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Top 10 Fun, MPG-Friendly Cars You Can't Buy In America—Yet

popularmechanics.com — Oil is down under $120 per barrel, but gas still ain't cheap. And cars that seemed too small just a few years ago are now squarely positioned to thrive in the market-not just any market, but the biggest automotive market of them all: America's. But that doesn't mean we always get the good stuff.

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  • BlindingDawn, on 08/05/2008, -1/+34I never understood why cars are made all over the board for different countries. Particularly US automakers. Do they not think we would want something like a Fiesta that gets 50 MPG???! Is like they want to shoot themselves in the foot.
    • moracity, on 08/06/2008, -8/+19Actually, US consumers have historically NOT wanted cars like that. This has never been a small car country. Small cars have always been a niche market in the U.S, resulting in high cost to consumers. Attempts at introducing small cars have almost always failed miserably. Clearly, that may be changing. But, as soon as gas gets cheap again, everyone will forget about it. History will simply keep repeating until there is no oil left to be had.

      The U.S also has stricter safety and pollution regulations than other countries. Small cars are generally less safe and diesel fuel pollutes more than gasoline. Between lawyers and environmentalists, it's amazing that we have cars at all. Just wait for the first major accident and subsequent lawsuit with a SMART car in the U.S. The days of SMART in the U.S are numbered.
      • BoneheadFarker, on 08/06/2008, -5/+10Explain the 80's dive into small cars as a result of the 70's gas shortage.

        In the 70's, a Charger was a muscle car with a V8. In the 80's, it became a 4-banger hatchback. Most American car companies were forced to do this to many of their cars, because their monsters were getting slaughtered by economic Japanese imports. Americans will drive smaller cars, but only if they are forced to.

        Besides that, a SMART car can slam into a brick wall at 70 MPH, and the driver can walk away. They are tough little cars...

      • cawpin, on 08/06/2008, -6/+5"Besides that, a SMART car can slam into a brick wall at 70 MPH, and the driver can walk away. They are tough little cars..."

        Where the ***** did you come up with that? Have you not seen the multiple videos of them getting destroyed at 40 mph?
      • BoneheadFarker, on 08/06/2008, -1/+9@cawpin

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxmiV2PFluM
      • paulmer2003, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3Disagree. I think if gas prices up, people won't continue to buy SUVs and such. It's just not socially acceptable anymore.
      • JHW539, on 08/06/2008, -0/+7The Smart car will not drive away from a 40mph impact with a wall, but testing indicates it is likely that the *driver* will walk away without serious injury. Most of the videos online you refer to are of a Smart car impacting a barrier at 70 mph, a "test" that was done without an instrumented test dummy in the vehicle for an entertainment show. The NHSTA did a full frontal crash test and found, based on the measured forces on the test dummy, a 80 - 89% probability that the driver would walk away without serious injury from a 35 mph frontal crash into a brick wall. 40 mph is obviously going to be worse, but actual measured data strongly indicates that a Smart car driver can walk away from a 40 mph impact with a brick wall (indeed, there is over a 50% likelihood they will).
      • ukthom, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3@cawpin: That's the exact mentality that keeps the US behind the times in terms of smaller, more efficient cars than our European or Asian counterparts.

        Having just returned from the UK myself, all the cars over here seem too big for what they're used for (commuting, errands).
      • LeeSoong, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2A 50 MPG Ford ?!?

        I'd have to see it to believe it, and it still isn't using compressed air.

        Oil is stupid.

        Air is smart.
      • LeeSoong, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1The Smart ForTwo car passed all of the safety tests with flying colors, it's egg shaped steel cage scored very well.

        And considering the Smart ForTwo car as a reasonable choice instead of a scooter or motorcycle - it is a safer vehicle and no helmet required. If you still want that 'wind in you hair' feeling of a motorcycle, the Smart car comes in a full luxury convertible model - push button to put the top down or up. Very nice ride.
      • waydee, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3Show me a small car that gets anything less than 4 stars in the NCAP testing?

