2016 Chevy Spark: Everything You Need to Know – Miami Lakes Automall Chevrolet
The covers finally came off the 2016 Chevy Spark at the recent New York International Auto Show, and customers shopping at Chevy dealers in Miami have a lot to look forward to later this year. The 2016 Chevy Spark has been redesigned so it looks more stylish and sophisticated, and it will receive some mechanical updates for improved performance and safety.
It’s going to be a great year to shop Chevy dealers in Miami. Here’s everything we know so far about what the 2016 Chevy Spark has in store:
Updated Design
The 2015 Spark was dogged by complaints about its unique look. The previous model was marked by distinctive lines and angles, creating a cartoonish or toyish look. While some people loved the look, it wasn’t for everyone.
The new Spark gets a makeover for a more refined look that will appeal to a larger audience. The lines are smoothed over, and some exterior elements are updated. For example, the headlights are toned down so that they don’t dominate the front end. Instead, more sedate horizontal headlights flank a split grille for a more grownup look. The tail lights wrap around the side.
The height has been lowered by 1.6 inches, improving the aerodynamics (and fuel efficiency) of the car, and the wheelbase has been expanded. The new Spark also comes in three additional colors: Toasted Marshmallow, Kalamata, and Splash.
Overall, the 2016 Chevy Spark has a more determined and more stylish look.
The interior has received many updates, as well. The gorgeous dash has a 7-inch color touch screen right in the center, which drivers can use to control the MyLink system. OnStar and built-in wifi are available as options.
Leather interior is standard, while some models get body color interior trim and others get a more toned down black or silver.
Since the Spark is a smaller car, the interior doesn’t offer a ton of leg room. However, the new design tries to compensate with more headroom and a deep cargo well. Drivers and passengers alike will have a comfortable ride, but you won’t be able to fill the Spark with too many passengers or too much gear.
Technological and Mechanical Upgrades
The 2016 Chevy Spark didn’t just receive an exterior makeover — it also received upgrades under the hood and throughout the vehicle. Everything from fuel efficiency to safety was improved.
The new Spark will be powered by a 1.4-liter Inline 4 Ecotec engine that puts out 98 horsepower. The previous engine was a 1.2-liter Inline 4 that put out only 84 horsepower.
While you won’t be able to tumble over mountains in your Spark, you will be able to enjoy a smooth ride and exceptional fuel efficiency. The new Spark is expected to get 40 mpg on the highway, which is in part to the upgraded engine and in part to some other design changes.
Aluminum is used for the new engine head and block, and the manifold has been incorporated into the cylinder head. All of these changes reduce the weight of the engine and the car, which improves fuel efficiency and handling. After dropping weight, the car will feel a lot lighter on its wheels, making for a zippier ride.
The new Spark will come with either a manual or continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission. The current model comes with only a five-speed manual transmission.
The 2016 Chevy Spark has also received a number of safety improvements. Ten airbags are included (up from the previous six), and a backup camera now comes standard. You will be able to add optional safety features like a lane departure warning system, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision alert. These are especially useful when driving a small car like a Spark, since other drivers can either overlook or try to bully you on the road.
Comparison Models
The 2016 Chevy Spark has some advantages over the competition. It has a more sophisticated design than the 2016 Fiat 500 (which retains a cartoonish look), and it offers more seating room than the Toyota Scion iQ (a 3+1 seater, compared to the full four seats of the Spark).
The new Chevy Spark crushes the 2016 Ford Fiesta for safety. While the Spark has nearly a dozen airbags, a standard backup camera and a host of optional safety features, the Ford Fiesta will come with a backup camera and maybe rear parking sensors as standard equipment.
The Spark won’t get as much power as the Ford Fiesta or the Nissan Versa Note, but it will provide the same fuel efficiency and smoother handling. It will also deliver more horsepower than the Scion iQ and the Fiat 500.
The exterior styling on the 2016 Spark is similar to the Nissan Versa Note and the Ford Fiesta, but the interior design is much more sophisticated. The Ford Fiesta also does some quirky things in the interior, like contrasting seat colors, which may be too much for some tastes. The Chevy Spark offers a more crowd-pleasing design.
The new Spark will sell between $13,095 and $17,350, depending on trim packages and optional features. The 2015 model started at an MSRP of $12,270. The new Spark comes in less than the Scion iQ (priced about $16,000), the Versa Note (priced between $14,180 and $18,750), and the Ford Fiesta (priced between $14,000 and $18,500).
Overall, the 2016 Chevy Spark offers more than its competitors in terms of design, performance and pricing. If you are looking for a dependable yet eco-friendly vehicle, the 2016 Chevy Spark is the right choice. You don’t need a big package to get big performance. Great things come in small packages.
The 2016 Chevy Spark isn’t expected to go on sale until later this year, but you don’t have to wait that long to start shopping. Visit Miami Lakes Chevrolet, one of the top Chevy dealers in Miami, to take a test drive of the 2015 Chevy Spark to get a feel for the line. We can take your name to put you on a list to call when we get our first shipment of the new Spark. You’ll be able to be one of the first to test drive and buy this exciting new model. Come visit us today!
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