2017 Chevrolet Spark ACTIV: America's Tiniest Crossover
Chevrolet probably isn’t expecting customers to take their Spark ACTIVs down a fire road or out for a day of rock crawling. However, it is leveraging the outdoorsy concept to say the ACTIV will somehow be better at those things than a standard Spark to encourage sales and rationalize a higher price tag.
America’s love-affair with crossovers is bigger than ever and General Motors is hoping there’s room for this extra-small entry into the very popular segment.
The ACTIV gives off the illusion that you can take the Spark out of the city and into the country with “trail-inspired accents.”
General Motors has modified the appearance of the standard itty-bitty Spark to give it a bit of sport utility flair. It gets unique front and rear fascias with accents influenced by off-road skid plates, dark plastic wheelhouse moldings, new rocker panels, 15-inch alloy wheels, and fog lamps.
The ACTIV has been raised four tenths of an inch and comes with roof rails for securing your mountain bike, camping supplies, or hang glider — depending on how ACTIV you want your Instagram to be.
Chevrolet also set the little crossover up with a leather steering wheel and heated leatherette front seats.
For $16,945, General Motors will sell you a manual transmission ACTIV with a with 7-inch infotainment system, backup camera, steering controls, and a few other things the Spark LS lacks. If you don’t want a clutch, the Spark CUV with a CVT is $18,045.
That might sound like a lot compared to the $13,535 MSRP of the base LS but, at that price, you’re missing out on all the previously mentioned goodies and important things like cruise control. A similarly equipped 2LT is roughly the same, if not slightly more expensive than the ACTIV.
Chevrolet estimates the 1.4-liter Ecotec engine with the CVT is capable of 30 miles to the gallon in the city and 37 on the highway. The manual is almost as good at 29 city/37 highway.
While Chevy’s intent here was clearly to capitalize on the sales success of crossover vehicles and make the Spark look more woodsy, it might’ve actually made a superior city car by accident. Black molding scratches better than paint and that 0.4 inches may be just enough to help your subcompact crawl over a low curb.
General Motors says the Spark ACTIV will be show up on dealer lots in the first quarter of 2017.
[Images: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I gotta give the beancounters @ GM credit for making a few changes on the Spark and shazam, suddenly it's a cross-thingy. There wasn't any need to add AWD or even huge wheels too. Even though Juke comes with AWD the Spark is a lot cheaper than the Juke too.
I really dig this car...this is perfect for my commute.