        US safety standards are not higher than those in Europe nor are emissions, try again.
      • secrity, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1The 1970's and 1980's small American cars sucked ass. Pintos and Vegas were ***** cars. Before fuel injection and computers, a four cylinder American car was a slug that couldn't get out of its own way.
      • hockeyplayer66, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Actually, according to a PEW research article from 2004, the US lags far behind other countries in emission standards.

        http://pewclimate.org/docUploads/Fuel%20Economy%20 ...
    • Murdats, on 08/06/2008, -1/+8people may say they want these sorts of cars, but apparently when they walk into the car lot they don't choose them.
      • LeeSoong, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4

        Sell me an Air Car so I never need to buy gasoline again, and I'll name my next child after you.
      • Sumtin2Say, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Most believe they wont fit. I'm a 6'3" Mini owner. Plenty of room. I always invite disbelievers to get inside. Most families have at least two cars. No reason 1 of them can't be small.

        And usually there is no reason the family car has to be 12mpg bus.
      • nytejade, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Go by any car lot and tell me what you see? SUV's and full-size sedans. Where are the fits, civics, corrollas, yaris'? Sure some lots still have a bunch, but the smaller guys have none. They're in ridiculously high demand. It's one of the reasons we're seeing this sudden drop in price for oil.

        I hope the demand for these little econoboxes continues to increase, because demand for oil will continue to decrease.
      • 48snickers, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1That was true in 2007. Things have changed a lot since then. Many dealers won't even take SUV's in as trade ins anymore. I bought a Honda Fit a year ago. With 10,000 miles, Kelly Blue Book lists it as being worth $2000 more than I paid for it new now. Small cars demand is way outpacing supply.
      • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2@Sumtin2Say

        I'm 6'4" and drive a Jetta, the space some of these small cars is amazing.
    • gtluke, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2the us has extremely tight crash standards and emissions requirements. that fiesta will come here, but it will have 500lbs of safety and emissions crap on it, and get only 75% of the fuel mileage.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2European safety standards are probably the highest in the world.

      Small =/= Weak.
    • devophl, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Detroit has tried small cars in the past and its always been a passing fad. To put it mildly, Detroit has lost a ton of money trying to sell small cars in the US and I doubt they are going to move to smaller cars unless gas gets over $6/gallon.

      The move to more fuel efficient in this country is moving away from 12 MPG SUVs, Pickups and Hummers to cars that get about 22-25 MPG on the highway. I find it interesting that cars that get 27-30 MPG are considered and marketed as fuel efficient.

      I saw a stats that was for around 2000 or 2002 that showed that 40% of all vehicles on the roads were pickups, SUVs and minivans, all getting under 20 MPG. Another 30% of traffic was trucking and business related vehicles. The last 30% was regular automobiles. The average gas mileage for all vehicles was about 14.5 MPG. So if you're getting over 20 MPG, you're way ahead of the US curve!

      We're still a long way away from being like Europe and Asia where small gas efficient cars are common on the US highways.
      • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Throwing in busses and what not is unfair... their miles per gallon per person is pretty high :p
  • Mjeacoma, on 08/05/2008, -2/+7I would buy one today in cash
  • serif69, on 08/05/2008, -2/+24Please do not bring the Euro Civic Type-R to America. By all accounts, it is a piece of crap compared to the old one, and especially compared to the new JDM Type-R. We already have the Civic Si, which is 95% of the JDM Type-R, and a better car than the hatch.

    But please, feel free to send the Fiesta ST, Focus RS, Corsa VXR, and Scirocco.
    • fahrvergnuugen, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2FWIW, the Scirocco is mechanically identical to the MK5 GTI. VW doesn't want to sell it in the US for fear of it cannibalizing GTI sales (which it most certainly would do) and because the exchange rate sucks making it nearly impossible for them to be competitive on price. The article claims that "the sporty version" gets 37MPG is wrong, the 2.0T version gets 28 - 32mpg at best.

