flats can fail if they are sufficiently damaged.

Suspension and Handling

The Chevrolet Spark’s independent front suspension is much lighter than a solid front axle, which allows the Spark’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For superior ride and handling, the Chevrolet Spark has fully independent front and semi-independent rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort.

The front and rear suspension of the Spark uses coil springs which compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out..

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Spark has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type.

The Spark has standard power steering to make quick and controllable low speed maneuvers easy.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Spark’s wheelbase is 93.9 inches long.

For better maneuverability, the Spark’s turning circle is only 33.8 feet.

Chassis

The Chevrolet Spark may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs only 2246 pounds.

The Spark is only 143.1 inches long, making the Spark easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Spark is only 62.8 inches wide, making it easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Spark is only 58.4 inches in height, making the Spark much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction makes the Spark’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Spark has standard flush composite headlights.

Passenger Space

The Spark has standard seating for 4 passengers.

The Spark has 83 cubic feet of passenger volume.

The Spark has 39 inches of front headroom, 41.7 inches of front legroom, 48.2 inches of front hip room, 50.8 inches of front shoulder room.

37 inches of rear headroom, 33 inches of rear legroom, 48 inches of rear hip room and 49.8 inches of rear shoulder room.

Cargo Capacity

The Spark has a large 11.1 cubic feet of cargo volume with its rear seat up. The Spark has a large 27.2 cubic feet of trunk volume with its rear seat folded.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Spark’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area.

The Spark’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo.

The Spark’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. A single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Spark’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area.

Towing

The Spark Manual can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Spark can be unhitched and driven around locally.

Servicing Ease

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the Spark to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer.

Ergonomics

The Spark’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency.

The Spark’s standard tilting steering column adjusts to different sized drivers and makes entering and exiting easier.

The Spark has a lever hand brake in the console, easy to use while keeping both feet free and not impeding entry and exit.

The Spark LT/ACTIV has standard power windows, which allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted.

The Spark’s available power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged.

The Spark LT/ACTIV’s driver’s power window opens or closes fully with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths.

The Spark’s available power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access.

The Spark LT/ACTIV has standard power locks, which allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat.

The SparkLT/ACTIV’s power locks have a lockout prevention feature. When the key is in the ignition or smart key is in the passenger compartment and the driver’s door is open, the locks unlock every time you lock them.

Passive Entry with Keyless Start optional on the Spark LT allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip.

The Spark’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Spark has a standard rear wiper.

The Spark has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn.

The Spark’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. Without side window demisters the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

The Spark’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows.

The Spark has standard remote mirrors. Without a remote driver side or passenger side mirror the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Spark LT/ACTIV’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility.

The Spark LT/ACTIV’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access.

The Spark (except LS) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter.

The Spark has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Spark’s passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation which can trigger allergies or asthma.

To help keep the driver’s hands on the wheel, the Spark LT/ACTIV has standard steering wheel controls for the radio.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Spark, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Spark is less expensive to operate than average because it costs $388 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Spark than average, including $78 less for a water pump, $243 less for a muffler, $8 less for front brake pads, $234 less for a starter, $211 less for fuel injection, $73 less for a fuel pump, $146 less for front struts and $123 less for a power steering pump.

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