We Drove a 2015 Chevrolet Spark Halfway Across The Country

I've long had a soft spot for the Chevrolet Spark. When I reviewed the 2013 Spark 2LT  over 11 years ago I said, "... it’s an impressive inexpensive car with lots of personality. In fact, I’m quite smitten with the Spark." A couple years later, my mother-in-law purchased a 2015 Spark LS, aka Sparky. Things have changed since then and she no longer needs it. So, we recently drove it back from Wisconsin to our home in Oregon, some 2,170 miles, and will sell it. So what's it like to drive an A-segment car halfway across the U.S.?

To Be Discontinued: Chevrolet Spark

 

In what can only be described as "completely unsurprising," the subcompact Chevrolet Spark will be discontinued. There had been reports out of Korea that GM Korea was going to halt production months ago, but Chevrolet's U.S. representatives would not confirm its discontinuation for the North American market at that time. Well, now it's official. 

Three Small Sleeper Projects

Twin-turbo LS-powered Geo Tracker. Photo via EngineSwapDepot.com

If you’re a gearhead, you no doubt know what a sleeper is. If you’re unfamiliar, a sleeper is a vehicle that may not look like much, but it’s actually a high-performance vehicle in a dowdy package. Think wolf in sheep’s clothing. Think high horsepower with hubcaps. Not all sleepers need to look super boring; they can simply be a platform that’s not generally associated with performance that is a surprising performer.

Are Automakers Abandoning the B-Segment?

2018 Chevrolet Sonic

For the last few months, gas prices have been fairly low, certainly under $3 a gallon in most places. And when fuel prices are down and the economy is up, people often forego the small cars and opt for trucks, SUVs, and big sedans. We get it: You’ve got money in your pocket and are willing to spend.

But keep in mind, it wasn’t that long ago that fuel prices were over $4 a gallon, the economy was climbing out of the ooze, and people were buying small cars. They were better on fuel, cheaper to purchase, and less expensive to operate. But American car buyers have short memories and auto manufacturers would much rather reap the big profits of big cars and trucks. I get it -- it’s a business. I also understand that large cars and trucks are a status symbol. No one looks at you like a baller in a Mitsubishi Mirage. Ask me how I know. Ask me if I care.

Yes, You Can Still Have a Small Car With a Family

By Scott Huntington

Can you name the truck with four-wheel drive, smells like a steak and seats thirty-five? If you’re not a “Simpsons” fan or you somehow missed this episode, check this out.

The long-running animated series may have lost a step in recent years, but “The Simpsons” was never more on-point than it was with the satirical SUV archetype. Even in the 1990s, this is what it took for people to ask the question: “Does a typical family really need a seven-seat SUV?”

Review: 2018 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch Diesel

2018 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Hatch.

Words by Andy Lilienthal. Photos by Mercedes Lilienthal.

Let's just get all this out on the table. Volkswagen was the king of diesel cars in the U.S. until this whole dieselgate thing happened. As you're likely well aware, VW was caught cheating on emissions testing in late 2015 and the whole thing resulted in a global scandal. At this moment, VW no longer offers its formerly popular TDI-powered cars in North America.

Review: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt LT

When you think about electric cars, what’s first to come to mind? Range anxiety? A steep price tag? A vehicle not worthy to take on long road trips? What if I tell you that the new Chevy Bolt EV scoffs at those issues? At 238 miles of range and starting at $36,620 ($41,885 fully loaded) the Bolt may make you think twice before giving up the electric vehicle idea. Keep in mind you may also gain up to $7,500 worth of federal tax credit too.

The New and Refreshed Small Cars from the LA Auto Show

Our friend, Sean Murphy, attended the LA Auto Show and photographed some updated models from the event. Here are some quick takes:

By Sean Murphy

The Chevrolet Spark ACTIV is Ready to Crossover

North America is in love with the crossover, or at least the idea of a crossover. Ideally, they're more rugged than a wagon, less truck-like than an SUV. And as we've seen, compact crossovers are selling like hotcakes. Small, slightly lifted hotcakes with additional plastic body cladding.

Now Chevy has decided to try something a bit different: A "trail-inspired" version of its front-wheel-drive subcompact Spark, which will be called the Spark ACTIV. The Spark already sells surprisingly well for a subcompact, so maybe a butched-up version will sell even better?

2017 Chevrolet Spark Looks Good in Mint

I just logged onto Chevrolet's website to see if there was any info about the 2017 Spark, and low and behold there is. I didn't notice any ground-breaking new tech or features; the car is in its second model year in this style. However, I was immediately drawn to this color.