      No, you can't buy a Scirocco here in the US, but you can buy the GTI which deservedly won Top Gear's Car of the Year award.
      • Sumtin2Say, on 08/06/2008, -1/+0I think the GTI is so ugly. Would be willing to pay couple extra thou for the Scirocco. Ended up with a Mini. Options for premium compacts are so limited here. I live in Metro Detroit and no one gives me ***** about having bought foreign. They know they don't make anything like it.
      • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1@Sumtin2Say

        There's always the GLI, just a little bigger (and a sedan rather than a hatch).
  • t4ll3y, on 08/05/2008, -0/+26Apparently, the trick to making a car efficient is making it a hatchback. Who would have guessed?
    • allantan, on 08/06/2008, -1/+13Its the design that combines a small car with good cargo capacity.

      Small hatchbacks are great and a good compromise. You can hold enough people or a ton of cargo, but not both.
    • Justice101, on 08/06/2008, -10/+3It all has to do with the laws of aerodynamics and ugly my boy; it's quite elementary. There have some kind of a linked relationship if we take the Prius as any example. It's gets okay gas mileage compared to the diesel cars listed and looks okay. While a Ferrari looks really cool, but gets terrible gas mileage.
      • ukblacknight, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2So based on your theory, if I built a car that looks like a house, due to it being ugly and unaerodynamic, it will have a very high MPG?

        Have you stopped to think that the Ferrari has a low MPG because of ummm.. that powerful engine in the back and it can get to 0-60 quicker than you can hit the reply button?
    • LeeSoong, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Look at how most people drive:

      1. By themself back and forth to work.
      2. Dropping off one other person (spouse / child / buddy)
      3. With people going out to dinner, shows, etc
      4. Hauling stuff.
      5. Combo of the above (going camping, on holiday, etc.)

      You don't need a Ford Mustang or a 4x4 Monster Truck SUV Hummer to get the job done.

      The hatchback design even allows room for a pop-up 3rd row seat for 2 more passengers facing backwards.

      Stationwagons in the '70s had this feature - when you need to haul the kids to the game pop-up seats let you get 6 kids in the car easily. But when you want to haul stuff, fold all the seats down and you have a lot of cargo space. Some of the current SUVs also have the pop-up 3rd row seating as standard equipment.

      I would like to see the Ford come out with that design in their hatchback - dual folding bench seats in the back, so you could easily get four people loaded up into the little hatchback, or fold down both seats and stuff the car with whatever you need to take on a weekend road trip.
      • Sumtin2Say, on 08/06/2008, -0/+0Not missing the days when I would sit down on the pleather (?) bench in the family station wagon in the summer and burn my bum. Then you reach for the belt buckle and burn your damn hand. What were they thinking with the faux wooden paneling?
    • monkeyness, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3The problem is hatchbacks are classified as "cars" whereas SUVs are classified as "trucks". US Automakers gave hatchbacks a bad image and pushed SUVs because SUVs have much more lenient quality requirements (MPG, etc).
  • GRTWHT, on 08/05/2008, -1/+9I'd gladly buy most any of these if they were available.

    It seems dumb that we can't get any of these, but we can get the Smart which is tiny but not nearly as stylish and gets surprisingly poor milage.
    • BlindingDawn, on 08/05/2008, -0/+3There is a 1.5 year waiting period for the Smart car vs. mass producing Fords in the US NOW
    • LeeSoong, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1The Smart Car should be getting an Engine upgrade in the USA that it will be getting in Europe - the 'Engine-Off' at red lights.

      No engine Idle - it turns off when the car is not moving.

      Raises the car's average MPG from 40 MPG to 60+ MPG in city driving - where you'll spend half your time waiting on block by block red lights anyway... great for city drivers.

      And remember, the Electric Smart Car will be selling in 2010:

      http://www.ecomodder.com/blog/2008/06/23/daimler-a ...
  • UltramegaOK, on 08/05/2008, -1/+8The A-Class Mercedes is hot
  • sekramer, on 10/06/2008, -0/+15Ford Fiesta -- who knew??
    • ukthom, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2They are fab cars, having been in one.
  • welliwonder, on 08/06/2008, -1/+152009 Ford Fiesta ST, doesn't look to bad.
    2009 Ford Focus RS, looking sweet.
    2008 Honda Civic Type-R, yum.

