Used 2016 Chevrolet Spark Consumer Reviews

Star-Spangled Spark

I had been shopping for an automatic Spark for my daughter since November, decided to wait and see what the 2016 models and pricing were. Browsed online every other day or so, got serious in February because my $1000 GMCard bonus would end on 2/29/16. Friday morning (2/12/16) around 10am I found a base 2016 LS CVT on sale about 100 miles away. Called the dealer, after a few back & forth calls had the final price. Got a check from the bank, insurance sorted out, and arrived at the dealer about 5pm, back on the road by 6pm. Wow, have small cars come a long way since my 1984 Honda CRX! I was way surprised by the base Spark LS's touchscreen, Bluetooth, rear backup camera, standard A/C, rear wiper & defrost etc. At the same time my daughter was more interested in the tech stuff than the power locks, power side mirrors, power windows, nicer materials, and cruise that this car does not have. A good trade-off. We both found the backseat to be cozy but acceptable. I was quite comfortable driving home for 2 hours, although I missed having cruise. But it's not going to be my car, and the daughter doesn't like to use cruise anyway. I was satisfied with the 98hp of the new 1.4L, and find the CVT to be completely unobtrusive and smooth. The car was weirdly quiet even at 60+ mph for being so petite and upright. And 2,000rpm at 60 mph? I would have expected 3,000. It's light and nimble, fun to drive; but I won't be seeing how fast it stops, corners or accelerates. I have my own car for that kind of tossing. I did not drive a 2015, so can't compare the two. In the 3 days she has had the car (1 highway, 2 in town) it's averaged 36.6mpg, so the 41mpg EPA hwy is probably realistic. Sales data: 14,635.00 MSRP 342.00 Tax & tags -3,735.00 Dealer discount -1,292.24 GM card earnings -1,000.00 GM card bonus earnings --------------------------------------------------- $8949.76 total price Feb 2017 update- daughter loves the car, still tight. Feb 2018 update- car has had no issues. August 2019, my son has had the Spark since the prior update. He gets the oil changed on schedule, no issues.

This car saved my life today

I bought this car in February 2016. I've loved it since I bought it. It's a fantastic little daily driver and people think it's adorable. I haven't got a bad thing to say about it. But today it saved my life. I was hit on my driver's side by a large vehicle going quite fast head on. My airbags immediately deployed by my windows which protected my head from smashing through the glass. The backseat ones deployed as well saving the life of my cats that were in a carrier. I walked out of my car with an aching neck and a nasty bruise, that's it. The other driver thought she killed me. That's how safe this car is. And honestly considering how hard she hit me the car looks good. It's totalled but you'd never guess I got hit at 50mph by an SUV. Her vehicle caught fire and the whole front broke off and mine was simply crunched up a bit. Other than the airbags the interior was immaculate post crash. I'm going to miss my car. I hope I can replace with the exact make and model.

Sparky to the Rescue!

One of the lowest priced new vehicles one can purchased, yet it doesn't look like one or perform like one. I had MINI Cooper for 12 years and loved everything about it EXCEPT its fuel economy (much less than people think), propensity to break down, and cost of repairs (it's made by BMW). In less than a month I have fallen in love with my Chevrolet Spark. It simply does not feel like an economy car and it looks dashing! The engine is so quiet I have had to check a few times to see if it was still running (and it always was)! It is nimble to maneuver, cruises at 55-70 mph smoothly with no strain, the front seat was comfortable even for a 6 foot +, 300 pound man.

Best Little car in the world

I love love love this little car. I got this car for gas mileage because I have to drive an hour to get any where and I needed to pay cash for it. Well worth the price. It might not have electric windows but the drivers door locks and unlocks itself, It has automatic headlights, Ive never touched them . The sound of the stereo system is great for only having 4 small speakers I can make the windows vibrate. This is the first time ive had hands free calling. I fit very comfortable in the car but im short my husband being 6 ft does drive it and his only complaint is getting out because it sits low to the ground. And for anybody worrying about power thats just nuts, I zip around and up and down these hills in wv without a single problem,(you may call them mountains). And im getting way better fuel mileage than expected the best yet is 46.2 miles to the gallon, that was averaging 62 miles an hour. You will not be disappointed with this car. I think the people who are complaining are the ones that dont realize this is a small car not a large suv. I bought the green one its fun, sporty, and zippy I love this car.

