You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8564 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper

#8110 of 8564 Re: hmmm [thegraduate] by nippononly Nov 05, 2008 (10:44 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Nov 05, 2008 6:49 pm) Oh yes certainly, the Versa is a poor example of what I was saying because its fuel economy is so utterly mediocre for a car its size. I was thinking that the Honda and the Toyota could have substantially better ratings than that - the Honda does much better on the European testing cycle with the smaller engine, and Toyota is aiming for a combined 40 mpg with the 1.3L Yaris, which would top everything powered only by gas today. Replies to this message: andre1969 (Nov 06, 2008 7:39 am)
#8111 of 8564 Re: hmmm [nippononly] by andre1969 Nov 06, 2008 (7:39 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Nov 05, 2008 10:44 pm) Actually the Versa doesn't seem TOO bad, if you get the 1.8/CVT. The EPA has it pegged at 27/33 (29 combined). The Corolla 1.8/4-speed auto is 27/35 (30 combined) and the Civic 1.8/5-speed auto is 25/36 (29 combined).   I guess if you do a lot of highway driving, the Corolla or Civic are better choices, but the Versa looks like a good choice for local driving. The EPA website doesn't list a 1.6 Versa, at least not that I can find, but they do show a 1.8/4speed auto rated at 24/32...not very impressive.
#8112 of 8564 Versa a sub? by ateixeira Nov 06, 2008 (7:43 am)
I guess the other thing is the Versa isn't really a sub-compact - it's a compact.   Compared to the Aveo hatch (I looked this up) it is more than 2 FEET longer. Wow.   I've sat inside and even the back seat is roomy. It doesn't really feel small. In fact I wonder if it's actually roomier than the Sentra. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 7:47 am) steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:19 am) kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 8:22 am) and 1 more... andre1969 (Nov 06, 2008 8:21 am)
#8113 of 8564 Re: Versa a sub? [ateixeira] by kyfdx HOST Nov 06, 2008 (7:47 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 06, 2008 7:43 am) I agree about the interior of the Versa... A big step up from the Honda FIT..   However, I was unimpressed with the drive.... Even the six-speed was not that great..   (no offense to PF Flyer who has one, and likes it just fine). Replies to this message: steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:19 am) kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 8:22 am) steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:25 am)
#8114 of 8564 Truely stupid WSJ article by texases Nov 06, 2008 (7:47 am)
WSJ had a article yesterday about small car regrets. The point being that people who 'traded down' to save gas found themselves missing things...like electric windows and CD players! What a bunch of maroons! Just about any compact car can be equipped comfortably, it's like these people panicked. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Nov 06, 2008 7:55 am) nippononly (Nov 06, 2008 10:10 am) lilengineerboy (Nov 06, 2008 1:17 pm) andre1969 (Nov 06, 2008 1:40 pm) texases (Dec 11, 2007 10:35 am) explorerx4 (Nov 07, 2008 5:02 pm)
#8115 of 8564 Re: Truely stupid WSJ article [texases] by ateixeira Nov 06, 2008 (7:55 am)
Replying to: texases (Nov 06, 2008 7:47 am) Sounds like they just picked the wrong model.
#8116 of 8564 Re: Versa a sub? [kyfdx] by steve_ HOST Nov 06, 2008 (8:19 am)
Replying to: kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 7:47 am) When you say big step up for the interior of the Versa, I know you mean the materials and such. But the rear seat makes a big box on the floor when you try to lay everything flat. The Fit and xD are better that way for those of us who carry junk more than we carry passengers.   My wife didn't like not being able to see the front edges of the Versa, but the MT one we tested did drive ok.   They still look pretty small to me but I guess having 5 doors rules them out of the sub-compact class. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 8:22 am) steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:25 am)
#8117 of 8564 Re: Versa a sub? [ateixeira] by andre1969 Nov 06, 2008 (8:21 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 06, 2008 7:43 am) I've sat inside and even the back seat is roomy. It doesn't really feel small. In fact I wonder if it's actually roomier than the Sentra.   Overall it's not as big as the Sentra, although the Versa might have a bit more legroom in back. However, believe it or not, the EPA classifies the Sentra as an intermediate! I've sat in the Versa at the auto shows, and to me it feels like they managed to mate the front seat of a compact with the back seat of a midsize. The Sentra's a lot bigger up front. I think the back seat might be tighter, legroom-wise than the Versa, but I don't remember it feeling cramped.   However, the Sentra is still small for a midsized car...97 cubic feet of interior room and 13 cubic feet of trunk, for a combined total of 110. The range for an intermediate is 110-119. And most midsized cars tend to push the upper end of that range. The Accord, at 106/14, is actually classified as a full-sized car!
#8118 of 8564 Re: Versa a sub? [steve_] by kyfdx HOST Nov 06, 2008 (8:22 am)
Replying to: steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:19 am) Yeah.. I didn't look into the utility of it... Just passenger seating and materials, as you noted..   I did end up with a sedan, and regret not paying the extra for a hatch, though.. Even though the wife has recently rectified that issue, by trading her convertible for an SUV, I still wish I had a hatch.. Replies to this message: steve_ (Nov 06, 2008 8:25 am)
#8119 of 8564 Re: Versa a sub? [kyfdx] by steve_ HOST Nov 06, 2008 (8:25 am)
Replying to: kyfdx (Nov 06, 2008 8:22 am) Bob says the Versa still carries a ton of stuff even with the rear seat not folding flat, and some people build a box to make a flat surface back there.   We've always had sedans, wagons or vans, so a hatch would be a nice change.

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