    Oh and ***** you Fifth Gear for trying to rip off Top Gear, and doing so poorly.
    • BoneStamp, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1The Opel Corsa OPC/Vauxhall Corsa VXR was awesome too.
    • goneale, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2@ welliwonder:
      "Oh and ***** you Fifth Gear for trying to rip off Top Gear, and doing so poorly."

      I cosign!!
    • Owwmykneecap, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2All the people on fifth gear used to be on top gear years ago.

      Fifth gear started when top gear got cancelled.

      A few years later top gear came back in it's present format.
  • BoonTobias, on 08/06/2008, -0/+7the smart isn't a practical car most people because you can't carry *****, but all these cars seat 4 people, get great mpg, look great, don't cost much, and fun to drive?
    I've had 3 gm cars, but i don't see why i'd ever go back
    • BoneStamp, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1FYI: The Opel Corsa OPC/Vauxhall Corsa VXR in this list is a GM car. I've always had GMs too... just got a 2008 Saab 9-3 (which is a GM brand). It's rated at 19mpg city, but I get an average of 25mpg and I only drive in the city. It looks great, handles great, has a turbo that kicks in some extra power when you need it, uses regular gas (not premium like some of these small turbo engines), has airbags everywhere, carries four people comfortably and costs under 30k USD. Best value I've ever got in a car.
  • woodrow8292, on 08/06/2008, -7/+28This would probablly be my guess as why people don't want to drive these cars in the US:



    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/rgma68/unti ...
    • BoonTobias, on 08/06/2008, -4/+3shatbrix
    • ivosilva, on 08/06/2008, -1/+19Because you don't know how to drive in the US, and switch lanes with incoming traffic?




      Accidents happen everywhere, and i'm pretty sure the accident/deaths rate in the US isn't much different from the ones in any european country... (I'm just too lazy to search)...
    • serif69, on 08/06/2008, -0/+12Because that wouldn't have happened were the car not a Smart but a Yukon XXXL...
      • praisethelard, on 08/06/2008, -0/+6Well...if you drove a monster truck, you'd probably just get away with some tire damage.
    • arjie, on 08/06/2008, -2/+9Ah, you don't want that car because you're always hitting big trucks? Yes yes, that is a smart idea.
    • Sumtin2Say, on 08/06/2008, -2/+0That looks like the same accident I saw in a forwarded email message with the decapitated driver.

      With increasingly bigger vehicles on our streets, the only way I can be sure my family will be safe is to get an International from their Family line. Oh nevermind, I went to their website to get the link and I see they got rid of that ridiculous concept. So much for that little joke.
    • woodrow8292, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2Ahhhh it was a joke. Get it? Besides I would never drive one of those cars since we get over 100 inches of snow in the winter a smart car would be about useless for several months of the year for me.
  • sonicularulus, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2okay, now can we get a LIST of cars available in the US?
  • dood, on 08/06/2008, -1/+3Why would oil being just under $120 per barrel lead to cheap gas?
    • evilbob333, on 08/06/2008, -0/+4Cause gas is refined from oil.
      • dood, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Have we adjusted the meaning of "cheap gas" or something? Gas went up way before oil reached $100 per barrel.
  • greaseddeafguy, on 08/06/2008, -4/+2although they look cool, they are all way too small for the average American family. It would be nice to have a limited run of them in the US for people who don't need anything larger.
    • ukblacknight, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Why are they too small for the average American family?
      • Coventrian, on 08/06/2008, -0/+0Have you seen the size of the Average American family?
        they are all fat as f*ck, they wouldn't get their huge sugary drinks in there let alone themselves.
      • greaseddeafguy, on 08/07/2008, -0/+0a family of 4 would not fit in there if they had any bags/luggage, etc. Add any hobby/sport, and you would need a few of those to haul your gear.
  • jpaolini, on 08/06/2008, -1/+20Top 10 fun MPG-friendly cars - now on more pages! For those who can't be assed...

