2011 Lemon Aid Superminis

Popular in the 90s, this segment went dormant when the U.S. market, which sets the trend for what vehicles are sold in Canada, soured on hatchbacks and small cars in general. The Toyota Echo (followed by the Yaris) and the Hyundai Accent were the sole cars in the segment for many years. The introduction of the Chevrolet Aveo in 2004 marked a rebirth of the segment, which now includes the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, MINI Cooper, Nissan Versa, Scion iQ and Smart ForTwo.

Despite a proliferation of new models, sales of superminis covered in this section declined about 20 percent overall last year, with some models suffering precipitous sales retreats. The Chevrolet Aveo (-12 percent), the Honda Fit (-30 percent), Hyundai Accent (-7 percent), Nissan Versa (-20 percent), Smart (-25 percent), and Toyota Yaris (-40 percent) all lost sales last year. Fewer sales of the Aveo, Accent and Rio can be explained by rapidly-aging models that were becoming uncompetitive. The collapse of Fit and Yaris sales were the result of factory incentives meant to discourage the purchase of these low-profit Japanese-sourced cars and funnel prospects to locally-produced cars not subject to currency fluctuations. The partial eclipse of Nissan Versa sales can be attributed to heavy factory incentives for the Sentra that equalizes monthly payments of the two cars despite the Sentra’s higher MSRP. The Smart Fortwo’s sales retreat reflects that the early adopters have been served, and that new adherents will be hard to find.

The big news at the beginning of the model year was the introduction of the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2. Early introduction 2012 models joining the market in early 2011 include the 2012 Hyundai Accent the 2012 Fiat 500, and in the summer of 2011, the Chevrolet Sonic (the Aveo’s successor) and the Scion iQ.

2011 is the final year in the current product cycle for several segment stalwarts, including the Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio and Nissan Versa.

Vital safety features like side-curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) are gradually creeping into cars in this segment. The Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, MINI Cooper, Scion iQ, Smart ForTwo, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit Sport and Nissan Versa SL hatchback are all equipped with multiple airbags, ABS and ESC as standard equipment. ESC is not offered on the Honda Fit DX and LX, but multiple airbags and ABS are standard. The 2011 Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio lack seat-mounted and side-curtain air bags except on super premium niche models of their ranges, a glaring omission. Please refer to the Safety section for each car covered in this section to verify what equipment is fitted to each model.

The better cars in this class are economical to operate, very reliable, and have excellent resale value. If you are not a cash buyer, please pay attention to monthly payments, as lease and finance monthlies for the best cars in the segment are often no greater than they are for less worthy competitors.

Chevrolet Aveo

What’s new
Aveo: Last year in this form. Automatic transmission is now available on air-conditioned LS models. Air-filtration standard is on Aveos with air conditioning.

Performance
Equipped with automatic transmission, the car is smooth around town and relaxed on the highway. The manual gearchange and clutch are acceptably precise. Handling is secure but uninspiring, with some float evident at highway speeds. The steering, though nicely-weighted, lacks precision. The car has an absorbent ride. Effective braking. The driving position is conventional, and occupants will feel at ease immediately. The interior design is elegant in a classical way, with good fit and finish. Clear instruments and straightforward controls. The front seats, though too soft for some, are comfortable enough for most occupants. The dash centre-stack is bulky, and some drivers find it uncomfortably close to their right knee. Rear seat comfort and legroom are good for this size of car. The trunk on the hatchback model is short but deep, and ample cargo space can be liberated by folding the rear seats down. The trunk on the sedan is commodious for such a small car. The sound quality of the audio system is good for the price. Good exterior paint and panel fit.

Reliability
Below average reliability. Electrical problems are to be expected as are worn wheel bearings and poor suspension component durability. Poor corrosion resistance. Not as reliable as other Korean cars. Good underhood access. Three year/60,000 bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/160,000 on the powertrain.

