2013 Chevrolet Spark Preview

Exterior Features

Chevrolet calls the 2013 Spark's color palette "vibrant," and says more than half of the available paint hues allow the Spark to "stand out in a crowd." Colors include Salsa, Jalapeno, Denim, Lemonade, and Techno Pink in addition to shades of white, silver, gray, and black. A set of 15-inch wheels is standard, with 16-inch aluminum wheels available on higher trim levels. The company also claims to have designed the 5-door hatchback to look like a 3-door model by hiding the rear door handles.

Interior Features

The 2013 Chevy Spark is designed to carry four passengers. Chevrolet says the Spark offers more interior and cargo space than a Fiat 500 or a Scion iQ. Behind the rear seat, the Spark provides 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the rear seat, and the car offers 31.2 cubic feet of volume. Air conditioning and power windows are standard on every 2013 Chevrolet Spark.

Optional Features

Sparks with 1LT and 2LT trim include a Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch color touch screen and Bluetooth smartphone integration with streaming audio capability, allowing owners to run Internet radio stations through the car's stereo system. Satellite radio is optional, and the Spark 2LT model is equipped with heated leatherette seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Under the Hood

The 2013 Spark weighs just 2,269 pounds in base format, according to Chevrolet. A 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine making 85 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque drives the front wheels through a standard 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain is covered by Chevrolet's 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Fuel Economy

While the new Chevy Spark is designed to be fuel-efficient, the EPA has not finalized official fuel-economy ratings as this preview is published.

Safety

Every 2013 Chevy Spark is equipped with 10 air bags, including knee air bags for the driver and front passenger as well as side-impact air bags for rear-seat occupants. An anti-lock braking system with brake assist is also standard, as well as traction and stability control.

The Spark is also equipped with an OnStar telematics system that includes a free limited-time subscription to services including Automatic Crash Notification. This feature activates if the Spark's air bags deploy, automatically contacting a 9-1-1 operator who can then check on the car's occupants and immediately send rescuers to the Spark's exact location.

As this preview is published, the Spark has not undergone crash testing.