    10. 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    9. 2008 Renault Twingo GT Turbo
    8. 2009 Ford Fiesta ST
    7. 2009 Ford Focus RS
    6. 2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo
    5. 2008 Mazda2
    4. 2008 Opel Corsa OPC/Vauxhall Corsa VXR
    3. 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco
    2. 2008 Honda Civic Type-R
    1. 2008 Fiat 500
    • marm0lade, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Yea, 10 ***** pages of one paragraph descriptions. I stopped after the 2nd page.
    • 1shawn, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3Um... did you look at the bottom of the first page? The complete list is there including thumbnail images of each... for those who can't be assed!
    • chiapet, on 08/06/2008, -1/+1Not on that list is the Audi TT 2.0 TDI quattro now this is a car for me check the specks
      170 hp, 258 lb-ft 2.0L TDI 0-62 mph in 7.5 sec, and getting 44.3 mpg (US) (but not at the same time)

      http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/26/audi-announces- ...
    • PrometheusBorn, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2If you look at just ONE page, it is quite nice and shows you awesome thumbnail shots that are alot more valuable than reading a list of cars that include: Fiat 500 & Ford Focus RS that you wouldn't have any idea what it was.

      Just click the link, people. This is one time where a list does it no justice.
  • jopache1, on 08/06/2008, -0/+7How is it that it says the fiesta gets 50mpg from a 2.0 liter engine and the focus here (US) is rated at mid 30s highway mileage from a 2.0? Is there a huge weight and aerodynamic difference between the two or something?
    • paulmer2003, on 08/06/2008, -1/+6Emissions laws.
    • secrity, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2I believe that the Brit version runs on diesel, which usually gets better mileage than gasoline.
    • cardinalb, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2No way in hell does a Fiesta ST get 50mpg, you would be lucky with 30. I know someone who has one.
      • waydee, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Very true, the standard 1.4/1.6 might reach 50mpg but not the ST.
    • Rendezvous, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Diesel.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1the focus is the next car up with ford. so its bigger and heavier.

      add emission laws and the fact they can get away with it...
    • EtherGnat, on 08/06/2008, -0/+4Be careful comparing European MPGs with American. I'm not sure in this case, but frequently articles forget to convert from imperial gallons to the smaller American gallons.
  • wassim2k, on 08/06/2008, -1/+8Article about MPG-friendly cars, yet no MPG rating on most of the cars mentioned. Nice job Popular Mechanics.
  • 3amboo, on 08/06/2008, -1/+14We always get the good ***** last! Cell Phones... Cars... Girls...
    • ltethe, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3But we got guns! And tanks! And jets!

      All kinds of good stuff that we can't use, but we gots it, first, and bigger and badder then anyone else!
  • coustoe, on 08/06/2008, -9/+2Yep they all run on Diesal which is almost 30-40% more Expensive then unleaded gas. So in the end your paying for a small ugly car that cost the same to fuel as a normal car.
    • serif69, on 08/06/2008, -2/+4Um. Not a one of those runs on diesel.
      • coustoe, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3you mustive not read the article all of them run on diesel
      • serif69, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1You are not looking at the same article, are you?
    • Rudegar, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1here diesel is cheaper then unleaded used to be 30-40% cheaper but these days it's close to normal oct92
  • mmlenz, on 08/06/2008, -7/+1They are cheap because they don't meet modern emissions standards. You want an efficient vehicle. Go live in Beijing and use the money you save on gas to buy a respirator ;)
    • mizike, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2You do realize these are currently being sold in Europe, and that Europe has much more stringent emissions standards that the U.S. *****, by 2010 China will have more stringent standards than the U.S.
    • elucubra, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2European emission standards are on par or stricter that U.S. Get you facts straight befor shouting your ignorance in public.
  • qwkredfox, on 08/06/2008, -9/+3I wish they could make them look like normal cars. I dont think it would be that hard; just need to add a trunk.

