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What is this discussion about? Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hatchback

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#45 of 225 Re: boaz [nippononly] by boaz47 Mar 26, 2006 (8:19 pm)
Replying to: nippononly (Mar 26, 2006 7:33 pm) Believe it or not I used to be a fan of small cars. My fellow Americans were not however and the manufacturers seemed to have decided that small car owners were second class citizens. I realized that if I wanted to do much of anything other than commute I had to move into something they decided was "better" or at least worth the effort to offer more of the upscale features everyone else was getting in their mid sized cars.   Back before I got married I had a Austin Healey Sprite. About as basic as you can get. even after I got married I managed to get a Fiat 124 Spyder. Still pretty basic. I used to cone race or Auto cross or what today we call Solo in both the Sprite and later in the 124. I thought the Mini Cooper was the ideal car for that kind of racing. My cousin bought a Porsche and it seemed even more basic at the time. Once the Japanese came into the picture I could still see myself in light weight basic cars for weekend runs because the 1600 or the fairlady was still a basic car. Even my favorite 240Z was still light and basic but that all changed. The next few Zs and the ZX changed that forever. manufactures simply don't invest in small cars and they have fallen into such a small niche I just haven't been able to see myself in one anymore. I need the utility of more room and the options that come with it. Today 150 HP seems like a minimum to me because so many cars have that and more and they can be had for a reasonable price.   I don't object to the "idea" of a small car I just don't see them as a alternative to a compact car. Not unless they can be had for a lot less. The subjective part is what I consider a lot less I know. If indeed the new small cars can offer the comfort, in reality not considering their size, as a Compact or mid sized car I might take another look. But with expansion joints on the freeway and the stock tire choices they always give sub compacts I don't think that will be the case. The new Mini Cooper is just one example of what I believe the consumer demands of cars today. Believe me I have driven a old mini and a new one and they have almost nothing in common. The S is still pretty cool but once again you are looking at a bigger, heavier, more powerful plusher car. Not much basic about it. Just my take however, and my bias.
#46 of 225 boaz by nippononly Mar 27, 2006 (8:09 am)
I agree with you in some respects, although the comfort thing can vary a lot depending on the priorities of the respective automakers. Some models may surprise you.   I do take issue with the power thing - 100 hp in a flea-weight car does the same as the 150 hp you mention in an overweight midsize car. The 108 hp in my current 2080-pound Echo gives it a better power-to-weight ratio than all the compacts on the market today except the Corolla and the new Civic, both of which are about equal to my car in p-to-w.   In fact, most of the import midsize 4-cylinder cars also have about the same p-to-w as my car too. Make a car needlessly big (well, needlessly big for some! ), and you will need to add power and reduce fuel economy to compensate - no mystery there.   All three of the new subcompacts mentioned here have a decently sophisticated ride, without Bugs-Bunny hopping over freeway expansion joints, as well as peppy performance with decent to good fuel economy, and lots of interior versatility for carrying lots of passengers or cargo, or some of both.   Well, at least the Yaris does, I have only read about the other two, as they will not arrive for another month or more...
#47 of 225 Car and Driver by mirth Mar 27, 2006 (9:12 am)
Just read Car and Driver's comparo of the sub-compacts. Fit was number 1, followed by the Versa, the Kia, and Yaris in 4th place (Kia beats a Toyota, gotta be a first). They had 3 others in the test too, but were missing the Aveo which I think is a major miss (not that I think the Aveo would have won). Replies to this message: bumpy (Mar 27, 2006 9:31 am) b3nut (Mar 27, 2006 9:32 am) robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 10:46 am) drewmeister (Mar 31, 2006 2:57 pm)
#48 of 225 Re: Car and Driver [mirth] by bumpy Mar 27, 2006 (9:31 am)
Replying to: mirth (Mar 27, 2006 9:12 am) The new Aveo is still a ways off, while just about everything else new in the segment is either here or imminent.
#49 of 225 Re: Car and Driver [mirth] by b3nut Mar 27, 2006 (9:32 am)
Replying to: mirth (Mar 27, 2006 9:12 am) They've been giving the new Kia range good reviews of late, they used to pan Kia at every turn (though to be fair, it wasn't long ago that Kia was making some overall miserable vehicles, despite the occasional gem...the old Sportage had a poor reliability record although some Sportage owners got solid ones). Their initial review of the redesigned Rio was quite positive, and it's interesting to see them place it ahead of the Toyota Yaris. I can see the Fit grabbing 1st, even with its non-user-replaceable radio (I hate carmakers that pull that crooked stunt!) The Fit is a splendid little car, I wanted to drive one but ended up needing to replace my old car quickly. Can't say I'm impressed with the Versa, but that's purely aesthetic (I think the Scion xB is better looking, frankly, if you're going to do ugly, do it right!) It should prove to be a solid little vehicle, given Nissan's track record with small cars. I am happy to see my little Rio place in the top three, that's a pretty good achievement.   Going to have to find that one on the newsstands...did the xA place in that comparo? It's not on C&D's website yet.   Todd in Beerbratistan Replies to this message: robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 10:46 am)
#51 of 225 Popular Mechanics [b3nut] by robertsmx Mar 27, 2006 (10:46 am)
Replying to: b3nut (Mar 27, 2006 9:32 am) Rio5 didn't do so well in another comparison test (by Popular Mechanics) that involved Fit, Versa and Yaris...   "Unanimously, we all gravitated toward the Honda Fit time and time again because it’s the most fun to drive and has the most inviting ergonomics. The Kia Rio5, on the other hand, best represents what this inexpensive market segment of cars used to be: crude." (Link).   Those two (Fit and Rio5) represented the extremes, with Versa and Yaris fitting in between.   The one thing that is consistent between these two comparison tests (PM and CD) is Fit finishing on top, followed by Versa. While Yaris and Rio5 have gone head to head for third.
#52 of 225 Yaris by nippononly Mar 27, 2006 (1:03 pm)
keeps coming up in the reviews as the car that does everything decently, but nothing really well. The uninspiring but reliable choice.   It is not hard for me to believe that the Fit will be the driver's car of the bunch, and well-equipped but pricey for the segment.   I like that the Versa got a 6-speed manual, but can't believe how high it still revs on the highway - why didn't they give it a nice tall gear for the highway, what with six to choose from? Replies to this message: robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 1:07 pm)
#53 of 225 Re: Yaris [nippononly] by robertsmx Mar 27, 2006 (1:07 pm)
Replying to: nippononly (Mar 27, 2006 1:03 pm) It is not hard for me to believe that the Fit will be the driver's car of the bunch, and well-equipped but pricey for the segment.   Pricey, only if the competing models are stripped. Check out the Popular Mechanics comparo, Rio5 carries a price tag of $14,500, that is more than Fit's $13,850.
#54 of 225 yeah by nippononly Mar 27, 2006 (1:13 pm)
The Yaris actually has the potential to be the price leader in this segment, and when was the last time that was true of a Toyota?   Of course, the way it does that is by deleting all the convenience features people love that come standard in the Hyun/Kias and the Honda, as well as all the safety equipment (ABS, airbags).   When all are comparably equipped to the base Fit, I would imagine the Aveo retains its title of value leader, even the '07. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Mar 27, 2006 1:20 pm)

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