Comments
Last year for this car in its present form. Made in South Korea

Pricing
Aveo: the sedan body style is priced $200 higher than the hatchback. The Aveo in not a class leader by any stretch of the imagination but is priced very close to segment leaders. Check monthly payments carefully, as it may cost no more to drive a top rated car.

Upgrading from an Aveo LS model to an LT lacks value for the money asked. Equipped similarly, an Aveo LT hatchback is priced virtually the same as a Yaris LE five-door with the Convenience package, while lacking the stability control and the side-curtain airbags standard on the Yaris. In addition, after four years the Aveo will be worth much less as a trade in than the Yaris. Expensive air conditioning option. In case of a write-off, depreciation may result in a payout that may be less than the balance owed on the car. Unless you live in a town where GM is the only game in town, there are better choices available.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags are standard on all versions of this car. Side-curtain airbags not offered. Rated Acceptable in the IIHS frontal test and Marginal in the side, rollover and rear tests. ABS is optional. ESC is not available.

What’s new
The Sonic is the replacement for the Aveo.

Comments
Like Ford with the Fiesta and the 2012 Focus, GM is repositioning its cars at the lower-priced end of the market. The Cruze moved upscale from the Cobalt, and the Sonic, which ostensibly replaces the Aveo is a step up from its predecessor. The Spark, a smaller car than the current Aveo, will slot in at the bottom of Chevrolet’s model range.

The Sonic, with a 45 mm (1.8 inch) longer wheelbase is 89 mm (3.5 inches/sedan) to 119 mm (4.7 inches/hatchback) longer, 25 mm (1.1 inches) wider and marginally taller than the Aveo. With taut lines and a careful balance of elements, the sedan is quite elegant. The hatchback’s design is more whimsical and dramatic than that of the sedan, looking like a Scion that has had a strong injection of style. The frontal styling treatment of the Sonic is its least attractive aspect. The body-colour painted band separating the grilles is too wide, and the placement of the lower air intake draws the eye too far downward. The Sonic’s nifty cabin is fronted by a large analogue tachometer contained in a motorcycle-like instrument pod, with all other read-outs being digital. While there are no soft-touch surfaces, all the matte-finished hard pieces bear interesting textures. Comfortable seats, front and rear. Good space upfront, and acceptable rear seat legroom, and in the hatchback, excellent headroom. Reasonable trunk space in the hatchback could be improved by eliminating the height-robbing under-floor storage bin. Big trunk on the sedan. Luxury items like a sunroof and heated seats are optional.

The Sonic uses the same engines employed in the bigger Cruze. The base engine is a normally-aspirated 1.8L four with 135 horsepower, with a 138 horsepower 1.4L turbo four fitted on fancier models. Power reaches the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission on the 1.8L, with a six-speed manual teamed with the 1.4T. Both engines can be hooked up to a six-speed automatic.

GM’s post-bankruptcy cost structure allows it to build this modestly-priced car in the U.S. and make money on it. Made in the United States.

Reliability
Not rated, all-new vehicle. Three year/60,000 bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/160,000 on the powertrain.

Safety
Ten airbags are standard. Not crash tested. ABS and ESC are standard.

Fiat 500

Comments
Fiat's latest 500, on sale for several years in Europe, is now available here. Euro-market 500s are Polish built, ours come from Mexico. Compared with the MINI Cooper, its rival in the ueber-chic Euro B-segment class, the Fiat, built on a 167 mm (6.6 inch) shorter wheelbase, measures 176 mm (6.9 inches) less from stem to stern, is 56 mm (2.2 inches) narrower and 113 mm (4.4 inches) taller. Like the MINI, which referenced the 1959 BMC Mini, the new 500 (styled by the same Frank Stephenson who penned the first BMW MINI) takes after the an iconic predecessor, the 1957 "Nuova 500". As with the MINI, cabin style is breathtaking, but the 500's ergonomics are much less jumbled than in the MINI. Top-notch cabin materials. The 500's greater height allows for easier ingress/egress than the MINI and its trunk is a much more useful shape. The front seats are mounted too high for some people, and head room is very tight on sunroof-equipped cars. Power stems from a U.S.-built 1.4L Fiat four-cylinder engine with 101 horsepower. It can drive the front wheels via either a five-speed manual transmission or a conventional six-speed automatic. Initial reports indicate the 500 lacks the MINI's driving precision but is a fun, agile, and solidly-constructed little car. Made in Mexico.