I told the dealer no way, but then I drove it

I am 52 years old and have owned BMW Audi Volkswagen Acura Toyota Nissan Honda Chevy Ford aad Jeep. The only American made vehicle that I was happy with were the several Jeeps that I have owned over the years. I barely even noticed these little cars on the highway let alone picture me driving one. My last vehicle was a 2004 Volvo XC70 that was a great vehicle for many years and always reliable. But as I got closer to 200,000 miles on it and started having to face some serious repairs I decided that I would rather be invested in a newer vehicle. I am an outdoors kind of guy so was looking for a 5 to 10 year old SUV or truck. I went to the dealer with that in mind but due to some credit issues I've had I was informed that I could not get into that type of vehicle for what I wanted to pay. The sales guy then pointed me in the direction of the spark and said Ihe could get me into that. I shook my head and told him no way and walked away. He handed me the keys and said take it out for a drive. I was there so I figured what the heck. As I drove it for about 20 minutes it occurred to me that this vehicle was exactly what I need at this point in my life. So I went back and bought one. It came with a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty and the peace of mind that that gave me sealed the deal. I now I look forward to getting into my car every morning for my commute through Denver to where I work without wondering if today is the day that I'm going to find myself stranded by the side of the road because my car broke down. That means a lot to me right now and I am glad I made the choice that I did. I got a great price with low monthly payments and I have great peace of mind. I actually look forward to driving places voluntarily. I have had it for a month and I absolutely love it. The CVT takes a little getting used to but once up to speed it performs very well and the fuel economy is unprecedented. Smalll hatch storage but it influences me to get back to my minimalist outdoor camping days because now I can no longer bring along the kitchen sink . I guess that's another bonus in a backwards way for me . Buy one. You won't regret it.

Would recommend this car to everyone I know!

I bought my 2016 Chevy Spark brand new, 2 months ago, already has over 4,000 miles on it. If you are like me and drive everywhere, I would recommend this car to you. It costs me 16$ AT MOST to fill my tank, getting 42 MPG on average. I am a college student, working full time and this car is perfect for the situation I am in. Getting a brand new car at 12,000 is great. You are getting more than what you paid for. Only down side, roll down windows, no power locks and no cruise control. You'd think a car with such an enhanced electronic sound system would have these things. But hey, who can complain with a car getting 42MPG costing 16 to fill.

Best value for a single person

The most economical automobile I could find. -- Dealer was very accommodating -- gave me top dollar for my beat-up trade-in and ate the MV fees. Car is easy to maneuver & to park, holds the road well in the rain. Small size helps avoid accidents -- when I swerved to avoid a deer I missed the guard rail by an inch; would have scraped it in a wider car. Rear storage is small, but perfect for grocery bags -- they can't fall over. Cruise control and blue tooth are very convenient features. Front passenger seat is quite comfortable. Rear not so much, but I rarely if ever have more than one passenger. Fuel economy less than advertised, but still decent. MUCH less expensive than competitors Yaris, Fit, Mini & Fiat.

Awesome New Spark!

The new 2016 Chevy Spark is an awesome car for the money. You must test drive one if you are in the market for an affordable car. While driving, it feels like a much larger car than it actually is. I love the seating position, as well, sitting up nice and high and easy to see out. I purchased the 2016 Spark to replace a 2014 that I also liked very well, but the 2016 redesign is leaps and bounds better in quality and value. The Spark has great fit and finish on the interior and the powertrain works very seamlessly. I have the CVT transmission, and it works better than any Nissan CVT I have ever driven. It has imitated shift points to feel sportier when you drive more aggressively. Engine noise is low compared to other small cars I have driven. I am AVERAGING over 42 mpg for the life of the car, so far, and I do drive in the city regularly not just highway! I have never spent this little on a new car and been so very pleased. The 2016 Spark was an awesome purchase for my needs! I plan to keep this car for a long time.

LOVE MY NEW SPARK!! BEST CAR I HAVE EVRY OWNED!!

I live in Los Angeles and wanted a car that could zip thru traffic and get into tight parking spaces. This car delivers big time. This is probably the first car I've owned where I actually have fun and look forward to driving. It's also great on gas mileage - I average about 33 in LA and 43 on the highway. The Chevy MyLink is the most advanced touchscreen tech systems I have ever experienced. Handling is swift and agile. I also got an amazing deal on the car.

