Used 2017 Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT) Consumer Reviews
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Great For High Mileage, Cool Tech, Tight Parking!
C. Tatum, Lufkin, TX, 01/05/2017
Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT)
89 of 94 people found this review helpful
I am a simple kind of guy, and my goal with getting another vehicle was very simple – get a new vehicle at a reasonably low price. Happily, the 2017 Spark is simple in all the ways I like – I got the base LS model because I’m not a fan of power anything (power stuff breaks first). The only “power” options I wanted and got on the Spark were power steering and an automatic transmission. The most common descriptor my friends use for the Spark is “cute.” It’s quite a small vehicle, but it’s one I have no problem fitting my 5’ 11”, 230-pound frame into. The seats, while not easy-chair material, are sufficiently comfortable. The Spark is good with mirrors and window space – blind spots on either side of the car have been kept to a minimum. The rear-view mirror inside the cabin could be a little wider, but it’s adequate. And the rear window is wide enough to monitor tailgaters. Internal storage space, as has been widely written about, isn’t very much, but you can fold the rear seats down for additional space. It also has two rear doors which might be suitable for loading large items as well as associates. Much has also been written about the Spark’s 98-horsepower engine and that it takes 10 seconds to get to 60 mph. I have not found it to be a problem. I would not call it underpowered at all. If you’re an angry, pushy driver who loves to tailgate others, the Spark will exhaust your patience. But if you’re a judicious, considerate driver, the Spark’s acceleration won’t be an issue for you. I was a little surprised to find out the Spark has a 9.2-gallon tank – the smallest in any vehicle I’ve ever owned, but that’s offset by its high-rated fuel mileage of 38mpg (highway) and up. If you do the math, that’s a cruising range of at least 340 miles. This is not a “touring” car, but for 180- to 250-mile trips that I take on occasion, I’m confident the Spark can handle the pull. The deal clincher for me was under the hood – the EcoTec engine, this one a 1.4-liter jobbie – is the centerpiece of the Spark. I became a huge fan of EcoTec with my last car which lasted over 296,000 miles with that original engine. Unlike the Fiat 500, you can use 87 octane fuel with the Spark. Compared with what I’ve read about similar subcompacts, the Spark’s instrument panel and dash are welcomingly simple and very nicely designed. No screen is too “busy”. If you have an Android or iPhone smartphone, you can plug either device into the USB jack and access music and certain mobile apps from those devices on the touch-screen display. The semi-digital dash on the base model is the carries a nice amount of information including mpg, miles to empty, and average speed. The 1LT and 2LT models are supposed to be even better on this point. The radio does NOT pick up HD channels (at least not in the base model), so get your premium stations thru your Bluetooth enabled smartphone and apps like Sirius XM or Pandora. The Spark includes several modern conveniences and safety features such as a rear backup camera and the MyChevy touch-screen control system with Bluetooth. You get a 3-month trial of OnStar remote monitoring and assistance free, too, as well as built-in 4G wi-fi service you can add on for as little as $10 a month (1 GB). Automatic lights, cup holders, and too many other features to include in this short review. The Spark is a good, simple little car that has in reviews been compared favorably in specific ways to the pricier Honda Fit, the trendy Fiat 500, the practical Nissan Versa, and the equally reliable Toyota Yaris. The Spark stands out, though, for its integrated OnStar service and onboard technology. If you’re in a precarious situation with savings or credit score, and you need basic transportation, you’ll like the Spark a lot. If you’re a road hog, or a gearhead, look elsewhere. The Spark is most certainly not a ride for hipsters (unless they’re driving it ironically). For its high fuel mileage, its maneuverability in tight parking spaces, its safety features, and its integrated smartphone technology, not to mention its low price relative to other vehicles in its class, the 2017 Spark earns its 5 stars overall. Just a few things keep it from being an absolutely perfect subcompact, but no one has made one of those yet! Take a test drive! You’ll love it!
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Pugnacious little runabout!
