Chevrolet Spark

Think of the Spark as the Picanto's cousin with a slightly firmer feel. Same friendly price, same knack for slipping into parking spots that bigger cars drive right past, and the same light steering that makes a first day on Dominican roads painless. It is a five-seat runabout that shines on short trips, the kind you make a dozen times a holiday: hotel to the beach, a quick dash to Palma Real mall, picking someone up at the airport. The automatic gearbox and small footprint keep the whole thing calm in slow Bavaro traffic. We hand it over at your hotel or at PUJ with insurance included, from $18 a day. Fuel costs stay low, which leaves more in the pocket for dinner by the water.