2020 Chevrolet Spark 1.4 Premier CVT - A Surprisingly Fun Pocket Rocket

While car sales have significantly dropped due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, there is one car segment that is seeing growth. That’s the subcompact hatchback segment. With reduced public transportation services and mobility around the city, people who used to use these services are now looking for affordable brand new and used cars. Many of these people are first-time buyers too.

This is where the Chevrolet Spark comes in. I will forgive you if you actually forgot that this hatchback is still available locally. This model serves as an entry-level model into the Chevrolet Philippines lineup, targeted at first-time car buyers from the very beginning.

Is the Chevrolet Spark worth a look especially now that we are in times where demand for affordable personal transportation is at an all time high once again?

Exterior

Subcompact hatchbacks aren’t always the best looking vehicles out there. In fact, many are either extremely simple and boring while others are just trying too hard. That’s not that case with the Chevrolet Spark as it definitely does away with the entry level look. The front fascia features a lot of chrome giving it a more elegant appearance while the headlights are projector-type halogens. This top-spec Premier variant is also equipped with LED daytime running lights which is not a common feature in the segment and will definitely help this little car stand-out in a sea of Toyota Wigos and Hyundai Eons.

The side profile of the Spark flexes its smaller dimensions with the vehicle’s length maxing out at 3,635 mm. You’ll also see lots of creases and body lines which give the Spark a much sportier appeal. Also nice is the rear door handles integrated into the rear window and C-pillar. It’s so nicely hidden that my mom thought this was a two-door hatchback when I picked her up from work. The rear end on the other hand is just your typical hatchback but it looks good nevertheless.

I would also like to add how cute the dimensions of this car are. As mentioned earlier, length is at 3,635 mm. Height is at 1,483 mm and width at 1,595 mm. The rather small dimensions results in a very aggressively styled tiny car which just really looks too cute. Imagine a piece of fruit with a mad face drawn on it. That’s what this looks like. Cute.

Interior

Getting inside, a rather upscale looking interior welcomes you into the Chevrolet Spark. While the exterior of the Spark is rather small, the interior does not feel that way. Obviously you’ll feel that it’s small especially when you see your passenger but it won’t feel tight at all. Materials are hard-touch plastics as expected but they do feel well-built and very solid as with everything else in this interior. Piano black plastics are also plenty on the dashboard. While it looks good and more upscale, it will have the tendency to become a scratch and dust magnet. Thankfully the one in this tester looked pretty scratch free unlike on some vehicles.

The steering wheel in the Spark is a simple three-spoke design shared with other Chevy models. It is wrapped in polyurethane instead of leather which is still okay and is actually nice to hold. It does however lack any form of adjustment which is unfortunate. Even tilt adjustment would have been very helpful. I must also say that the positioning of the ignition keyhole is too close to the wiper stalk as I found my fingers hitting the key when needing to turn on or adjust the wipers while driving in rain. This also considering I have short fingers.

The seats in the Spark are actually quite comfortable as well. They are wrapped in a nice feeling black fabric with a nicely designed pattern as well. Side support is pretty good as well as they are adequately bolstered. The rear seats on the other hand I was not able to try as much as I spent most of the time behind the wheel but a short time sitting there was not exactly very comfortable but it will do and is definitely more comfy than in other vehicles in the segment.

Storage

Storage spaces are decent inside the Spark. Other than the large glove compartment, a large storage cubby can be found on the passenger side of the dashboard which we found quite useful. The door bins are also large enough to hold a large bottle. This can also be placed in any of the two cupholders in the center console. The Spark’s cargo area is also decently sized. Opening the tailgate reveals almost 200 liters of space which is good enough. It’s not the biggest but it will do its job.

Technology and Safety

Technology is another aspect where the Spark shines. Standard is Chevy’s MyLink Infotainment System which is controlled via a 7-inch touchscreen display. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity which is a big plus in the segment. It also comes standard with speed-sensing automatic door locks and an automatic up and down driver side window.

Safety is another strong suit for the Spark especially considering its price and what its competition offers. This top-spec Premier variant is equipped with 3-pt. seatbelts for all passengers, Dual Front Airbags, Side Door Impact Beams, Anti-lock Braking System, Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, and ISOFIX Childseat Anchor Points.

Engine

Under the hood of all Chevrolet Sparks is a 1.4-liter DVVT powertrain. This engine is also one of, if not the most powerful in the segment at 98 horsepower and 128 Nm of torque. This combination is paired to a continuously variable transmission and power is sent to the front wheels. Continue reading below to see how this little car performs.

Driving and Comfort

They say first impressions last and the Chevrolet Spark definitely gives a good first impression. I would be lying if I said I was not expecting the Spark to be the same as other models in the segment which are most likely on the more boring and slow side. As with most test drive units delivered to me by car companies, my first drive with the Spark was going up our condominium parking which is on the 7th floor and wow I really enjoyed going up. The CVT surprisingly works really well when accelerating and isn’t as drony as in other vehicles.

While we weren’t able to get an exact time figure, we tried a 0-100 acceleration run with the Spark and it definitely feels fast. Engine response in every acceleration is excellent and is nothing to complain about. Steering on the other hand is good enough. It’s light as it should be on a small car but not too much. It is very playful in a sense that every turn is easy and you will actually enjoy turning in the Spark. Visibility while driving is also very good despite the tiny side mirrors.

Driving on the highway was a pleasant experience. Acceleration during overtaking is still pretty good and ride quality is decent as it is inside the city. Road noise however may get loud once you reach 90 kph on the highway but it’s expected again from a car in this proce point.

In terms of fuel economy, the Spark returns decent figures. We spent most of our time with the Spark using it as a daily commuter inside the city where it returned between 10-12 kilometers per liter. Driving in light city traffic also showed as much as 15 km/l. A quick Sunday drive to Pampanga for some errands on the other hand returned as much as 22 kilometers per liter. I do believe it should be able to do better as it was raining quite heavily during that highway drive. Pretty good if you ask me.

Conclusion

Overall I must say that the Chevrolet Spark was a pleasant surprise. As someone who is a bit of a newbie in test driving different vehicles every week, I’m surprised that I can actually say good things about a subcompact hatchback, which I am honestly not a fan of this segment. Considering what it has and what it can do, the Chevy Spark is pretty underrated and should definitely be put in more people’s shopping lists. Well if you’re looking for a small, affordable, stylish and well-equipped hatchback, this is definitely the car for you.

The 2020 Chevrolet Spark in this top-spec 1.4 Premier CVT variant is priced at Php 734,888. This is actually lower than its previous SRP of Php 859,888. Yes, Chevrolet lowered the price of the Spark by Php 125,000 in 2019 which makes considering this vehicle a lot easier, more people really should.