New for 2017: Meet the Chevy Spark Activ

Chevy’s smallest offering is getting a rugged update for 2017. Meet, the Spark ACTIV—the littlest crossover SUV you’ve ever seen.

“But wait! This looks like a Chevy Spark with black plastic cladding!” You’re not totally wrong there. The new car isn’t actually new, in that it’s essentially still a Chevy Spark. It does ride higher than the normal car by almost half an inch. Moreover, it comes equipped with roof-racks, which are indeed useful for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Fitting a mountain bike inside the Spark is not exactly easy.

Aside from those two functional changes, the Spark Activ is mostly about the look. Contrasting rocker moldings set it apart from the regular Spark and most other sub-compact cars. Chevy says the new front and rear fascias are “influenced by off-road skid plates.” Will actual skid plates ever be available? Your guess is as good as mine. (Probably not.)

Just from the images, though, the Spark Activ does do well at separating itself from the samey styling that afflicts city cars across manufacturers. Sure, it may not actually be equipped to handle much more than a gravel road, but the Spark was never supposed to be that. The extra ride height, as slight as it may be, will make steep driveways, speed bumps, and rough roads that much easier to handle without sacrificing the Spark’s excellent street parkability. In a word, it is more convenient.

Aside from the exterior changes, there’s not a lot to report. It’ll have the same 1.4L 4-cylinder with either a manual or cvt transmission. On average, it’ll get 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Of course, this is without strapping a snowboard on top and ruining the thing’s aerodynamics. Even then, the Spark will remain a gas-sipper. MSRP for the manual transmission car starts fifty-bucks shy of $17,000, whereas the CVT begins at $18,045.

Besides, real off-road enthusiasts actually have something to get excited about now. The Chevy Colorado ZH2 is a real alternative to the Ford Raptor and the Ram Rebel TRX. The Spark Activ is a lot less in your face, and for a whole lot of people, it is by far the more sensible option.

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