    they look like miniature minivans.
  • JeffH, on 08/06/2008, -8/+5I only looked through about half the list...but why does it seem like every one of those cars is an ugly-ass hatchback egg-shaped car? I mean, it's possible to make attractive hatchbacks, look at the old Nissan 240SX and 300ZX. Why are the ugly; "I escaped from the egg hatchery and became a car" models popular?
    • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -1/+1more than 2 people can fit in them
  • banshee9x, on 08/06/2008, -3/+6More then half these cars look very similar to each other...
  • Protoman, on 08/06/2008, -1/+5No mention of the Lupo? Saw it on Top Gear a while back and I wonder why I never see them around. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Lupo

    "The Lupo 3L was a special-edition made with the intent of being the world's first car in series production consuming as little as 3 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (78 miles per US gallon or 94 miles per Imperial gallon)."
    • Rudegar, on 08/06/2008, -0/+4vw stoped making lupo's in 2005
      as your wiki link sat
  • dark_helmet, on 08/06/2008, -0/+15As far as i noticed they didn't specify which MPG they were using. Assuming that they did not convert the MPG into US, they're not massively more fuel efficient than what we already have. Sure we have some gas guzzlers, but we also have some more efficient cars.
    To put things in perspective:
    40 (miles per Imperial gallon) = 33.3069536 miles per US gallon
    50 (miles per Imperial gallon) = 41.633692 miles per US gallon
    • tacotortilla, on 08/08/2008, -0/+1Haahaha look at all the decimal places. you shoulda said
      40.0000000 (miles per Imperial gallon) = 33.3069536 miles per US gallon
      50.000000 (miles per Imperial gallon) = 41.633692 miles per US gallon
  • o0joshua0o, on 08/06/2008, -3/+1I just want a reliable minivan with excellent gas mileage. Is this too much to ask?
    • DavidGuetta9, on 08/06/2008, -1/+7yes. you're asking for a minivan...
      • o0joshua0o, on 08/06/2008, -1/+1Some of us need to be able to transport a whole family at once.
      • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2How many ***** kids do you have?
    • paulpas, on 08/06/2008, -2/+0I want an AWD station wagon with a 6-speed transmission which seats 7. This should already be on the market.
    • gtluke, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1paul, the ford flex, well minus the manual tranmission
      • paulpas, on 08/21/2008, -0/+0I'll have to get a Volvo V70R or 95.5 Audi S6 and settle for the 5-speed.

        I forgot to mention, 15mpg in town is not approved.
  • presidentjapan, on 08/06/2008, -1/+6Suzuki Swift. It's the hotness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU89JpVmtwk
  • ryan850, on 08/06/2008, -10/+2Does fun = gay? I was thinking gay = happy.
    Or is it a requirement that all electric cars be hatchbacks?
  • Netik09, on 08/06/2008, -0/+10Wow. Our Ford Focus really sucks now that I've seen theirs.
    • gtluke, on 08/06/2008, -0/+4if you want theirs, its available in 2 flavors here. the mazda 3 is the 4/5 door euro focus built in japan with mazda badges, and the 3 door is sold here as the volvo c30.

      ford knows that the expensive small cars will sell better with jap/euro names attached.
  • wrestlingnrj, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Now if the Ford Focus RS was rear wheel drive instead of front and available in the US I might consider getting it. Even though I've been a V8 guy my whole life, it would be nice to own a smaller car with better mileage for daily driving, especially since that means I could build up my charger. I'm also hoping Toyota comes out with a new AE86, because I would definitely buy one of those.
    • eggsovereasy, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1So it's less safe?

