Chevy Loses Its Spark, Snuffing Out Cheapest Car This Summer

The 2022 Chevy Spark will cease production at the end of August this year, according to a company spokesperson. The Spark is, on paper, the cheapest new car on sale in America today, priced at $14,595 . 

CarsDirect reports Chevy spokesperson Kevin Kelly confirmed production of the 2022 Chevy Spark will stop at the end of August 2022 with no immediate replacement. The Spark has been on sale in its current form since 2013, with a refresh in 2016. 

The base-model Spark LS trim is not just one of the most affordable new cars to buy today, it also comes equipped with an increasingly-rare manual transmission. Its fuel economy is also solid, expecting 29 MPG city and 38 MPG highway. It features 10 airbags and a backup camera as standard, and Chevy has gone out of its way to make it a little more fun by offering 10 different exterior paint options. 

An end to production at the end of summer 2022 doesn't necessarily mean the car will disappear immediately. The Spark will be "phased out," with plenty of inventory and order books still available at local dealerships across the country for some time to come. 

But with the Spark a dead car walking, its next-most-affordable model available for 2022 represents quite a significant price jump. The base-model 2022 Chevy Trax LS trim starts at $22,595 ( inclduding the $1,195 destination fee ), which is $8,000 more compared to the base Spark LS. 

Beyond GM, the 2022 Nissan Versa and 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage still offer sub-$20,000 car packages, starting at $16,055 and $16,125 (including fees) respectively.