Reliability
The 500 is a totally new design for North America and distributed by a dealer network unfamiliar with the car. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Pricing
Trim upgrades are excellent value. Equipped with automatic transmission and air conditioning, the 500 Pop is priced only $700 higher than a mainstream Toyota Yaris two-door hatchback with the LE Convenience package. Adding alloy wheels to the mix brings the content haul very close to that of a MINI Cooper Classic, for roughly $5700 less.

Safety
Seven airbags, including a driver’s side knee airbag. Not crash tested. Standard ABS and ESC.

Ford Fiesta

What’s new
The Fiesta went on sale in the fall of 2010.

Performance
The Fiesta’s sporty 1.6L four has little grunt at low revs, its efforts blunted by high gearing picked primarily to enhance fuel economy figures to the detriment of performance and in-gear flexibility. The manual transmission, with odd sounds on clutch engagement, excess gear whine, an imprecise gearchange and weak synchromesh, is a disappointment. The foot pedals are very tightly packed together on the Fiesta. The optional dual-clutch automated manual transmission works very well except for an occasional harsh shift. Precise, nicely-weighted steering. A resilient ride is allied to confident handling. Strong, progressive brakes. With a prominent dash centre stack, and edgy shapes, the Fiesta’s cabin styling is quite dramatic. The main gauges, which are small, oddly shaped, and with a “unique” graphic style, don’t elicit universal praise. Minor controls are easy to use, though the radio controls require some acclimatization, and some APA drivers complained about the dash-mounted power lock switch. Comfortable front seats and good room for a B-segment car. The rear seat is comfortable, but rear legroom is no better than it is in the shorter Mazda 2. Cabin space in the Ford can’t compare with either the Honda Fit or the Nissan Versa, the space-efficiency champs of the segment. Good cargo bay on the hatch; massive trunk on the sedan. Excellent audio system. There were a few fit and finish issues on our early production test car. The Fiesta hatchback finished in second place, behind the Honda Fit, and ahead of the Mazda 2, in an APA multi-car road test.

Comments
The Fiesta initially sold alongside, and at virtually the same price point, as the ancient Mark I Focus, until the 2012 Focus moved upmarket in the spring of 2011. Sharing its platform and a few random parts with the Mazda 2, the Ford has its own outer body shell, interior and mechanical units. With massive headlamps extending well into the body work, huge fender flares and a radically rising beltline, the Fiesta's styling is quite arresting. For our market, a sedan joins the lineup. Power stems from a 1.6L four with 119 horsepower. Transmission choices are a five-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch automated manual. Made in Mexico.

Reliability
New model, reliability is unknown. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Pricing
The S sedan (with no air conditioning option) is marketed solely to advertise a low introductory price. Except for the good value SE-SES hatchback upgrade, trim levels are priced to reflect extra content. The sedan body style is $700 cheaper than the equivalent hatchback model. Options like heated leather seats allow drivers to combine a compact, fuel-efficient vehicle format with luxury amenities.

Safety
Standard seat mounted side and side-curtain airbags. Rated Good in the IIHS front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. Standard ABS and ESC on all models.

What’s New
Late introduction of 2011 model. ESC is now standard on the Sport trim level. Automatic transmission is no longer available on the DX trim level.

Performance
Low gearing delivers snappy performance at all speeds, but also high revs (3000 rpm/100 km/h) when cruising. The responsive automatic uses every bit of the Fit's available power and cruises at lower revs, but makes the engine sound harsh when pushed. The Fit is quite noisy overall. Nicely weighted, precise steering. Entertaining handling, especially in the Sport model. More absorbent ride on the LX than on the Sport. Comfortable driving position and supportive seats. Big gauges and logical controls are contained within a bulbous dashboard. Both fit and finish are just average. Great outward vision. Amazing space utilization, cargo capacity and versatility. Good fuel economy can be tracked with the standard continuous fuel consumption readout. The Fit was rated first, ahead of the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2, in an APA multi-car road test.