      All wheel drive I get.
    • wrestlingnrj, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1I've always been about performance and racing capabilites, cars are my hobby, and FWD cars are not about performance, they're economy cars no matter what way you look at it. I don't get how it would be less safe either.
  • mizike, on 08/06/2008, -1/+310 cars, 10 pages. When did web designers become such assholes?
    • Rudegar, on 08/06/2008, -0/+4more room for stupid adds and banners that way they can have new ones on each page
  • minox, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2Traditionally there hasn't been the market for these cars in the US as there has been in Europe. Probably the most important factor is family size. European women generally stay single longer and subsequently have less children if they finally do have children at all. Another factor, the mpg factor, has always been more of an issue in Europe where gas prices per liter have dwarfed US gas prices, even at our current high rates.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1More *****. Lots of people have big families in Europe without the need for monstrosities (though these days monstrosities are more prevalent.)
  • elucubra, on 08/06/2008, -2/+4They forgot the SEATs. Spanish fun n' flair plus German tech. No wonder SEAT lead the WTCC (world touring car championship) ahead of BMW, Chevrolet, and Honda.

    Check this one out:

    " ...Ibiza Cupra 1.9 TDI as it boasts more torque than the Porsche Boxster S or a Subaru Impreza WRX."

    http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-drivi ...

    SEATs ROCK!
    • dengzhi, on 08/06/2008, -5/+10-60 in 7 seconds? my lambo does it in 3.
      • Owwmykneecap, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2my internet penis does it in 3.14.

        moron
  • flaznog, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3Here are a whole bunch of fuel efficient van/cars that are not in the usa yet.


    Citron Berlingo
    Peugeot Partner
    Fiat Doblo
    Renault Kangoo
    Ford Tourneo Connect
    Skoda Roomster
    Skoda Praktik
    Mercedes-Benz Vaneo
    Volkswagen Caddy
    Opel Combo
  • 1shawn, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3I for one welcome our small car overlords. Bring em on! Mass produce them so they'll be affordable for everybody! I've always been a fan of small cars. Too many people drive vehicles bigger than their needs. I can understand a large family having a small SUV, but a single person driving a Hummer is just ridiculous.
  • brettg102, on 08/06/2008, -1/+5Americans hate hatchbacks...I have no idea why. I'm guessing its the stigma of the minivan that has made us this way...I howver like hatchbacks, cargo+room=win
    • secrity, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2I dislike hatchbacks because anything that I am transporting becomes visible to outsiders; I prefer not to advertise what I am carrying in my car's truck.
      • akilleen, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2A lot of hatchbacks have sort of a cover that goes between the top of the back seat and the rear door, covering anything that you may have in the back.
      • iamvahe, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Ever heard of window tints?
  • slickfire, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Dugg for Scirocco
  • gormanwvzb, on 08/06/2008, -1/+3One of the concerns would be whether the cars meet all of the US safety requirements. That's not to say they don't, but they may not. Additionally, California and one other state have strict rules keeping out almost every diesel automobile available in the US.

    Now, when it comes to electric cars, London has had some success. I read a great article about it titled, "Electric Car Finds its Niche," found at http://economicefficiency.blogspot.com/2008/08/ele ...
    • computershack, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2Considering that the EU has had higher safety requirements than the US for decades, I fail to see why they would not only meet but far exceed US standards. After all, you've still not got ABS in a lot of vehicles, let alone electronic brake distribution.
  • acatzr800, on 08/06/2008, -2/+3click story link for 10 pictures of the rear ends of ugly hatchbacks (that wish to be called sporty) taken along some craggy volcanic wasteland. (There are a few exceptions)

    By seeking to be different, they've become the same. And by no means should the 500 be #1. Just eww.
  • cl2yp71c, on 08/06/2008, -3/+2In the looks dept., only the VW and Focus seem decent.
    The rest are ugly as *****!
  • xmodem, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Man, i would buy the focus RS in a heatbeat if it was here.
  • superrandomguy, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2why is a 300hp turbocharged Focus RS on a list of "MPG Friendly" cars?
    • computershack, on 08/06/2008, -2/+3Because it is MPG friendly thanks to a little thing called a turbocharger. Unlike the USA, we don't need to have 5.7L V8's to get 300BHP. We can do double that from a 2 litre.
      • superrandomguy, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1adding a turbocharger to a car gives it more power. adding more power to a car makes most humans (no matter where they live) want to drive faster. driving faster = less mpg.

        the car mentioned in the article (a prototype 5 cylinder 2.5l 300hp turbo) just seemed a little out of place...although i'm sure there are some revolutionary technologies put into this car, i doubt you would be able to get better than 20mpg without completely negating the point of buying such a powerful car (to have fun and drive it fast).

