2016 Chevrolet Spark at $9995 = Canada's cheapest new car

[MetroMPG]

GM is getting SERIOUS in the entry level segment... at least in Canada. The new Spark has just joined the sub-$10k price war.

Ever since the $9998 Nissan Micra arrived here in 2014, things have been interesting. Mitsubishi immediately slapped a perpetual $2500 manufacturer discount on the base Mirage to bring its starting price down to the same number.

GM has joined the fight, undercutting the other two by $3.

Chevrolet announced at the Montreal International Auto Show that the all-new 2016 Spark will start at just $9,995 plus freight – the lowest MSRP of any car in Canada, all while being packed with standard features.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/ca/en/gm/n...114_Spark.html

Before this announcement, you would be forgiven for wondering why GM even bothered with Canada's subcompact segment. The car has never sold well here (about half as much as the Mirage), whereas in the U.S., the Spark has sold quite well (more than double the Mirage's U.S. sales).

And this isn't just fresh lipstick on an old pig, either. The Spark's $9995 starting price comes attached to a completely redesigned car with a bunch of features that Nissan & Mitsubishi don't have, like

• 10 airbags
• reverse camera
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• in-car capable Wi-Fi hotspot via OnStar
• 6-way adjustable driver's seat

Of course there's one big difference in Canada: these base models don't come with air conditioning. I doubt that would go over very well south of the border.

And it appears you can't add A/C to the base trim, meaning there's a really big price jump to get it (just like Micra & Mirage). You end up paying for a bunch of extra options just to get A/C. So the big question is: how much for a Spark with automatic & A/C? Because that's what most people will buy.

The gloves are definitely off in Canada -- this is pretty interesting.

Would you consider one of these cars for $10k??

[MetroMPG]

Here's our $9998 Micra:



The Micra even has its own spec race series in Quebec/Ontario:



And the $10k Mirage (not mine) beside my Firefly.



Some people mod them p too, though not as much power as the Micra (74 vs. 109 hp). But the Micra weighs ~400 lbs more.

[northguest47]

nice thread MetroMPG! Well written and detailed- are you an industry journalist? I would consider the Spark at that price range.. thats what I paid for my swift+ when I bought it in Southern Ontario. For some reason amongst supercars and motorcycles and whatnot I still like to keep up with the consumer sub-compact cars too. Haven't test driven any of these yet..

[MetroMPG]

Not a journalist... but I play one on TV.

I also love following the entry level of the market as much as the fancy stuff. I have driven both the Mirage & Micra, but not the Spark.

Since posting this, I've read that the new Spark is actually pretty decent to drive. So now I'm curious to give it a try as well.

[06T200]

Drove a spark when we bought the Sonic, they feel like an Aveo (inside) with less zip and more modern trim. Down here retired folks mostly buy them to tow behind the RV and just save some dough, great little cars for the money IMO.

[MetroMPG]

^ was the Spark you drove the new design, or the old one with the cartoon headlights?

[MetroMPG]

This is funny: Nissan has responded to the $9995 MSRP Spark by chopping ten dollars off the price of the base Micra, which now makes it $9988. So they get to keep the title of "cheapest car in Canada".

I've seen a few more reviews of the new Spark, the base ($10k) version, and they have been pretty positive:

- nicer interior than Mirage or Micra
- more refined drive (quieter -- more sound insulation?)
- better tech options
- more safety equipment (airbags)

Basically the new reviews are saying: get the Spark if you want refinement & tech, Micra if you want more verve (more power, handles better). Nobody has mentioned the Mirage -- it gets little love from car reviewers.

[PoisonIvy]

If you're looking at buying a base base car here in Canada, you should also consider the Hyundai Accent L. Comes in at $10,995 INCLUDING freight and it looks like you can even finance it at 1.9% for up to 84 months. Pretty crazy if you're looking for cheap reliable transportation. I can handle no a/c 'most' of the time, but good luck selling that to my wife.

[MetroMPG]

Wow - are they advertising that deal? How'd you find it? I haven't seen it anywhere.

It was actually Hyundai that started the $10k trend about 10 years ago. They were selling $10k Accents like crazy back then. I still see them driving around (2-doors with manual trans and no A/C).

[PoisonIvy]

They've had it for a while now. If you handle a car with few creature comforts, it makes sense at that price to consider going new. Promotions | Hyundai