What years did they make the Chevy Sprint?
The Chevy Sprint was produced from 1985 to 1988 in Canada.
In Canada, GM offered the Sprint as a badge-engineered version of the Suzuki Cultus (known in other markets as the Suzuki Swift), as part of a broader 1980s strategy to regionalize small-car brands and leverage partnerships to expand subcompact options.
Origins and market context
To understand its production years, it helps to know how the Sprint fit into GM’s Canadian lineup during the mid-1980s. The model was introduced as a joint efforts badge in Canada, sharing its underpinnings with Suzuki’s Cultus family and aimed at buyers seeking affordable, compact transportation.
Before the following list, note the core timeline and attributes of the Sprint during its brief run.
- 1985: Chevrolet Sprint debuts in Canada as a Suzuki Cultus-based hatchback, marking GM’s Canadian badge-engineering approach.
- 1986: Continued sales with trim and feature updates typical of mid-1980s subcompacts; engines remained small-displacement, efficient powertrains.
- 1987: Model year updates refine interior and equipment levels; powertrains generally include a 1.0-liter three-cylinder and a 1.3-liter four-cylinder option.
- 1988: Last model year for the Sprint badge in Canada as GM shifted subcompact branding and product strategy.
Key production years and context for the Chevrolet Sprint in Canada:
These years reflect the Sprint’s four-year presence in the Canadian market, a period during which GM explored regional branding tied to Suzuki-origin platforms.
Design, specs, and regional nuances
Platform and powertrains
Under the hood, the Sprint shared Suzuki Cultus architecture, typically offering a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine or a 1.3-liter four-cylinder, paired with manual or automatic transmissions depending on trim and year. The car emphasized economy and compact dimensions suitable for urban driving.
Body style and features
As a subcompact hatchback, the Sprint emphasized practicality with a compact footprint, modest interior room, and lightweight construction. Trim levels varied by year and market, but most Canadian Sprint models focused on straightforward, value-oriented equipment common to mid-1980s small cars.
Legacy and current status
Today, the Chevrolet Sprint is remembered as a brief but illustrative example of GM’s badge-engineering strategy in Canada during the 1980s. Surviving examples are relatively rare, and parts compatibility often leans on Suzuki Cultus/Swift interchangeability.
Summary
The Chevrolet Sprint existed for a four-year window in Canada, from 1985 through 1988, as a badge-engineered Suzuki Cultus hatchback. Its short tenure highlights a specific era of GM’s regional branding and collaboration with Suzuki to offer affordable subcompact options.
When was Chevy Sprint made?
1985
1985 – GM began marketing in North America as the Chevrolet Sprint. The car is also sold as Suzuki Forsa and Pontiac Firefly in Canada. The Chevrolet Sprint was sold only in the Western United States until 1986. 1986 – Chevrolet Sprint began nationwide sales in the US.
How many miles per gallon does a 1987 Chevy Sprint get?
That would have been the basic Sprint, which carried an 36/43 EPA (adjusted) sticker, or the ER version, with a 44/51 rating. That was 58 mpg, under the old EPA formula, if I remember correctly.
What engine is in a Chevy Sprint?
Interesting one liter 3-cylinder motor the Suzuki. G10T is a fuel injected turbocharged. With an intercooler 3-cylinder motor making 70 horsepower hey we get 79 pound- feet of torque.
What year was the GMC Sprint made?
| GMC Sprint / Caballero | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GMC (automobile) |
| Model years | 1971–1977 (GMC Sprint) 1978–1987 (GMC Caballero) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Coupé utility pickup |