Reliability
Above average reliability. The last high-volume Honda sold in Canada still built in Japan. The air conditioning condenser is vulnerable to road debris damage. Three year 60,000 bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Comments
One engine, a 1.5L four, can send power to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. Made in Japan.

Pricing
LX and Sport upgrades are priced to cover the value of their contents.
Unless you can pay cash for your Fit, you may want to buy something else. Weak finance and lease incentives are devised to channel buyers into the locally-produced Civic lineup. A Fit LX is priced about $350 less than a Yaris LE four-door hatchback with the Convenience package and costs about the same to lease (48 months, $0 down) or finance (60 months, $0 down). A Fit LX generates higher monthly payments than a 2011 Civic DX-G, which has a $1700 higher MSRP.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard on all models. Tested by the IIHS, the Fit was rated Good for frontal, side and rear impacts and Acceptable in the rollover test. Standard ABS. ESC is standard on the Sport trim level only.

What’s new
Last year in its current form. High value L Sport (hatchback) and GL SE (sedan) packages. Fourth-generation Accent goes on sale in the spring of 2011.

Performance
The Accent’s engine is smooth, with a pleasant rasp when extended. The clutch and gearchange of the manual transmission lack precision but are foolproof in operation. The engine spins quickly at cruising speeds but doesn’t spoil refinement. The automatic transmission works well, with the engine cruising at lower revs than it does when linked to the manual. Long-travel suspension and overly soft settings allow too much wallow over large bumps and a floating feel on the highway. Fantastic air conditioning and good sounding audio system for a car at this price. Very good driving position, comfortable seats, and good legroom front and rear for a car this small. That said, it isn’t as roomy as the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit. The car is rated as a five-seater, but the three people in the back had better be rake thin. The cabin is tastefully conservative in style, and carefully constructed from attractive components. Big, clear instrumentation, and simple, logical controls. Big trunk. Good exterior paint finish and panel fit.

Reliability
Recent Accents have had above average reliability for the first five years of ownership, deteriorating thereafter. Five year/100,000 km bumper to bumper warranty.

Comments
Power stems from a 1.6L four with 110 horsepower. Power is sent to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Made in South Korea.

Pricing
Except for the GL trim level (with either body style), upgrading to the next trim level is very good value. Poor value leasing. The MSRP for the Accent GL sedan is $1500 higher than the much roomier Nissan Versa sedan with the Value Option package and a full array of safety equipment not available on the Accent.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard on the GLS sedan only. Not offered on other models. Tested by the IIHS with side airbags, the Accent was rated Acceptable in the frontal impact test, Poor in the side test, Acceptable in the rollover and rear tests. ABS is standard on the GLS sedan only, not offered on any other version. ESC is not available.

What’s new
All-new fourth-generation Accent in sedan and four-door hatchback body styles.

Comments
The fourth-generation Accent sedan, with a 70 mm (2.8 inch) longer wheelbase, is 90 mm (3.5 inches) longer overall, marginally wider and 20 mm (.8 of an inch) lower than its predecessor. Sedan and four-door hatchback styles are offered. The Accent is the most elegant exemplar of the "Fluidic Sculpture" styling theme yet. The cabin is fronted by a dashboard containing big, clear gauges and logical minor controls. The hard plastic cabin surfaces bear interesting textures and are matte-finished. Rear seat legroom matches that of the Mazda 2 or Fiesta but can't compare with those of the Versa or Fit. Limited rear foot room under the front seats. Comfortable seats. Power stems from a 138 hp direct injected 1.6L four, which can be hooked up to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. City fuel economy is claimed to be 6.4L/100 km, with a highway range of 915 km. Fuel saving measures include an alternator that can cycle off when not needed as well as an ActiveEco mode that modifies engine and transmission controls to maximize economy. Made in South Korea.

