I’m at this year’s AJAC Testfest, an event that gathers journalists and manufacturers from all over the country for a five-day blitz of car testing. Us journalists each chose a few vehicle categories prior to arriving and we must drive these cars and trucks back-to-back in order to compare them, evaluate them and submit our votes for the best models in each category.
Once the winners of each of the 11 categories have been announced, a second round of voting takes place to determine the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year and the Canadian Utility of the Year, which be will announced next February at the Toronto Auto Show.
This year, I chose the small-car categories as I hadn’t yet driven several models within these two groups. Tough decisions had to be made, as the current crop of new cars is just that damn good.
The subcompact category is noticeably impressive. In the last decade, these small cars have grown in size, are much more refined and quiet, and in certain cases, their equipment content could almost make luxury cars blush.
But we’re not buying more of them.
Through September 2011, calendar-year subcompact sales totalled 70,642 units, down from 70,833 during the same period in 2010. It’s not a dramatic slide, but the new models that hit the market in the last 18 months (Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Scion xD) didn’t yet convince the buying public to downgrade from bigger cars.
That being said, last time I walked into a dealership leisurely shopping for a subcompact, the salesperson quickly tried to divert me to the compact model instead, stating that I could get myself a more spacious car for only a few dollars more a month. It’s tempting.
Still, I just stepped out of some great new subcompacts that could possibly convince car shoppers that a small car doesn’t automatically mean “cheap.” The Chevrolet Sonic, the Hyundai Accent, the Kia Rio, and the Nissan Versa Sedan should do well and outsell their predecessors. Even the quirky Scion iQ has its charm, despite is limited practicality.
We may sound like a broken record, but this is the truth: There has never been a better time to buy a subcompact car – and you should not be ashamed of being seen in one.
Once the winners of each of the 11 categories have been announced, a second round of voting takes place to determine the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year and the Canadian Utility of the Year, which be will announced next February at the Toronto Auto Show.
This year, I chose the small-car categories as I hadn’t yet driven several models within these two groups. Tough decisions had to be made, as the current crop of new cars is just that damn good.
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| Photo: Michel Deslauriers/Auto123.com |
The subcompact category is noticeably impressive. In the last decade, these small cars have grown in size, are much more refined and quiet, and in certain cases, their equipment content could almost make luxury cars blush.
But we’re not buying more of them.
Through September 2011, calendar-year subcompact sales totalled 70,642 units, down from 70,833 during the same period in 2010. It’s not a dramatic slide, but the new models that hit the market in the last 18 months (Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Scion xD) didn’t yet convince the buying public to downgrade from bigger cars.
That being said, last time I walked into a dealership leisurely shopping for a subcompact, the salesperson quickly tried to divert me to the compact model instead, stating that I could get myself a more spacious car for only a few dollars more a month. It’s tempting.
Still, I just stepped out of some great new subcompacts that could possibly convince car shoppers that a small car doesn’t automatically mean “cheap.” The Chevrolet Sonic, the Hyundai Accent, the Kia Rio, and the Nissan Versa Sedan should do well and outsell their predecessors. Even the quirky Scion iQ has its charm, despite is limited practicality.
We may sound like a broken record, but this is the truth: There has never been a better time to buy a subcompact car – and you should not be ashamed of being seen in one.
| 2011 (first 9 months) | 2010 (first 9 months) | |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 5508 | 5211 |
| Chevrolet Sonic | - | - |
| Fiat 500 | 4363 | - |
| Ford Fiesta | 10841 | 1919 |
| Honda Fit | 2561 | 4372 |
| Hyundai Accent | 17810 | 21055 |
| Mazda2 | 7510 | 1159 |
| MINI Cooper | 2625 | 3334 |
| Nissan Versa | 11317 | 13472 |
| Scion iQ | - | - |
| Scion xD | 942 | - |
| smart fortwo | 1445 | 1615 |
| Suzuki Swift+ | 17 | 340 |
| Toyota Yaris | 5885 | 11689 |
| TOTAL | 70642 | 70833 |