Is the Chevrolet Spark electric or gas?
The Chevrolet Spark is primarily a gasoline-powered subcompact, though an earlier limited-run electric variant existed. In today’s market, the Spark nameplate is not centered on electric propulsion in most regions.
This article explains the Spark’s powertrain history, including the brief Spark EV chapter and the current status of the model in various regions, to answer whether the Spark is electric or gas today.
Current status: Gasoline power in most markets
The modern Chevrolet Spark you’ll find in markets where it remains available is driven by a small gasoline engine. The line emphasizes compact size, affordability, and city-friendly efficiency, all powered by internal-combustion propulsion rather than battery-electric systems. In the United States and Canada, Chevrolet has largely pulled the model from new-car availability in recent years, while some other regions have seen the Spark replaced by or transitioned to other tiny city cars as emissions rules and consumer tastes shift.
What follows is a quick overview of the gasoline Spark experience in markets where it has been sold and how it compares to its electric sibling.
Before we dive into the specifics, here are some quick facts about current Spark variants and what buyers should expect from gasoline powertrains.
- Powertrain: Gasoline engines, typically small-displacement, with options for manual or automatic transmissions.
- Size and class: Subcompact city car designed for easy city maneuvering and low running costs.
- Availability: Sold in select markets; presence varies by year and region, with reduced availability in North America.
- Fuel economy: Optimized for urban driving; actual efficiency depends on engine choice and trim level.
In summary, for most buyers today, the Spark is a gasoline-powered car rather than electric, though you should check local dealer listings for current availability in your region.
Electric heritage: The Spark EV
The Spark EV represented Chevrolet’s early exploration of a battery-electric city car. It was produced for a limited period and marketed in a small number of markets, notably parts of North America and Europe. It offered a compact footprint with an electric drive system and a battery pack designed for urban use, delivering an EPA-rated range around 80 miles on a full charge. After the model years of production, Chevrolet did not maintain a broad, ongoing Spark EV lineup, and new-Spark-EV sales are not a regular feature today.
The Spark EV remains a notable chapter in GM’s electrification journey, illustrating how automakers experimented with affordable EVs in the early 2010s even as the primary Spark lineup remained gasoline-powered in most markets.
- Production period: Limited to a few model years in the mid-2010s.
- Battery and range: Compact battery with urban-focused range around 80 miles EPA-rated.
- Market scope: Sold in select markets; not a nationwide or long-running program.
- Current status: No sustained Spark EV offering in most regions today.
Despite its brevity, the Spark EV is an important piece of Chevrolet’s electrification history, showing how automakers tested affordable electric options before broader EV adoption.
What this means for shoppers today
For most shoppers, the Spark you encounter today is gasoline-powered, with the electric variant existing only in historical memory for many markets. If you’re shopping for a used example, a Spark EV may appear in older inventories but expect limited availability and potential maintenance considerations for an aging battery. If your focus is an electric city car, you’ll likely need to explore other current Chevrolet offerings or competitors with newer EV technology. If you’re seeking a conventional gasoline Spark, confirm local availability and trim options with dealers, as the model’s presence varies by country and year.
Summary
The Chevrolet Spark is primarily a gasoline-powered subcompact, with a brief electric variant (the Spark EV) that appeared in limited markets during the early-to-mid 2010s. Today, the Spark name has faded from new-car lineups in many regions, especially in the U.S., where it is no longer sold new. The Spark EV remains a historical footnote in Chevrolet’s electrification journey and is usually encountered only as a used example from prior generations.