Reliability
New car, not rated. The previous Accent was rated as having average to above average reliability for the first five years of ownership, deteriorating thereafter. Five year/100,000 km bumper the bumper warranty.

Safety
Seat-mounted side and side-curtain airbags. Not crash tested. Standard ABS and ESC.
 

Kia Rio

ABOVE AVERAGE
KIA Rio, Rio 5 (FWD)
Body Style: 4SD*, 4HB
Engine: 1.6L-4 110 HP
Transmissions: 5M, 4A*
City Fuel Economy: 7.6L/100 km
ESC Available: No
Emissions rating: n/a

What’s new
No changes of note. Last year for the Rio in its current form.

Comments
The Rio is offered in sedan and four-door hatchback forms. No exterior body panels are shared with the Accent, and with stronger, cleaner, lines, the Kia is arguably the better looking of the two. The interiors of the two cars differ only in details like upholstery and colour selection. The cabin is roomy for this class, with comfortable seats and a good driving position. Spacious trunk on the sedan and a versatile cargo area on the hatchback. Panel fit and paint are both well done. Made in South Korea.

Reliability
Based on the Hyundai Accent, whose reliability is above average for the first five years, deteriorating thereafter. Five year/100,000 bumper to bumper warranty.

Pricing
Kia charges $400 to $600 more for the hatchbacks than the sedans. The EX Convenience package upgrade is priced to reflect its contents, and EX Sport packages represents very good value. The Hyundai Accent GL sedan is priced around $200 less than a Rio EX sedan with the Convenience package. Forget leasing, as lease payments too close to those for financing to make leasing worthwhile. Take a look at the Japanese competition; a Toyota Yaris four-door sedan with the Convenience package is priced only $500 higher about than a Rio EX Convenience sedan, but the Yaris has six airbags, ABS and stability control. That said, finance payments for the Rio are about $65 less per month (60 months, $0. down) than they are for the Toyota. However, the Toyota will have vastly better resale value than the Kia. Rapid depreciation; make sure you have a waiver of depreciation endorsement on your auto insurance policy.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard only on the Rio5 EX Sport, and are not offered on other trim levels. Tested by the IIHS with side airbags, the Rio was rated Acceptable in the frontal impact, Poor in the side test, Acceptable in the rollover test and the rear impact test. ABS is standard on the Rio 5 EX Sport, but is not available on other models. ESC is not available.

MAZDA 2

What’s new
The 2 was introduced in the summer of 2010.

Performance
The 2’s 1.5L zingy four sings smoothly up the rev. range, and is well matched to the five-speed manual transmission that boasts a precise gearchange and a progressive clutch. Though its simple specifications are unimpressive, the four-speed automatic transmission is carefully matched to the 1.5L four and works well. The Mazda’s engine is smoother than the 1.6L four that powers the Ford Fiesta. Despite 19 fewer horsepower than the Fiesta, the 2 delivers comparable performance thanks to its 100 kg lighter weight. Agile and wieldy handling are offset by a slightly fidgety ride. Foot pedals are very closely packed together in the 2. Mazda 2 denizens occupy a zen-tastically simple cabin fronted by a dashboard stocked with clear gauges and straightforward controls. The seats are small, narrow, and overly soft. Cabin materials, while a bit shiny, are class competitive. Cabin space and trunk volume match those of the externally larger Fiesta, but can’t match the sprawl-out space available in the Honda Fit or Nissan Versa. The 2’s tidy dimensions make it well suited to urban use. The Mazda 2 was ranked last in an APA multi-car test that included the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta.