Chevy calls this color "Mint," and frankly, it looks really good on this car. There aren't many cars that get away with such an odd color. Call it sea foam, call it call it pale green/blue, I call it great. I know the Fiat 500 comes in a similar color called Latte Menta (Lightest Green), and it works on that little retro runabout, too.

We still haven't driven a new Spark, but still want to. Regardless, I'm glad to see some smaller cars offering interesting color choices.

Do you like the color? Sound off in the comments.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt: 200 Mile Range, Under $30K, All in a Small Package

By Mercedes Lilienthal

General Motors formally unveiled details about the new all-electric Chevrolet Bolt last week. This four-door EV will deliver an impressive 200 mile range for a price tag of under $30,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Wait, what? That many miles for that little dough? To get that many miles on a single charge, you’d have to buy a Tesla Models S 70, which would run you nearly twice that price. Finally, an EV with more than 90 miles of range for the masses. GM hopes many people will see it, realize it, like it, and buy it. With its practicality and comfortable nature, GM is betting on success.

Domino's to use Chevrolet Spark as Pizza Food Delivery Method

The Domino's DXP will be based on the Chevrolet Spark and have the ability to carry up to 80 discs of pizza food plus something called '"salad."

Domino's, the chain of take-out and delivery providers known for something called "pizza" or pizza food, is going small with their vehicles. Domino's is apparently coming out with cars made specifically for delivering pizza food to its clients, who will consume the pizza food and eventually jettison it from their bodies in the form of solid waste.

Based on the Chevrolet Spark, the DXP, or Delivery Expert, will be equipped with an illuminated oven to keep pizzas warm when out for delivery. Apparently, drivers can get two insulated pizza food bags in there for safe keeping while out for delivery. The car's interior will feature easily cleanable surfaces, in case of a pizza food malfunction. The cars will be capable of holding a total of 80 round pizza-food consumables for functions at places such as schools, businesses, temples, ski resorts, campsites, research facilities, zoos, and roller discos. According to the official press release, the cars can also transport something called "salad," and two-liter bottles of soda. Sounds delicious!

The vehicle will have details including custom puddle lights that project the company's logo, hubcaps with the company's logo, a front fascia with the company's logo, and a custom graphics scheme with the company's logo.

The design and production of the Domino's DXP took over three years. It started with a five-stage crowdsourcing competition hosted by Local Motors, the company that builds the bad-ass Rally Fighter, on the company's open innovation platform called Open IO. The contest, called the Domino's Ultimate Delivery Vehicle Challenge, fielded 385 entries from designers around the world.

Domino's is working with Roush Enterprises to convert and deliver 100 DXPs to 25 markets across the U.S., including major rollouts in Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, San Diego and Seattle over the next 90 days. Domino's has contracted with Chevrolet dealers in the cities where DXP vehicles are being launched to deal with the nuances of the DXP, from ovens to accessories. These dealers will also partner with franchisees to hold local launch events to introduce the DXP in select markets.

We applaud Domino's for using the Spark, which is one of our favorite low-cost subcompacts. We also applaud them for their innovative way to deliver pizza food and salad to the masses.

Small Cars, Big Prices: Why is the Subcompact Crossover Market So Hot and Why are They so Expensive?

By Michael Rentfro

Let me remind you all that I live smack dab in the middle of Heartland USA. There are no mountains within a day’s journey, unless you count the triple-decker on-ramp that crosses the Mississippi River into Illinois. There are no beaches you can drive on without being thrown in Army Corps of Engineers jail, and there are no curvy roads of any sort, unless you count the state highway they had to build around Cletus’s farm because he “simply would not sign that there piece of paper them big city muckey mucks threatened him with.” Our roads are straight and flat, and most of our first cars are funded by walking beans, bailing hay, detasseling corn (a practice so strange to city dwellers, MS Word swears it’s misspelled!), or simply passed down from generation to generation. It’s a very simple life, but we often find ourselves behind in the times when it comes to embracing change. This is why it’s so strange to me to see countless Jeep Renegades and Chevy Traxs (exactly what is the plural of Trax?) cruising our laser-straight highways here in the heartland. Even here, the subcompact crossover market seems to be exploding.

What Compact Vehicle Would Make The Best Camper Van?

Danbury Motor Caravans' Fiat Doblo (Ram Promaster City) Conversion.

