
Very small cars were a trend a few years ago, but cheap gas and more fuel-efficient SUVs have left many of the tiniest cars gasping for sales.
The Fiat 500 is now in its eighth model year, and shows it.
The little Italian three-door hatchback is as stylish as ever, but its awkward driving position and lack of refinement are starting to show, plus it’s really only usable for two adults.
The Mini Cooper, now in three-door and five-door form, is larger than the littlest Chevy, and considerably more chic, but it’s also pricier.
The two-seat Smart ForTwo is one of the few cars on the market smaller than the Chevy Spark, but it has only two seats—against the four usable seats in the Spark.
The closest minicar competitor is the Mitsubishi Mirage, and we have no hesitation in saying the Spark is a better car than the slow, dumpy, primitive Mirage.
But the Spark’s closest competition within Chevy dealers may be the brand’s larger subcompact Sonic hatchback.
It too holds four people, benefits from a recent freshening, and is simpler a bit larger and more substantial against the almost toy-like Spark.
Neither is selling particularly well, so it may be possible to get a Sonic for almost Spark money.
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Quick Specs | |||||
The 2018 Chevrolet Spark is a better minicar than competitors, but a larger subcompact or compact simply offers more—at a price that’s likely close. |
The 2018 Chevrolet Sonic remains a good choice among subcompacts, though it’s now aging and losing some luster. |
The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is the most minimal four-seat car you can buy; with small cars lagging in sales, you can do better for little more money. |
The 2018 Mini Cooper is an icon made better by nimble handling and infinite customization. |
The 2018 Smart ForTwo, now sold only as an electric vehicle, remains the easiest car in the U.S. to park on crowded streets—and low battery range will keep it mostly urban anyway. |
The 2018 Fiat 500 packs more punch this year, but it’s still a statement of style over some substance. |
MSRP From | |||||
$13,050 | $15,295 | $13,395 | $21,600 | $23,800 | $16,245 |
Gas Mileage | |||||
29 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 33 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | Coming Soon MPG City / Coming Soon MPG Hwy | 28 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy |
Engine | |||||
Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Regular Unleaded I-3 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3 | Electric | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 |
EPA Class | |||||
Subcompact Car | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Subcompact Cars | Two Seaters | Minicompact Cars |
Style Name | |||||
4-Door HB Manual LS | 4-Door Sedan Manual LS | ES Manual | Oxford Edition FWD | pure coupe | Pop Hatch |
Drivetrain | |||||
Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | |||||
4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Passenger Doors | |||||
4 | 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | |||||
Hatchback | Sedan | Hatchback | Hatchback | Coupe | Hatchback |
Transmission | |||||
Manual | Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Automatic | Manual w/OD |
Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
2018 Chevrolet Spark vs. 2018 Chevrolet Sonic | 2018 Chevrolet Spark vs. 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage | 2018 Chevrolet Spark vs. 2018 MINI Cooper | 2018 Chevrolet Spark vs. 2018 smart fortwo | 2018 Chevrolet Spark vs. 2018 FIAT 500 |