2016 Spark compared to a 2014 Spark

My daughter and I tried out a new 2014 Chevy Spark four years ago. We thought it was OK, but needed a big makeover and a lot of refinement. In September 2016, we drove a new 2016 Spark, what a wonderful little car. I thought because she was a new driver, she should have something that was very safe! It has a great warranty (3 yrs), and easy to drive around town with great gas mileage. This car has safety features not found on most $40,000 cars. Parking assist, lane departure assist, frontal crash avoidance, ten airbags, including knee airbags, back-up camera and more. Fantastic ! Top of the line 2LT model that was fully loaded. She paid $14,445 for a new car! She paid that price because the dealership had misrepresented the car on the Internet. We held them to what was offered on the Internet. It took almost ten hours to get that car. We think, they just wanted us to give up and go home. NO WAY, it was their mistake. By Minnesota law, they can't bait and switch. Original price was $19,279. That siting around and arguing with them was worth it. It was absolutely worth it. She loves the car. I love the car! She is single, and there is more than enough room in the car for extra people if need be. The gas mileage can't be beat! The insurance is ok too. We could tell this was a great little car, quaility, quaility all the way, compared to the 2014 Spark. With all the options she has, a bigger car would cost at least three times as much or more. She has had it 25 months now, and wants to drive everywhere. At one time she wanted a much bigger car for safety, but they don't have all those safety features on most bigger cars. A bigger vehicle would cost almost $20,000 used, and wouldn't have all the safety features, plus it would have 30,000 miles or more. For the price, she couldn't beat buying a "NEW" car.....and not having someone's used troubles! She now has 30,000 miles and has had no trouble other then replacing the wiper blades and the battery key fob. This car needs AWD, it's a little tough driving in the snow. Two years free maintainace. Reliability has been great! My wife wants one now. But it is a smaller car then I thought it wouldn't been. She has been able to get around in the snow with just a little trouble, due to the car is low to the ground. But, it is easy to get in and out of. I would recommend this car to anyone interested.

Chevy Spark

Love my new car. It is pretty comfortable for such a little car. I am 5'11 and still have plenty of head room. There is plenty of storage space in the back and I am getting great gas mileage.

Spark 2 LT: the luxury "cheap" Chevy

I think this is a great car: fun to drive, great interior styling, reliable, and a 100% bumper-to-bumper 36,000 mile/36 month warranty, that even includes oil changes and tires. The Spark has generous safety features (ten airbags, a high strength steel passenger compartment safety cage, head of the class technology/connectivity for year and class, very good gas mileage, a solid and nimble road feel, is surprisingly quiet and stable on the freeway, a dream to park and drive in Los Angeles, and is more fun to drive than the Fiat 500 I test drove. A super value that I like even more now after 5 years of ownership. Also finally found a Chevrolet dealer that I like in Glendale, CA. Update: I have now had the car over 6 years and have about 30,000 miles on it. This car has been free of problems. Besides regular maintenance, all I have had to do is replace the battery. It still looks new. I like this car as much as ever. What a value!

Sure beats walking!!

If you have ever had to walk any distance because you had no other choice than walking, you will understand the value of the Spark. The Spark fills an important spot in today's transportation needs for economical and environmentally friendly means of getting around where mass transit lets us down. Go Spark!

It didn't SPARK a fire

I rented a 2016 Chevrolet Spark and enjoyed the spaciousness of the small car interior. While driving the car was rear-ended on a highway. Both front seats broke causing the bulk of the injuries. The seat-belts stayed in tact and we were glad to have them. Seat backs broke allowing myself and my passenger to be injured by the seats. Additionally, the seats came apart from the frame. If you choose this car, please choose a bright color to help other drivers to see your little car. If you choose this car, you are trading safety for cost; is that a good trade for you? It was not a good trade for me, even as a rental car. Seats were not available in the rating criteria. The safety section of the rating criteria does not provide for broken seats.

GREAT little car!

I have been looking at the Spark for a few months...and the dealership had a GREAT incentive of $3k off, so I went down to test drive. I was VERY surprised of the roominess of this little car! I am a 6 foot tall woman and my little Ford Escort just wasn't cutting it. Well, the Spark feels like you sit up, almost like an SUV. The ride is GREAT, and I drive 40 minutes 1 way to work every day. This little guy reminds me of my old Omni (back in the day)...but a MUCH BETTER RIDE! I love the mpg. 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!!

The Greatest Little Car

I used to own the 2013 Spark and that one isn't that good mainly because of the weak engine and suspension. The new 2016 model has the 1.4 size engine which is the same reliable engine in my cruze. The only complaint I can say is I wish they made this in a turbo with some tight suspension as I would buy that in a second as I know it would be way zippier and fun. I got the 5 speed model which has crank up windows and no auto door locks which I prefer anyways. Its still a little slow to get going but once on the freeway its pretty responsive. My model was on sale for like 9K which is unbelievable for what you get when you consider the back up camera, bluetooth, apple car play although I have an android. All i can say is this car is underpriced compared to others for what you get. It may even be worth double the price.