Reliability
New vehicle, not rated. Three year/80,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Comments
The mid-cycle remake of the Mazda 2 went on sale here in the summer of 2010. Constructed on the same platform at the Ford Fiesta, the 2 shares the same wheelbase, but is 117 mm (4.6 inches) shorter, 28 mm (1.1 inches) narrower, marginally taller and 100 kg lighter than the Ford. Despite Mazda's signature cycle fenders, gaping maw air intake and some very dramatic body creases, the 2's overall look is simpler and more organic than the Fiesta’s. Made in Japan.

Pricing
Japanese assembly and tight profit margins will mean few deals on the 2. Pricy air-conditioning and automatic transmission options. Trim upgrades a bargain. Unless you need the tidy size of the 2 for urban adventures, a 3 GX hatchback with air conditioning, priced just $600 more than 2 GS, is better value and generates the same monthly finance (60 months, $0. down) payment. The 2 GS is $300 cheaper than a Fiesta SE hatchback and generates the same finance payment (60 months, $0. down).

Safety
Standard seat-mounted side and side-curtain (only for the front passengers) airbags. Tested by the IIHS, the 2 was rated Good in the frontal impact, Acceptable in the side test, Good in the rollover test and the Acceptable in the rear impact test. Standard ABS and ESC.
 

What’s new
Engine enhancements increase horsepower (+3 Cooper, +9 Cooper S). Mid-cycle remake includes revised bumpers, fog lights, taillights, wheels, revised colours and minor cabin revisions. Free scheduled maintenance for three years or 50,000 km.

Performance
The Cooper’s engine is flexible, pulls well, cruises quietly and is fuel efficient. The chassis serves up a firm yet compliant ride, direct steering and agile handling unhindered by twitchiness. The regular model has good space upfront, but rear legroom is tight and cargo capacity is limited. Good fit and finish, stylized ergonomics, naff key, frustrating audio controls and weak air conditioning. Hard to refuel.

Reliability
Average reliability. The current MINI appears to have avoided the post-launch problems that plagued its predecessor. Premium car parts prices and service costs. MINI is not a signatory of the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP). Four year/80,000 km warranty. Free scheduled maintenance for three years or 50,000 km.

Comments
The longer Clubman has a truck-style flipper door on the passenger side to aid ingress to a rear seat which has more legroom than the regular model. Improved cargo capacity is accessed via side-hinged van-style doors. The 1.6L fours, normally-aspirated on the Cooper, turbocharged on the Cooper S, can be linked to a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic on all models. Made in England.

Pricing
Hatchback: the Cooper costs about $2100 more than the Classic for about $1400 worth of extra content. However, better discounts on the Cooper than on the Classic will narrow the real world acquisition cost between the two cars. Clubman: longer than the Cooper, with greater rear legroom and cargo space, bears a $1600 ($1800 for the John Cooper Works version) higher MSRP than the hatchback. Cabrio: the Cabrio costs from $5050 to $5900 more than a similarly-equipped Cooper hatchback. Expensive Sport and Tech packages; other packages are reasonable value. The John Cooper Works package is incredibly expensive considering its engine produces only 27 more horsepower than the turbo in the Cooper S.

Safety
Seat-mounted side and head-protecting side airbags are standard. Rated Good in the IIHS frontal impact test, Acceptable in the IIHS side impact and rollover tests and Good in the rear impact test. ABS and ESC are standard.
 

What’s new
Last year in its current form. CVT warranty reduced from 10 years/200,000 km to five years/100,000 km.

Performance
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) works well with the 1.8L four, delivering refined motoring around town and on the highway. However, like any CVT hooked to a smaller engine, the high sustained revs the transmission allows during maximum acceleration can be wearing. The six-speed manual transmission (1.8L) is more a “Brochure” feature than a benefit because of poorly chosen gear ratios. The Versa has a fluid ride-handling balance that combines an absorbent ride with confident handling. The steering is light, but precise. Good brakes with solid feel at the pedal. Noisy air conditioning compressor. The Versa uses more fuel than cars it is priced against (Yaris, Accent) because its size, weight, power and performance are equal to cars one class higher (Sentra or Corolla). Width aside, the Versa is an exceptionally roomy car, and with long, tall doors, an easy car to get in and out of. Large, clear instrumentation and big, logical controls. Cabin materials and assembly quality are first rate, but dash rattles develop as the car ages. Hatchback trunk space is good with the rear seat in place, and ample with the rear seatbacks folded. It could be even better if the folded rear seat could be flip-folded forward, but it can’t. At least Nissan made rear seat comfort more of a priority than cargo versatility. Huge trunk on the sedan.

