2013 Chevrolet Spark LS

The Spark is Chevrolet's smallest car, a four-seat hatchback built for city life and easy parking. It's nimble and quick to steer, making tight turns and parallel parking a breeze, though it's not quick in a straight line. Inside, you get more headroom than the tiny footprint suggests, plus a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for flexibility. Owners report low maintenance costs and good dependability with regular oil changes, but some have had engine and speaker issues. The LS is the base Spark, so you skip the 1LT's nicer trim and audio upgrades but save a few hundred dollars. Its 1.2L I4 makes 85 horsepower and 82 lb-ft of torque, routed through a four-speed automatic to the front wheels, which is enough for city errands but not for merging onto a fast highway. Fuel economy is the LS's strong point: 32 mpg combined keeps running costs low, and the hatchback's 31.2 cubic feet of cargo space of cargo space with the rear seats folded is handy for a car this small.