Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged subcompact
2011 Mazda2
Aug 8th
There are two schools of design when it comes to sub-compact vehicles; some go for a cute look, and others have been styled to look like they’d just as soon eat your face as look at you–think of the smart fortwo, Ford Fiesta and latest Chevrolet Aveo. The irony of aggressive styling on microcars is that it rarely has the desired effect. It’s like having a pocket-sized grizzly bear–no matter how fierce it looks, everyone’s just going to think it’s adorable.
Perhaps that’s why Mazda softened its normally aggressive family face for its latest entry-level vehicle. The Mazda2 enters the lineup for 2011 a step below the Mazda3, and it’s definitely styled with an eye toward the “cute” end of the spectrum. With excellent road manners and 35-mpg fuel economy in its corner, the Mazda2 is also not just another adorable face; there’s some genuine substance to back it up. More >
2012 Fiat 500 Cabriolet
Jun 24th
The Fiat 500C isn’t just cute; it knows it’s cute. In true Italian fashion, this little car doesn’t stand by the curb being adorable and feigning surprise when someone notices. No, the Fiat 500C jumps out at you, steps into your field of vision with its retro sheet metal covered in a wide range of designer hues, and says, “Look at me. I am adorable, and you cannot resist.”
And why would you want to? The Italian manufacturer, making a return to the U.S. market after almost three decades, is hitting the streets of North America with a subcompact that combines the style of a classic Euro-commuter with modern fuel efficiency and safety, one of the quietest rides in its class, and a funky-cool canvas soft-top. More >
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
Feb 22nd
Chevrolet, always the darling of the blue-collar set, has always struggled to produce a compact car that matches up to the competition. Oh, don’t get me wrong–Chevy’s compacts have sold in big numbers, but as products they’ve tended to be sub-standard vehicles. To be honest, the all-new Cruze’s two predecessors–the Cobalt and the Cavalier before that–were both on the extremely short list of cars that were so hopelessly mediocre that I couldn’t find a good word to say about them. That I’m even writing about the Cruze should be considered proof that Chevrolet has succeeded with this car.
The Cruze is a brand-new take on a familiar theme. Chevrolet’s compact sedans and coupes have always been affordable, no-nonsense vehicles at heart, and this one doesn’t stray far from that template. What’s new–and what make it stand out–is the sense of style and purpose. The Cruze is an entry-level car for buyers who demand more than just the minimum necessary. In other words, the Cruze is directed at the buyers who’ve been flocking to Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics for years. This isn’t just a rehash of the same tired program that gave us the Cobalt and Cavalier–the Cruze really is a significant step forward. More >