2017 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2017 Chevrolet Spark vs Volkswagen Beetle

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,409/ year to fuel
33 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2017 Chevrolet Spark is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,409 a year to fuel (33 MPG), versus $1,661 for the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle (28 MPG). That's roughly $252 a year, or about $1,258 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Chevrolet Spark
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Side by side

Chevrolet SparkVolkswagen Beetle
$1,409 Your annual fuel cost $1,661
33 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
30 MPG City 24 MPG
38 MPG Highway 33 MPG
86 cu ft Passenger volume 81 cu ft
11 cu ft Cargo volume 7 cu ft
268 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 322 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.4L 4-cyl Engine / motor 1.8L 4-cyl turbo
CVT Transmission 6-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Chevrolet Spark vs Volkswagen Beetle across model years

  • Chevrolet Spark
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Chevrolet Spark has more passenger space (86 vs. 81 cu ft); the Chevrolet Spark has more cargo space (11 vs. 7 cu ft).

Among 43 2017 subcompact cars, the Chevrolet Spark ranks 6th and the Volkswagen Beetle 8th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Chevrolet Spark or the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle?

Measured by cost to drive, the Chevrolet Spark. The Chevrolet Spark is rated 33 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Beetle 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Chevrolet Spark vs. the Volkswagen Beetle per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,409 for the Chevrolet Spark and $1,661 for the Volkswagen Beetle.

Which has more cargo space?

The Chevrolet Spark, with 11 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Spark vs Volkswagen Beetle in other years

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