| It's been a while since the sub-compact
| |
| | efficient vehicle. And these cars are
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| car market has garnered such attention in
| |
| | fuel-efficient. The new Honda Fit for
|
|
| |
| | example,
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| North America. Our friends in Europe
| |
| | gets an estimated 33 miles per gallon in
|
| have always known the virtues of small
| |
| | the city, 38 mpg on the highway.But these
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| cars.
| |
| | are no one-show ponies. Beyond fuel
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| But here in North America, SUV's have
| |
| | efficiency they offer respectable
|
| dominated parking lots at the local Pier
| |
| | performance. The Toyota Yaris has 106
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| 1 for
| |
| | horsepower which may not sound like
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| more than a decade. However as current
| |
| | much, but tipping the scales at only
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| gas prices inch forward and with future
| |
| | 2315 lbs, it has a power-to-weight ratio
|
| prices looking uncertain (and by
| |
| | close
|
| uncertain I mean they're certainly going
| |
| | to that of the 220 horsepower Hummer H3.
|
| to be
| |
| | And these cars can carry just about
|
| higher than today) more people are
| |
| | anything. With the rear seats up, the
|
| buying small, fuel-efficient cars. We've
| |
| | Honda Fit can swallow 21.3 cubic feet of
|
| seen a
| |
| | gear.
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| lot of activity in the segment recently.
| |
| | A Ford Crown Victoria by comparison can
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| Toyota has introduced the Yaris, Hyundai
| |
| | hold 20.6 cubic feet worth of cargo in
|
| has
| |
| | the
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| significantly revised the Accent, Kia
| |
| | trunk.The domestics haven't invested
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| has updated the Rio, Honda has just
| |
| | much in this class recently, if ever. The
|
| introduced
| |
| | Chevrolet
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| the Fit, and Nissan will introduce the
| |
| | Aveo is essentially a re-badged Daewoo
|
| Versa in May of this year. And let's not
| |
| | and doesn't offer the level of refinement
|
| forget
| |
| | as
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| Scion with the xA and xB.Having a car in
| |
| | the others. The Ford Focus is larger and
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| the sub-compact market makes sense for a
| |
| | more expensive, as is the new for '06
|
| variety of reasons. First,
| |
| | Dodge Caliber. But with the uncertainty
|
| it introduces new, young buyers to the
| |
| | of gas prices and growing competition in
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| brand. If their experience is good
| |
| | the segment, GM, Ford, and
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| they'll stick
| |
| | DaimlerChrysler would be wise to offer
|
| with the brand as they grow up and move
| |
| | competitive
|
| to a larger vehicle. Toyota, Honda,
| |
| | offering in this segment and introduce
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| Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mazda
| |
| | first time buyers to their respective
|
| and others all got their start in the
| |
| | brands.
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| sub-
| |
| | For most manufacturers, having
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| compact car market. Secondly, it
| |
| | competitive sub-compact cars has grown
|
| provides a safety net during economic
| |
| | the
|
| downturns.
| |
| | business and created brand loyalty,
|
| If gas prices rise unexpectedly, the
| |
| | something the folks in Detroit have been
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| knee-jerk reaction is to get a small,
| |
| | trying
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| more fuel-
| |
| | to do for a while now.
|