Reliability
Average reliability despite a few problems along the way. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Comments
Compared to the Honda Fit, the Versa hatchback is roughly the same width and height, but is built on a 100 mm (4 inch) longer wheelbase, is 190 mm (7.5 inches) longer overall and about 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier. The Versa is a big car for its class and an exceptionally roomy one. The sedan is built on the same wheelbase, but is 175 mm (6.9 inches) longer than the hatchback. Made in Mexico.

Pricing
The Versa 1.8S hatchback with the V.O.P. group and the ABS option on the sedan are priced to value. All other Versa option packages are fantastic value. An SL hatchback, priced $1100 more than a Versa 1.8 S hatchback with automatic transmission with the V.O.P and VDC package, is exceptional value. At around $16,000, a fully-equipped 1.6 S sedan is about the best value in the new car market. A fully-loaded Versa V.O.P. hatchback is cheaper than a hatchback Yaris LE with the Convenience package, and generates much lower monthly payments.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard. Tested by the IIHS, the Versa was rated Good in the frontal, side and rear tests. Rollover performance is not rated. Optional ABS and stability control on the S hatchback, standard on the SL. ABS is optional on the Versa sedan. ESC is standard on the SL hatchback, optional on the S hatchback, but not offered on the sedan.
 

What’s new
All new micro-car to compete with the Smart ForTwo

Comments
Sold elsewhere as a Toyota, the iQ will come to Canada as a Scion. Compared with the Smart ForTwo, the iQ stretches 133 mm (5.2 inch) more between the front and rear wheels, is 355 mm (14 inches) longer overall, 121 mm (4.8 inches) wider and about 41 mm (1.6 inches) lower. While still tiny, the iQ is sufficiently bigger than the Smart to permit reasonable three passenger seating, with a fourth perch available for super short hops. Long, tall doors permit acceptable rear seat ingress and egress. The front seats are genuinely spacious. Trunk space is unimpressive with the rear seat up. This car has been lauded in Europe for its practicality and civility, and will be a significant threat to Smart in this country. Made in Japan.

Reliability
New car, not rated. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, with 3 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Safety
The iQ features a multitude of safety features, including ABS, traction control, ESC and 10 airbags (with unique airbags between the rear seat and rear window). Not crash tested.
 

What’s new
Free scheduled maintenance withdrawn. New knee airbag and window airbag. USB and Auxiliary ports replace the CD player. Revised gauges. New option packages. A navigation system is now available. An electric version can be leased by retail clients. Smart will get a strong competitor, in the shape of the Scion iQ, this year.

Performance
The three-cylinder 1000cc engine revs smoothly and performs well in typical driving. The transmission is the Achilles heel of this car. The main problem in the jerky and interminably long one-two shift (whether in full automatic or manumatic modes), which makes stop and go city driving, where this car should excel, very unpleasant. The transmission operates well and is responsive once it is past the one-two shift. The Smart reaches highway speeds easily and is surprisingly refined when cruising quickly. While drivers will notice a strong crosswind, the Smart is quite stable at highway speeds. The action of the floor-hinged brake pedal takes getting used to, and even then, braking lacks progression and is generally unpleasant. Very manoeuvrable. The steering, power assisted on all but the Pure, is nicely geared but very light and lacking in feel. Handling is quite tidy. The current Smart pitches and dives less than its predecessor, but the ride is far from smooth, especially on rougher urban tarmac. The Brabus version of the Smart, with the same powertrain as the mainstream ForTwo, is no quicker, but is noisier, and due to stiffer suspension settings, is even more of a rough rider on bumps. The traction control can’t be disconnected so you can’t rock yourself out of a parking spot in the winter. The Smart’s tall stance and big doors allow for easy ingress and egress. Once inside, occupants enjoy impressive head and legroom. The cabin is narrow but easily accommodates two large adults. The seats seem flat and firm at first, but prove comfortable enough for a few hours. The main gauges, housed in a 50s style instrument binnacle, are easily scanned, as are the free-standing dials mounted right on the dash itself. The audio and temperature controls are easy to use but are a stretch for the driver to reach. The air conditioner works efficiently. Tiny sunvisors do little to protect occupants from direct sunlight streaming in through the side windows. Reasonable trunk space for so small a car.

