High on the list of reasons to buy a small car are affordability and fuel economy. And a vehicle’s compact size is a benefit when it comes to parking and overall maneuverability.
But getting the right one takes a bit of research to find the model that works for you. Here’s a list of things to consider in the small car shopping process.
During the early months of the pandemic, gas prices plummeted. Fast-forward more than a year and the opposite is true. Gas prices keep climbing. A big driver of small car sales is efficiency.
When considering fuel economy, the flip side of that is power. Most small cars with 40 mpg fuel economy numbers typically use small-displacement non-turbocharged engines. They’re great for delivering high fuel economy and make terrific city cars. But if you have any thoughts of freeway driving, you may want to consider a more powerful turbocharged version to make merging a little easier.
Another option is either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery-powered electric vehicle. All deliver great acceleration along with high efficiency. The downside is that typically hybrids and EVs are more expensive. Federal tax credits and local incentives on plug-ins and EVs may take some of the sting out of the higher prices.
EVs can be an excellent choice for city dwellers or those with short commutes. As an example, the 2021 Chevy Bolt boasts a range of 118 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) for combined highway and city driving.
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Most small cars come with traditional 5-, 6- or now more commonly, 8- or 9-speed automatic transmissions. Also, for traditionalists who like to shift for themselves, some 6-speed manuals are still available but not nearly as common as they once were. The wider range of gears delivers better fuel economy thanks to the overdrive top gears.
In another trend, many of these small vehicles are relying on continuously variable transmissions. These CVTs are smooth in operation, but there is still a tendency for them to feel a bit elastic in acceleration or hold the engine at a high rpm in steady-state cruising. This droning condition is called “motorboating.” A test drive will quickly tell you which transmission is right for you.
Small cars are, well, small. Most have seating for five but in pretty cramped quarters. If you’re single, married, or have two small children, most subcompacts can meet your needs. A popular class of vehicles, the subcompact crossover SUV may be suitable, too. These include the Buick Encore, Chevy Trax, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-30.
They offer a bit more room than the traditional sedan or hatchbacks based on the same underpinnings. Plus, this new class of vehicles offers the additional benefit of a higher ride height, better visibility, optional all-wheel drive, and more cargo space behind the second row.
The other option is to move up a class to a compact-sized vehicle.
The other side of vehicle size is safety. As car size increases, the more mass you have around you, the safer you are. It’s simple physics. Although many of today’s cars are the safest ever, an extra margin is provided in compact-class cars as opposed to a subcompact.
You can also check NHTSA and the IIHS websites to see what a vehicle’s crashworthiness is under the federal 5-star program and IIHS’ own testing standards. There are additional tests that go beyond current safety standards, like IIHS’ small overlap crash test.
Other safety features to look for include blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. These features once cost extra, but are now becoming standard or at least optional in small cars.
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Good things can come in small packages. Keep your eye out for surprise and delight features. Take the Honda HR-V, for example. Its Magic Seat configuration provides a surprising amount of cargo space and seating configurations.
Other key features to look for include keyless entry/start, heated seats, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, satellite radio, and navigation. Again, features, like Bluetooth and USB ports come standard on many entry-level cars. But other features like navigation do not and add considerably to the final price of the car.
When you’re ready to buy your small car, check out our free dealer price quote tool and let the offers come to you in your email inbox with no obligation to buy.
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