By Andy Lilienthal

Everyone knows the Volkswagen Bus/Transporter/Eurovan (with or without the iconic Westfalia pop-top conversions) are the most iconic of camper vans and compact travel vehicles. People have traveled the globe for decades in these compact vans: They're small enough to be maneuverable, big enough to sleep in. They're also unavailable new in the U.S.

North America hasn't had a proper VW Van (sorry, the Routan does not count) since 2003. Yes, we've had all sorts of other minivans from nearly every other automaker, but nothing as camper-worthy as the VW vans. (NOTE: The Ursa Minor Honda Element Ecamper would be the next best thing.) And much like the hard-to-find Eurovans (and previous Vanagons, etc.), they command quite a price, especially the rare 4WD Syncro Vanagons, which I've seen for sale here in Portland for nearly $70,000 when fully equipped. No, I did not add an extra zero.

Chevrolet to Offer Spark EV Lease Deal for $139 per Month

By Andy Lilienthal

Been thinking about getting an EV, perhaps Chevrolet's Spark EV? Well Chevy has just sweetened the pot, so long as you're in California, Maryland, or Oregon.

Chevy announced that through the end of April, it will offer the small EV for $139 a month with zero due at signing. That'll get you a Spark LT1 for 39 months. That's a pretty smokin' deal if you ask me.

The '15 Spark EV has 82 miles of range, makes 327 lbs/ft of torque, and is a hoot to drive. We've driven them on multiple occasions, and could easily live with one of these. On a side note, I love the Spark EV's rear bumper with the diffuser built in. Check our our Chevrolet Spark EV review for our impressions.

You can find more information about the lease deal on Chevrolet.com.

Review: 2015 Chevrolet Trax LTZ FWD

By Andy Lilienthal

The subcompact crossover segment is simply exploding with new entries, and one of the latest is Chevrolet’s new Trax. Based on the Chevrolet Sonic chassis, the Trax is a mechanical twin to the more upscale Buick Encore which has been selling like super-practical little hotcakes. The Trax isn’t quite as lux-oriented as its Buick cousin (it’s also not available in beige with faux hood vents), but is actually a remarkably neat little vehicle. Admittedly, after speaking to some of my fellow automotive writing cohorts, I thought the vehicle was going to be a disappointment. But it was pretty much the exact opposite.

2016 Chevrolet Spark

By Andy Lilienthal

We're big fans of the Chevrolet Spark. The car is proof that if you build a practical (e.g. four-door), well-built, modern A-segment car it will sell in the U.S. In fact, my mother-in-law just bought a 2015 Spark LS. Chevrolet isn't content to rest on its laurels with its A-segment offering; the company just announced a new-for-2016 Spark last week. Here are some details.

In The Flesh: 2016 Chevrolet Volt

By Mercedes Lilienthal

The new 2016 Chevy Volt certainly turned a lot of heads this year at the Portland Auto Show. I mean, this is hybrid and EV-crazed Portland. This 1.5-liter four-cylinder five-seater EV hybrid is now lighter, faster, and goes farther than its predecessor.

Spy Photos: 2017 Chevrolet Spark

By Andy Lilienthal

Several automotive sites turned up these pre-production photos of what is allegedly the redesigned 2017 Chevrolet Spark.

These images, apparently taken in South Korea, show a less angular but more mature looking Spark. Certainly the front fascia looks more refined and grown up. To me, some of the lines remind me of Mitsubishi or Hyundai (look up a picture of a Hyundai i10, for example). While it's not quite as aggressive looking as the current Spark, it looks pretty good—at least in these spy photos.

According to World Car Fans, the car will share a platform with the next Opel Karl/Vaxhall Viva. The Karl/Viva is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine making about 75 horsepower. Coincidentlly, this is the same engine that powers the Opel Adam and Corsa. No word on whether there will be an EV version yet. But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves; these are simply spy photos after all.

We're big fans of the current Chevrolet Spark, and hope the next generation won't lose the simplistic qualities that make the car endearing. That being said, improvements are always welcome, so long as it doesn't change the car's character. We'll keep on top of it and bring you the latest as we hear.

Small Car Shopping For Seniors

Senior citizens often have a totally different subset of criteria when it comes to car shopping. Things younger generations take for granted, such as operating the lift gate, turning on the stereo or climate control, and getting in and out of the vehicle, can be make-or-break factors for car-buying seniors. We learned this first-hand while looking at cars with my 78 year old mother-in-law, Hermine this week.