Reliability
Not rated, insufficient data. The current Smart looks mechanically simpler than its predecessor, but is still an unproven design. The new Smart is also sold in the U.S., which makes having a mechanical breakdown there less problematic than it would have been with the previous model. Four year/80,000 bumper to bumper warranty.

Comments
The Smart is powered by a three cylinder 1000 cc gasoline engine that produces 70 horsepower (on premium fuel). Power reaches the rear wheels via a five-speed automated manual transmission with a fully-automatic setting. A conventional PRNDL gear selector has a manumatic mode, with paddle shifters added on all but the Pure trim level. Built in France.

Pricing
The Pure model is priced at $14,840 with air conditioning. Upgrading to the Passion and Brabus trim levels represent good value. Pure Style and Leather packages are priced to content. Aggressively priced Touring package. The convertible body style sells for $3000 more than an equivalent hatchback Value and the Smart cannot really be reconciled. You have to love the design or the sheer novelty of the car to consider it, as it is a non-starter on a size-price-features-value basis. Sales of the Smart suffered a 25 percent retreat in 2010 following a big drop in 2009.

Safety
Standard side airbags. Tested by the IIHS, the ForTwo was rated Good in the frontal, side and rollover impact tests, and Acceptable in the in the rear impact test. Standard ABS and ESC.
 

What’s new
Stability control and brake override are standard on all Yaris variants for 2011. Last year for the current car.

Performance
The 1.5L engine is economical and willing, but can sound coarse when extended. The basic four-speed automatic transmission works very well in the Yaris. The manual transmission has a pleasant gearchange but the clutch, with a friction point too close to the floor, is unpleasant. Hatchback: the supple suspension reconciles ride and handling very well. Though it exhibits some body roll, the Yaris is an agile companion on twisty roads. Nicely-weighted, precise, electrically-assisted steering. Sedan: with lighter steering and different suspension settings, the sedan is not quite as sharp on the road as the hatchback. The narrow front seats are comfortable; and the rear seat is supportive and surprisingly roomy. The steering wheel is a long reach of for some drivers. The lower roofline of the sedan reduces the view out for rear passengers. The trunk is tiny on the hatch; spacious on the sedan.

Reliability
Above average reliability due to Japanese component sourcing and the proven powertrain. Three year/60,000 km warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Comments
The interior features a central instrument binnacle displaying instruments of great clarity. The dashboard centre stack is quite slim to allow for generous space at knee level. Interior materials are attractive, even on the base model, and very well assembled. Made in Japan.

Pricing
Most trim upgrades and option packages are good value. Equipped with automatic transmission and the Enhanced Convenience package, the Yaris sedan is priced roughly $400 more than a four-door hatchback with the Convenience package. With manual transmission, prices of the same two cars are very close. Uncompetitive factory incentives are devised to discourage sales of this low profit margin Japanese-built car. A Honda Fit LX is priced about $350 less than a Yaris LE four-door hatchback with the Convenience package and costs about the same to lease (48 months, $0 down) or finance (60 months, $0 down). Excellent resale value.

Safety
Seat-mounted side and side-curtain airbags are standard. The Yaris was rated Good in the IIHS frontal and side impacts, Acceptable in the rollover test and Marginal in rear impacts. ABS and ESC are standard on all models this year.