It's good for me and my needs

I have owned this car going on 2 years now so I feel like I can properly give a decent review. First of all, this car is small. Like really small. If you have children I would not suggest this car to you. I am only 5'4 and so my seat is pushed up farther than the average person. There is absolutely no leg room in the back of my car even considering the fact that I'm short and don't need a lot of space in the front. If you are regularly wanting someone besides a very small child to sit in the back seat, they are going to be uncomfortable or just not fit at all. This car works for me because I am the only person who is ever in my car. I very rarely have any passengers, and when I do there is only one so they ride in the front passenger seat. It is a no-frills car in some way, because there isn't power locks or windows. I rarely ever put my windows down in previous cars so this does not bother me, it could be bothersome to you. The technology with the AppleCar Play is wonderful and I will not have another car without it. I have taken this little car up to 7 hours away (one way) and being able to listen to my podcasts and bring them up through my cars navigation screen is awesome and worthwhile to me. The car seating is comfortable and I have never felt achey or like I needed to stretch more than usual after long drives. This could be because I am on the thinner side and short (see previous comments about space issues). The handling of the car is fine. It doesn't have stellar shock absorption but thankfully where I drive the most the roads aren't in too bad of shape so I'm not being jostled like I would be on a dirt road or similar situations. I can go quite a while without having my oil changed which is a bonus, and nothing has needed attention since me buying the car brand new. I live in the midwest where we get a decent amount of snow and my car goes great in the snow. The traction control kicks in and does it's job whenever I have happened to hit a slick spot. Many people are shocked when I make it into work knowing what I drive, but this car has been very good to me in the snow. Overall, I like the car but it's not a long term car for me. It is just way too small for when I decide to have children. Also if I was frequently giving other people rides or needing to haul things then it would not work for that either. For now, it does what it needs to do and I am happy for that. Great car for a single person who doesn't need a lot.

Big improvement!!

The car felt much bigger and smoother. The front seats were vey comfortable for my bad back. I am short, but legroom and headroom was acceptable. The interior was impressive including dash layout, colors, fabric. I did not trade yet because I owe a lot on my Smart Fortwo, but will trade soon. Try this very economical and luxurious Spark. I bet you'll love it.

Fun to drive but not for everyone

I wanted a small, efficient car for mostly short trips. The size is perfect for me as a small woman in a congested city. Very easy to park in tight spots. Toasted marshmallow color hides dust very well. Four doors are handy and rear passengers say that it’s spacious enough. Visibility is good and it's great to have a backup camera. Love Apple CarPlay and cruise control is a nice feature as well. The Spark drives like a go kart i.e. kinda fun but rough on bumps. Very notable hesitation on acceleration so no darting across an intersection. Am not getting even close to the MPG on the sticker despite light foot. More like 27 on average but I do not do much highway driving and when I do it is improved to 33-35mpg. My lower back hurt the first time I spent more than 10 minutes driving (granted I'm not a youngster). Bought a back support which has helped. I think the design of the interior is generally very good but the seat material feels a bit cheap. Rear hatch cover has no cord to pull it up and let it down so it's annoying if you forget to push it down. Cargo space has been quite ample with the ability to fold down rear seats. As I near four years of ownership the only mechanical problem has been the failure of the window washer pump which was covered under warranty. Overall I am very happy with the Spark but if I had longer commutes every day I might wish for more comfort and better acceleration. Update: after 5+ years of ownership the Spark has been trouble free. I continue to be happy with my purchase.

A superb machine all round!

The Deep Dive engine is one of the newest, most technologically advanced engine on the planet. The CVT transmission is a Jatco 7, a joint project of Nissan and Mitsubishi. (yes, Nissan and Mitsubishi) I love this little car! Depending on the season, I get between 42 and 46 mpg.

Great price : Great car

This is the perfect city car.

Great Little Run-About

I have not traveled long distances in this car so my comments are about a second car. Given these limits, the car is wonderful in every respect. With my wife and I in the vehicle, and the seats folded down, there has not been a time when we have not been able to get all we needed into the car. It parks easily, has enough pickup for me, and handles smoothly. We have had no trouble with the vehicle. We no longer need two vehicles so I am going to sell the car. We will miss it.

A very sparky Spark

Just test drive it. That will convince you!