Tim, Madison, WI, 02/18/2023
updated 02/22/2024
Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Okay, you won't win any races or look like a sex symbol, but if you're a) cheap like me b) need something for in-town or a college student or beginning driver then c) you'll probably like this car. It makes 98 hp (9-gallon tank with roughly 300-mile range) and the CVT is a clumsy, sort of like a charming, dotty uncle wondering where he set his spectacles, but overall it delivers the goods. I drive to work every day in it, and, so far, rain or shine and recently heavy snow, it performed like a champ! The basic amenities are there with an emphasis on basic. The base model (LS) has hand-crank windows and manually adjusted mirrors (for you retro fanatics). There's a back seat for some reason, but it's not spacious and it doesn't quite fold flat for more cargo. You can probably fit four to six bag of groceries on the floor, seats, and cargo space. Even so, I just came back from skiing (alone) and I could fit my skis and poles on a diagonal over the back seat and across the passenger seat. You won't be able to move any big screen tvs, though. Still, if you like internet connectivity and a decent stereo plus a high quality backup camera, then this is your huckleberry! These features are much better than they were on my 2016 Mazda 3 i Sport. And, this car is coming down in price because they have been discontinued. You won't see much resale value, so why not drive it into the afterlife? There will be parts and people to work on them. It might be just the car you need! UPDATE: I've owned if for a year now and it's still going strong!
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I LOVE CLYDE
Lexndres, Independence, KY, 02/23/2017
updated 08/23/2017
Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Update: I still stand by my original review. I still love it, its dependable. Still no adjustable sun visor but other than that just is a fantastic car Original review:Yes i have named my beloved Spark. Reminds me of a ghost from Pac-Man. Anyway I do love my car. Zippy little thing, great gas mileage. First car i have not regret buying. Only a couple of minor things I would suggest changing, moving the gas flap opener thingy back a couple of inches, a gasket around the gearshift (I have lost several credit cards down that little gap and they are gone forever) and the most important thing, an adjustable sunvisor. This is so small and doesnt move so it makes blocking the sun an real issue. BUT other than that I LOVE THIS CAR!
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Cheap but amazingly reliable
B. Borgerson, Ashland, OR, 03/19/2017
updated 09/26/2022
Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
World’s cheapest sports car? Car and Driver made this car an “Editors’ Choice” in its category. Consumer Reports is not quite so thrilled. Easy to see why. This little puppy is fun to drive, with agile handling and – at least when only the driver on board – plenty of zip to thoroughly enjoy a smooth and winding country road. Down sides? On a bumpy road you will get jostled, there’s precious little back seat and cargo room, and the interior on my base LS version is heavy on hard plastic. Plan on seat pads for long trips. But I can hardly quibble when I snagged an automatic for $10,500, replete with up-to-date electronics, ten airbags, tire pressure monitoring, Bluetooth and ONStar – but no cruise and no power on anything in the doors. Still, I haven’t paid that little for a brand new automatic since 1989. And well built? It’s so tightly fitted that, windows all up, you have to give the door a firm little slam to overcome the air compression. This is the six month update prompted by Edmunds. No news is good news. Turned it over to my daughter and she's been driving it around Seattle, and out for a couple camping trips on back roads. Zero problems. One year prompted update. Still zero problems at 7000 miles so upgraded reliability to five stars. Update after 30 months. My daughter and her boyfriend packed up all their stuff ( to the roof) for a school year teaching assignment and then drove the Spark from Seattle to Alabama in the heat of late August. No problems. Update after 40+ months. Back from Alabama to Oregon after side trips to North Carolina and Louisiana. Purring right along, still zero problems. Update after 51/2 years, about 60 k miles. Now belongs to my daughter. New tires and battery but still no repairs.
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Great car.
Glen Cafferty, Ridgefield, WA, 01/03/2018
Chevrolet Spark LS 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Seats won't fold completely flat so cargo space not as useful as it could be. Lumber limit to close hatch, 8ft long 20" wide 4" high, more with overhang out door. Some difficulty getting legs out from under steering wheel.
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