2020 Chevy Spark Review

Compact economy cars have historically been penalty boxes. They were small cars that lacked features and space. You bought one because you had to, not because you wanted to. And though the Chevy Spark with its hatchback body style is no Rolls-Royce or Mercedes-Benz competitor, it features modern infotainment capabilities, excellent maneuverability and even better fuel economy. It makes sense that the Spark features these traits since its country of origin, South Korea, has lots of tight urban environments.

Thanks to its rear-vision camera and short overhangs (the parts of the car that stick out beyond the wheels), the Spark is a cinch to parallel park and maneuver. Plus, it features GM's Chevrolet Link 3 system, which provides for standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. This tech makes up for the fact that there's no navigation or voice control, though it will pass commands directly to your phone.

But the Spark's small size has its drawbacks, too. Even against other subcompact cars, rear-seat room and cargo space are on the small side. And though the powertrain delivers good fuel economy, it's at the expense of brute force. Other players in this space — such as the Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Mirage, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit — feature varying compromises of performance, size and efficiency. But the Spark's even balance of all of these factors is worth considering. Notably, the 2020 Chevrolet Spark is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.