2013 Chevy Spark USA

Exterior Not as cute as a Smart for two or Fiat 500, but it grows on you.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Lots of features, but one thing it could use is an auto dimming rearview mirror.  Interior is large, spacious and comfortable for such a small car.  Great back seat room too, and lots of cargo space.  The Smart and Fiat don't come close.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox I average around 35mpg in combined driving situations, and have gotten as much or better than 50 mpg in highway driving situations where there was no heavy traffic, such as late night runs I did just for fun to see what I could get as a pure highway average. I love the 5 speed manual. It shifts like butter, and the engine is strong, pulling real good, but not ruckorous or noisey. This car looks like it could go 100s of thousands of miles with the proper use and maintainance.

Ride Quality & Handling Ride is good.  Not punishing or harsh.  Good over most road surfaces, and surprisingly supple when it would not be expected to be so.  Look out for big pot holes, but that goes without saying with any car.  Handling is good:  It is just a plain zippy and fun car to drive.

Final Words Here in the USA this is about the least expensive car you can get.  Even the Smart for two is more expensive and much less car.  Even though it is the least expensive car, I would say that for most people they just don't need more car, that is, ofcourse, if they are truly being rational.  Yet, even if you are the rational type and reason that you really do not need more car, except for some truly exotics which are very fast, you are hardly giving up much with this car:  It is comfortable enough; roomy enough, and most of all, it is a highly drivable, and fun to drive car.

Areas of improvement Wish it had an auto dimming rearview mirror. Maybe a 6 speed manual might be more desirable than a 5 speed so that it might get even better highway mileage. Yet it gets pretty good mileage on the highway anyway, even at 65 to 70 mph. Oh, yeah, one more adjustment parameter on the driver's seat would be nice, a lumbar support adjustment. But, hey, I am almost 60 years old, so it might not be the wish of everyone.

mpg, 5sp-trans, room, ride, features, driver's seat, moreLack of auto dimming rv-mirror, all things considered, not much else.