Are Very Small Cars in Your Future?

Have you ever heard of the Toyota Yaris (shown), Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Aerio, Kia Reo or the Chevrolet Aveo?  These are the very small cars that their builders are bringing out to compete with the Scion.  The cars are primarily aimed at the youth market, but could see quite a bit of sales for third cars or for retirees. The Aveo is the best selling car in the segment and is coming out with a redesigned model next year.  The Aveo starts at under $10,000 but most of these dirt-cheap and fuel-efficient cars will start at about $12,000.  Most of these cars are expected to get mileage in the 30-40 mpg range, and with small 4 cylinder engines their performance will not be spectacular.

The Toyota Echo, to be replaced by the Yaris, got an overall gas mileage of 38, the Mini Cooper and the ScionXA and XB all got 30 mpg and the Aveo 28 mpg according to the April 2005 Consumer Reports.  I would hope there would be more in the upper 30's. It seems that cost, not mileage, is the main selling point.  Data is not out on several of these so maybe one will surprise me.  Hybrids and electrics seem to be the only way to go if real fuel conservation is your goal.  These cars may be making a comeback in the number of models available, but I wonder if that will turn into sufficient sales to keep them all on the market.

Reference: Small Cars Making a Big Comeback, CNN.com.AUTOS, November 9, 2005

More blogs about vehicles, cars, energy

Comments

[JesseJenkins]

I lived in Canberra, Australia for 5 months last year and these little cars are everywhere 'down undah'. Hyundai, Toyota, Daewoo, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, and even GM's local subsidiary all had plenty of these compact cars running around down there. With gas prices twice as high as they are here, it's no surprise that the cheap cost and relatively high fuel efficiency equals a succesful formula to sell a ton of ultra-compact cars.

[JN2]

Call that small? Check out the Toyota Aygo on sale in Europe. Cute, and it gets 61.9 mpg overall (UK gallons), approx 51.5 mpg US.

See:
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/toyota-aygo-range-1004599.html

Price: about $10k before tax (VAT)

[Arturo]

Funny to see how americans see this cars as exotic. They are not only japanese made, but volkswagen (polo, fox), mercedes, ford (yeah, even ford with the fiesta), peugeot (105, 106, 205, 206), renault, seat, audi, etc etc.. have been making them for years (most of them anyways), they are not been "brought out" from anywhere. Funny it is, they are cheaper, much more efficient, and they´ll pass any safety test easily. Much more rare is to see the average gas thirsty SUV in europe, even in the rest of america.
God knows why

[mickey walker]

They haven't made them economical enough yet! The Yaris, Fit and a few others are no better than my Dodge Neon or a Toyota Corolla as far as economy! They are smaller with no advantage whatsoever!

They need to bring back the Geo Metro and cars like it!

[mickey walker]

They haven't made them economical enough yet! The Yaris, Fit and a few others are no better than my Dodge Neon or a Toyota Corolla as far as economy! They are smaller with no advantage whatsoever!

They need to bring back the Geo Metro and cars like it!

[mickey walker]

When I was in Europe in '04, I rented a Fiat Punto...1235cc and 5spd. 40mpg and yes it was under powered a bit....I can deal with it and would rather have the good mpg!
Nissan has one called the Micra, Lancia has one and so does Toyota, GM, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Fiat and Ford....everything from 1.0 litre to 2.0....but will they make em or import them here? Not yet......I'd be fine with a 1.0 and 5 spd

[mickey walker]

When I was in Europe in '04, I rented a Fiat Punto...1235cc and 5spd. 40mpg and yes it was under powered a bit....I can deal with it and would rather have the good mpg!
Nissan has one called the Micra, Lancia has one and so does Toyota, GM, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, Fiat and Ford....everything from 1.0 litre to 2.0....but will they make em or import them here? Not yet......I'd be fine with a 1.0 and 5 spd

[mickey walker]

Bring back the micro cars of the past.....they worked very well!

[SAMPETROVA]

The Yaris, Fit and a few others are no better than my Dodge Neon or a Toyota Corolla as far as economy! They are smaller with no advantage whatsoever!they need to bring back the Geo Metro and cars like it!
Car News

[husky air compressor]

I'm really interested by this New toyota yaris. It's amazing.
thanks a lot!
Husky air compressor
Husky air compressor parts

[lovekr]

Have you ever heard a child having more than 18 names? He can be called by a name on the daily basis. This happens in the Tiwi societies who are the early Australian people. Names for the people are nevertheless an important aspect in their culture......

[lovekr123]

Have you ever heard a child having more than 18 names? He can be called by a name on the daily basis. This happens in the Tiwi societies who are the early Australian people. Names for the people are nevertheless an important aspect in their culture....
Uniqur Cars

[ティファニー 激安]

tiffany & coスウォッチ グループ ジャパンはこのほど、東京?銀座のニコラス?G?ハイエック センター内に「ティファニー ウォッチ ショールーム」をオープンした。男性向けの「アトラス ジェント スクエア クロノグラフ」、女性向けの「ティファニー ジェメア」をはじめ、希少性の高いアイテムも展示、販売される。Tiffany Rings
国内初のティファニー ウォッチ専門店となる同ショールームには、新作ウォッチがいち早く店頭に並ぶだけでなく、さまざまなフェアやイベントも開催される予定となっている。時計の専門知識を持つスタッフにより、利用客の要望にもきめ細かく対応するという。ティファニー 激安
同ショールームでも販売される「アトラス ジェント スクエア クロノグラフ」は、最高のムーブメントとして広く認められるフレデリック?ピゲ製自動巻キャリバー1285を搭載。さらに頑丈な40mmのステンレス スティール ケースとスポーティなデザインにより、毅然とした男の魅力を演出している。Tiffany ネックレス
「ティファニー ジェメア」は、18カラットのホワイトゴールドで作られた樽型のケースが特徴で、たくさんのダイヤモンドを散りばめた宝飾時計に仕上がっている。ダイヤモンド1列のモデルとダイヤモンド2列のモデルのほかに、時計の表面に610個のダイヤモンド(3.12カラット)を敷き詰めたフルパヴェのモデルも用意。Tiffany locksこれらの3モデルを、直径22mm / 18mmの2パターンで展開する。ティファニー
その他、ショールームのオープンを記念し、日本初登場となる「ステートメント ウォッチ」「5thアヴェニュー ウォッチ」なども特別展示されるティファニー。
アメリカを代表する世界のプレミア?ジュエラー、ティファニーは1837年の創設以来、時を越えて多くの人々を魅了してきた。ティファニーのジュエリー、シルバー、ウォッチ、そのデザインの数々は何世代にもわたって世界中で愛され続けている。ティファニー 通販

[Leisa Dreps]

These little cars are looking good in the market right now. Not for environmental factors, but just because they're small and cute, which is important to countries with more one-way streets than they have highways, which, in my opinion is much more practical.

[Nissan Micra]

LOL....but it nice to have a car like this.Be blessed if you have this one right now for there are lots of people suffering from everyday transportation without cars.