Chevrolet Spark EV 21 kWh

Overview

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV 21 kWh was a pint-sized electric warrior, a discontinued city slicker designed for zipping through urban jungles. Primarily offered in select US states and South Korea, it carved a niche as an early affordable EV. Its party trick? A surprising wallop of instant torque making it feel much quicker than its small stature suggested. While never officially gracing European showrooms, meaning new or used EU pricing isn't available, it offered a glimpse into early mainstream EV potential for daily duties, packing a 20 kWh usable battery for city hops.

What's New for 2014?

For its second and final model year, the 2014 Spark EV 21 kWh received a crucial upgrade: DC fast charging capability became standard kit! This meant every Spark EV rolling off the South Korean production line now sported a CCS Type 1 port, a big win for drivers needing quicker top-ups. This was previously optional, so a welcome enhancement. Beyond this, the 2014 model largely continued the surprisingly punchy and compact electric formula established in its debut year, keeping its focus on efficient urban mobility with a cheeky grin.

Design & Exterior

This little electric runabout rocks a compact hatchback design, perfect for squeezing into tight city spots. For the EV version, Chevy tweaked the styling with a unique, closed-off grille for better aero and distinct alloy wheels, giving it a slightly more futuristic vibe than its petrol sibling. It’s a dinky machine, measuring just 3721 mm long, 1626 mm wide (excluding mirrors), and 1590 mm tall. While not a head-turner in the exotic sense, its functional and slightly quirky looks shout 'eco-friendly city transport' with a bit of American EV flair.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the 2014 Spark EV 21 kWh is surprisingly modern for its age, boasting a funky digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch Chevrolet MyLink touchscreen infotainment system – pretty trick back then! It seats four, though rear legroom is best for kids or short trips. Material quality is on the budget-friendly side, but it feels solidly put together. You get a decent 273 litres of boot space, expanding to 663 litres with the rear seats tumbled. Sadly, there's no frunk for your charging cables, but overall, it’s a practical and techy little cabin.

Performance & Driving Experience

Don't let its size fool you; the Spark EV is a proper pocket rocket! Thanks to its PMSM electric motor churning out 105 kW and a whopping 542 Nm of torque – yes, 542! – to the front wheels, it zips from 0 to 100 km/h in a lively 7.8 seconds. That instant shove makes it hilariously quick off the line, perfect for darting through city traffic. The ride is firm but generally composed for urban duties. It features effective regenerative braking to help recoup energy, making one-pedal driving quite intuitive once you’re used to it.

Range, Battery & Charging

The Spark EV 21 kWh packs a 20 kWh (usable) battery, delivering a Green Cars Compare estimated real-world range of around 125 km – decent for city commutes. It’s pretty efficient too, sipping energy at about 6.25 km/kWh. For home top-ups, the standard 3.3 kW on-board AC charger will fill it in roughly 6-7 hours. Need juice faster? It supports DC fast charging up to 50 kW via its 400V system, hitting 80% in about 20 minutes. Its charge port is a CCS Type 1, commonly found in the US market, not the CCS Type 2 standard in Europe.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

For a small car of its era, the Spark EV came with a decent roster of standard safety kit, including ten airbags, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes. However, advanced driver-assistance systems like adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assist weren't on the menu for this little trailblazer. The EV version wasn't specifically crash-tested by Euro NCAP, as it was primarily a US and Korean market model. The standard petrol Spark received four stars back in 2009, but direct comparison is tricky. Rear park assist was available on some trims.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

While not sold in Europe, typical warranties for the Spark EV in its primary markets included a basic vehicle coverage around 3 years/58,000 km. Crucially, its 21 kWh battery often came with an 8-year/160,000 km warranty against defects, providing peace of mind. The electric drive unit was usually covered for about 5 years/160,000 km. Being an EV, maintenance is generally simpler and cheaper than a petrol car – no oil changes here! The A123 Systems battery cells were known for their durability, contributing to the car's reputation as a reliable early EV.