        Turbochargers only make an engine more fuel efficient until you floor the gas pedal! :-)

        now if the article had referenced the current focus 2.0l turbo, i wouldn't even bother making this argument

        there are just as many upcoming technologies revolutionizing v8 fuel economy (take the 7.0L corvette that gets 30mpg highway for example)


      • superrandomguy, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1one more thing i need to point out:

        computershack: "Unlike the USA, we don't need to have 5.7L V8s to get 300BHP"

        2009 _____ Focus RS. Fill in the blank...


        coming from someone so eager to make the US vs THEM argument, i'm not surprised you've missed out on the fact that the world is shrinking.
    • tacotortilla, on 08/08/2008, -0/+1Because the list is actually titled "_Fun_ MPG-friendly cars"?
  • zmigliozzi, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2Fun as in coffin on wheels?
  • leeg, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Where's the VW Polo? I'd buy the TDI diesel version in a heartbeat if it were available here.
  • PrometheusBorn, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2Back in 2000 I test drove a Ford Puma in Dearborn when I was interviewing with Ford (They were excellent to interview candidates). It is about the size of the Focus RS, with probably near as much zip.

    At that point, I never cared for small cars much. After driving that, I thought I'd actually buy a SMALL car, and one that was a FORD if that was in America. And gas was only like a buck a gallon. It was just such a fun little car with so much umph.

    They said they couldn't bring it here because it would have failed crash safety tests. It at least answered my question at the time on why they would leave such a compelling car in Europe.
  • ITAvenger, on 08/06/2008, -1/+2I'm sick of American auto makers force feeding overpriced oversized crap to those living in the US and shipping all the good stuff overseas. It's like they're the only ones in the US that still think bigger is better. And now it's some kind of shock that they can't give away the big ass SUV? They're surprised that their cars aren't selling and the small fuel efficient imports are?

    I'd be sad if the big US auto makers fail because there's so much history there. But honestly if they go belly up it's only because they brought it on themselves. If you don't evolve, eventually you go extinct. They've brought this on themselves and I refuse to agree with any kind of government bail out for them.
  • Jagdwulfe, on 08/06/2008, -2/+2What amuses me is that none of the vehicles listed are good for families. Sure they are nice if you are a single person. However they are not vehicles that you take the wife and kids and go food shopping in. Me and I my son and 2 Akitas that I take places when I am stateside. No way in hell I would take one of these golfcarts on those trips. I would not mind a Wolfsburg Edition of the VW for use as a commuter vehicle though.
    • iamvahe, on 08/06/2008, -1/+3"However they are not vehicles that you take the wife and kids and go food shopping in."

      Why not? How many kids do you have? How much room could you possibly need to accomplish a simple task such as food shopping? Many of these cars may not have the room that you may need but there are plenty of 4 door station wagon/hatchbacks that will accomplish the task.
  • TheGhostMan, on 08/06/2008, -0/+3Well, almost every one looks way better then the Smart.
  • BrandonP63, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2$4/gallon gas or not I'll still prefer this

    http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/model/landing. ...
  • napk, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1How about the 70MPG MINI Cooper D??
  • DeuceDiggalow, on 08/07/2008, -0/+0Ride the bus you lazy morons
    • tacotortilla, on 08/08/2008, -0/+1Hahahah. But this statement implies riding the bus is more work than driving a car. In my case, it is easier to catch a bus. And I can sit back, read a book, watch a movie on my ipod, etc while riding a bus, but in the car i'd have to direct my attention to fighting traffic.
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