subcompact


REPORT: Consumers increasingly shying away from small cars; owners unhappy

When gas prices spiked above $4 per gallon in the summer of 2008, car buyers appeared to find their small car zen. Toyota Corollas, Honda Fits and Civics, Chevrolet Cobalts and Ford Focuses were flying off dealer shelves at a fevered pace, while truck buying dropped through the floor. Fast-forward to present day and car buyers are once again picking bigger vehicles while many of last year's "smart" small car buyers may be experiencing a bit of buyer's remorse. A closer look at the current sales charts shows that Americans may not be too ... Read more →

REPORT: VW logs 13,000 orders for new Polo ahead of launch Chris Shunk

The new Volkswagen Polo is all-new for 2010, and early returns show plenty of interest in the little European hatchback. VW is reporting 13,000 pre-orders for the B-segment five-door; news that ...

Honda Fit dominates Consumer Reports subcompact test Michael Harley

The folks over at Consumer Reports have ranked the Honda Fit Sport top among tested subcompact cars in their March 2009 issue. "We found the new Fit the most practical and enjoyable car in this ...

VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show Chris Paukert

This morning's Today Show on NBC featured General Motors' design chief Ed Welburn talking with host Matt Lauer live from General Motors' Warren Tech Center. Welburn previewing the Detroit Auto Show's ...

Autogas Chevrolet Matiz Concept = LPG for the masses Jonathon Ramsey

Click above for a high-res gallery of the fahgmitgas Matiz LPG Concept Thanks to a company called fahrmitgas ("go with gas", get it?), our European readers will soon be able to cut their fuel ...

Toyota working on Yaris-sized 7-Seater? 10 months ago on Autoblog

If you've been distressed by not being able to buy a clown car at any local lot, Toyota has news for you: the company is working on a Yaris-sized seven-seater. That is odd enough to make us ask "What?" and "Why?" in several languages. Even better, though, is when Toyota engineer Hiroki Nakajima says ...

Ford Verve production likely headed to Mexico 1 year ago on Autoblog

Ford's European-developed Verve will go on sale in the States sometime in 2010, aimed to capture some of the burgeoning small car market. Making money on small cars is always the sticking point when talk turns to subcompacts, and Ford's eyeing Mexico as the production location for the Verve. The ...

Hyundai i10 revealed in India 2 years ago on Autoblog

Hyundai's rolled out a new city car, the i10, which they feel is so good that it will double Hyundai's sales in that segment. Manufacturer propaganda always ladles on the glowing prose, but after reading through the specs, we were nodding in approval, too. A quick glance at the pictures had us ...

Toyota set to unveil microcar in Frankfurt 2 years ago on Autoblog

Automotive News has a quick blurb about a new model set to debut from the folks at Toyota during this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. According to AN, Toyota's 3000mm-long microcar will be known as the Endo and will slot in below the Aygo, the smallest vehicle in the automaker's European lineup. ...

Toyota to sell diesel hybrid by 2010 thanks to Isuzu 2 years ago on Autoblog

AutoblogGreen has reason to be happy, having found evidence that Toyota's recent purchase of a 5.9% stake in Isuzu will bear fruit in 2010 when the Japanese juggernaut marries its Synergy hybrid drive system with a diesel engine. Presumably such a hook up was made possible, or at least hastened, by ...

Paris Motor Show: Suzuki Splash concept 3 years ago on Autoblog

We couldn't figure out why John was sending us pictures of a toy car from the Paris Motor Show until he filled us in that this is actually the very cute, very small Suzuki Splash concept. The little jellybean in Lagoon Blue is what Suzuki dubs a "clinic model," or the first step towards a new ...

Chrysler continues to seek partner for B-car production, China still in the mix 3 years ago on Autoblog

DaimlerChrysler has been looking for a partner to produce subcompact cars, like the Dodge Hornet concept the company unveiled in Geneva last year, and according to Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda, a Chinese company may be the lucky recipient of the business. Speaking at an Automotive Press ...

New York Auto Show: 2007 Hyundai Elantra 3 years ago on Autoblog

The new 2007 Hyundai Elantra is the seventh new product from Hyundai in the last two years. The all-new midsize (that’s a new EPA classification thanks to 112.1 cubic feet of interior volume) gets Hyundai’s now traditional battery of safety equipment including six airbags, ABS brakes ...

Mitsubishi tests i-Car in U.S. 3 years ago on Autoblog

Is Mitsubishi Motors being a tease? American subcompact and microcar fans may soon go postal when they discover that the automaker has quietly brought over two of its i-Cars to the U.S. where they are running about in currently wet Los Angeles, California. "We will drive it to get customers' ...

More on the Honda Fit (including video) 3 years ago on Autoblog

The Auto Channel has an extensive article on the Honda Fit, which recently went on sale in the U.S. It delves a little deeper into the five-door subcompact: a summary of its main features; in-depth discussions on the vehicle's exterior, engine and transmissions; an overview of the chassis; a look ...

Consumer Guide, Edmunds review Honda Fit 3 years ago on Autoblog

Both Consumer Guide and Edmunds have published new reviews of the Honda Fit, which went on sale this weekend. The Consumer Guide report found the tested Sport’s version to be comfortable for the vehicle’s class. Steering was surprisingly agile, though there was some body lean. ...

Honda finalizes pricing for the Fit 3 years ago on Autoblog

Packed with safety features like side curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes, the new Honda Fit will come out of the box at $13,850. Tacking on an automatic transmission brings the price up to $14,650, but with only 109 hp on tap we recommend you stick with the stick. A sporty version with cruise ...






Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car and Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

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