New 2012 Yaris L, 5 speed

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

For the better part of 20 years here, many small cars were usually just the breadcrumbs of the manufacture's efforts, and it showed. It showed in sub-par handling, rubbery gear changes, shoddy interior fit-and-finish, inhuman ergonomics, and general poor refinement. These were the times of the Cavalier and Tempo, dark times indeed.

Now these companies have to fight to the death, designing great small cars for us in the U.S. Europeans take it for granted, they have dozens of choices in just the B-segment, as one example. Now, we are getting a taste of quality small cars and we are loving it. One time the consumer wins, so savor it while it lasts.

totally agree here. as a small hatchback lover, there have never been this many quality small cars in the market. all i ever considered worth anything were the old civc ahd corolla hatches.

now: (in no particular order)
ford fiesta
fit
accent
chevy sonic (yes, i think it will prove to be a decent car)
yaris
mazda 2
versa (not my thing but still a good car)
fiat 500
mini

i ended up with the veloster as my main car, and as much as i love it i dont want to spend $18-$19k on a second car.

[sushiic]

Originally Posted by roxy1

as a small hatchback lover, there have never been this many quality small cars in the market. all i ever considered worth anything were the old civc ahd corolla hatches.

Me too. The only cars I think are worth the expense are compact-yet-roomy hatchbacks & wagons (and smaller minivans)! My mom passed down an anti-sedan bias to me early on - and I still don't care for them.

3 Doors look the sharpest, and I think it's too bad that we don't have more 3 door choices here - like the Mazda2 or the Sonic (3D sold in other markets).

After the HB choices of the early 90's, they faded away, and it was danged hard to find a good HB in N. America. So glad now that we are given these new choices. I hope to see even more models, like the Renault Modus'es/Nissan Note, Mazda Verisa, Nissan Micra, VW Up, and all the small Japanese minivans like the Honda Freeds, Toy. Sienta, and Nissan NV200.