Don't do it.

Right... Check out the spark forum. Own a 2015 spark bought brand spanking new with 30 miles on it, tranny has gone out, been in the shop 8 times after I take it back in for tranny issues, no AC, electrical gremlins... Really loved it when the traction control came on, on a clear day on perfect road conditions causing almost a wreck. Really loved it that Chevy tried to charge me to have someone pick up my mom when my tranny went out 4 months into owning this car, because apparently having a passenger in the car and driving more than 12 miles away from home isn't normal. I have a stack of papers of repairs and yet Chevy has done nothing but caused me stress. This last breakdown, dealership had car for 2 weeks, providing no loaner and left me stranded in another state. I can't pay my bills this month because I had a 2 week expense for being stranded and Chevy didn't want to hear about it at all. I've had caseworkers on my case who make appointments but don't keep them, don't call back. Last time I called when I was stranded the lady laughed at me on the phone, and when I demanded for a manager she took her time hoping I would hang up, I didn't hang up and I heard everything she said to the manager and I said ummmm.... Still here

Great car...just hope it stays mechanically sound

I love the car because of its economy............I bought the most stripped down model with a manual shift....love the tiny size, I am 6' tall and weigh 190 pounds and love the economy. Trade in value was horrible...just out of curiosity...took to toyota...the offered me $5000 to trade for used Toyota fit. Yikes!

My Spark made car buying easy

I love this car. I love the feel of the drive. Some may consider it bumpy like my dad, but I'm used to a short wheel base and feeling the road. I love all the controls that help take care of the car, like when to change the oil! I bought my Spark for $6k so I was expecting the mechanic to tell me not to buy it but he said all it needed was a year windshield wiper(my car dealer gave me one), I love seeing when I'm getting 99mpg, mostly going downhill of course but still. It did take time to get used to new blind spots but I think I've adjusted to mirrors accordingly. I am looking forward to getting to know this car better unlike other cars I've had. I am getting used to Bluetooth. That's an odd one for this grandma.

Good value

Great car terrible suspension.

I have owned my 2016 spark since August 2016 and love how fast it gets up and goes. The down side is I have had most of my front suspension changed sway bar link, control arm, strut and inner tie rod. I still have a clunk in the front end so they have ordered the sway bar with the bushing to see if that is the issue. But the dealership is easy to deal with but HIGHLY recommend the extended warranty because most parts are dealer only and it is pricey. The rear washer nozzle leaks and they said that is just how it should be they have changed the motor and many nozzles. The interior is roomy for what it is I have passengers in my back seat all the time and they never complain they have no leg room. They are surprised every time that they have so much room. The radio has stopped working on me once but that is the only time I have had an issue with it and no issues since. I have 92k kms on my car the gas mileage isn't as good as it should be it averages since I bought the car at 35 miles per gallon. When it gets really cold my car doors do not unlock or when you open the door it will not close until you pull the other handle and it releases. If you can handle small corks it really is not a terrible car just annoying to fix because they are not popular so most parts need to be ordered in and it can take a while for them depending on which factory/ warehouse they order it from. But handles great it is a winter tank car is on the heavy side so it goes through almost everything. Also had an issue with starting my car. Started my car one day in January and the check engine light was on and it was running rough so i gave it a shot of gas to see if hat help and then it started flashing so I shut it off right away then started it back up after about a minute and it was fine. Brought it to the dealership after that and they couldn't find anything then about a month later I was leaving work and it wouldn't start it finally gave me the information whatever number and I looked it up and it was low engine power. So it was a lot of calling the service adviser I deal with and seeing what he knew about it. Left the call alone for 30 minutes when back and it started fine so I brought the car to the dealership and they flashed the pcm and I have not had any issues since.

Great little car

I'm a fairly big guy 6' 0" 240 lb. good leg, hip, shoulder and head room. car runs great, handles very well. Some may say it's a little choppy ride but I disagree, For a car of this size I would call it a firm plush ride, Can't believe people complain about this little car being sluggish, I find it more than capable when acceleration is called for. Would buy this car again in a heart beat, would choose the LT instead of the LS, miss that cruise control.

Only thing good about this car is the Fuel Economy

Do not buy a chevy spark. The issues are going to cost you more than the car is worth and chevy will do nothing for you. First time car buyer, never will buy a chevy anything again!!

chevy spark lemon

It all started when the vacuum pump broke and the valve cover gasket needed replacing. Oil leaked everywhere. Now there are too many things wrong with it to even try to fix.