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A subcompact car is a car in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a microcar (see supermini for European small cars). Subcompacts/superminis are most commonly sold in Europe and Japan where they enjoy enormous popularity, and are reasonably popular in North America. In 1970, as Ford and GM planned their subcompacts, AMC threw itself into the fray.[1]
A subcompact car is an automobile in a North American vehicle size class, encompassing vehicles smaller than compact cars.[2]



  • In the early 1970s, the domestic automakers introduced even smaller subcompact cars that included the AMC Gremlin, Chevrolet Vega, and Ford Pinto.(More...)



In the early 1970s, the domestic automakers introduced even smaller subcompact cars that included the AMC Gremlin, Chevrolet Vega, and Ford Pinto. The 1977 model year marked the beginning of a downsizing of all vehicles, so that cars such as the AMC Concord and the Ford Fairmont that replaced the compacts were re-classified as mid-size, while cars inheriting the size of the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega (such as the Ford Escort and Chevrolet Cavalier ) became classified as compact cars. [3] Compact car is a largely North American term denoting an automobile smaller than a mid-size car, but larger than a North American subcompact car, similarly recognized in much of the world as a " C-segment " (between B- and D-segment ) vehicles.[3]

A subcompact car is an automobile in a North American vehicle size class, encompassing vehicles smaller than compact cars.[2]

Subcompact cars deliver excellent fuel economy without sacrificing styling or features. New subcompact cars are priced to fit any budget, making them some of the most popular new cars on the road.[4] A subcompact car is a car in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a microcar (see supermini for European small cars). Subcompacts/superminis are most commonly sold in Europe and Japan where they enjoy enormous popularity, and are reasonably popular in North America. In 1970, as Ford and GM planned their subcompacts, AMC threw itself into the fray.[1] Paper says Ford's Japanese partner will lead development of new entry to growing small car market. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Ford Motor Co. is turning to its Mazda unit to try to play catch up in the growing U.S. market for subcompact cars, according to a published report.[5]

THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; A new subcompact car from Kia Motors in South Korea is happy to play follow the leader.[6] According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a passenger car is classified as subcompact if it has between 85ft" (2400L) and 99ft" (2800L) of interior volume.[2]

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Section Contents:
  • In North America, the compact segment is still discernible as a class smaller than the average car but larger than the smallest models on the market.(More...)

  • Today numerous models of subcompacts are sold, including the Toyota Yaris, the Nissan Versa, the Honda Fit, the Scion xD, the Chevrolet Aveo, the Kia Rio, and the Hyundai Accent.(More...)



    • In North America, the compact segment is still discernible as a class smaller than the average car but larger than the smallest models on the market. [3]

    In the 1960s, some brands found that many middle class buyers wanted something larger than superminis, and built small family cars. These were usually saloons, with the first successful hatchback in this class being the 1974 Volkswagen Golf, which moved the layout of the smaller supermini Renault 5 to this segment. This proved popular and by the end of the decade, several other manufacturers launched hatchbacks like the Fiat Ritmo, Citro"n GS A, Renault 14, and Opel Kadett.[3] The Ford Focus second generation model was launched in December 2004. The Focus was the top seller in this segment, followed by the Astra. Other offerings in the small family car sector included the Peugeot 307, Honda Civic, Toyota Auris, Citroen C4, and Mazda 3.[3]

    The Escort was Britain's best selling small family car throughout the decade. Its eventual successor - the Focus - went on sale in September 1998, but Ford hedged its bets with this radical new design and kept the Escort in production for two more years. Vauxhall rejuvenated its Astra with the launch of an all-new model in October 1991, and in early 1998 with a new version.[3] The MK3 Ford Escort went on sale in the autumn of 1980 ditching the rear-drive saloon format in favour of hatchbacks and front-wheel drive. It was Britain's most popular car for most of the decade and also spawned XR3i and RS Turbo "hot versions, as well as the Orion saloon that was launched in 1983.[3] The Hillman Avenger continued to sell well as a Chrysler following the 1976 rebranding and as a Talbot after the sale of Chrysler's European operations to French carmaker Peugeot in 1979, in spite of the 1978 launch of the Horizon front-wheel drive hatchback. One of the first foreign cars to have a major impact on this sector in the UK was the Golf - a Giugiaro-styled front-wheel drive hatchback launched in 1974.[3] The 1980s began with the launch of two more front-wheel drive hatchbacks: the Ford Escort Mk III and the Lancia Delta. Similar cars such as the Renault 11, Peugeot 309, updated Opel Kadett, Renault 19, Fiat Tipo, and second generation Rover 200 followed over the course of the decade. Alfa Romeo's venture into this market, the Nissan-based Arna, was one of the few unsuccessful European small family hatchbacks of the 1980s.[3] Small European family cars include the Ford Focus, Opel Astra, Peugeot 307, Renault M"gane, and Volkswagen Golf.[3]

    A compact (North America), small family (European) or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini and smaller than a large family car. Current compact cars are between 4,100mm (161in) and 4,450mm (175in) long if they are hatchbacks, or between 4,400mm (173in) and 4,600mm (181in) if they are cabriolets, saloons or estates.[3] After the Second World War, European manufacturers usually featured two vehicle types: small cars (or superminis ) and large saloons.[3]

    The Volkswagen Golf Mk III was launched in 1991 and elected European Car of the Year.[3] The small family sector is now firmly establishd as Britain's most favoured sector. In 2004, five of Britain's 10 best selling cars were in this sector - compared to just three in 1992.[3] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a "Compact" car as measuring between 100cubic feet (2.8m") and 109cubic feet (3.1m") of combined passenger and cargo volume capacity.[3] Vehicle class size is defined in the U.S. by environmental laws in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40--Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-82 Classes of comparable automobiles. Passenger car classes are defined based on interior volume index or seating capacity, except automobiles classified as a special vehicle such as those with only two designated seating positions.[3] Multi-purpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles based on small family cars, which are called compact MPVs and compact SUVs respectively, have become popular since the early 1990s.[3] Some small family cars have also spawned compact MPVs, the first of which was the 1996 Renault Sc"nic.[3]

    The 1990s saw small family cars firmly pitch themselves as the most popular class of car in Europe.[3] Citro"n replaced the GSA with the large family car BX and later the small family car ZX.[3]

    Back in 1992, the top 10 in the UK featured three larger family cars, but from 2001 to 2006 has featured just one.[3]

    In the 1985 model year, compact cars classified by the EPA included Ford's Escort and Tempo, the Chevrolet Cavalier, Toyota Corolla, Acura Legend, Mercedes-Benz 300, Nissan Maxima, and Volvo DL.[3] Although compact cars had been made in the United States before World War II, the compact class was introduced in 1950 when Nash introduced a convertible Rambler. It was built on a 100-inch (2,540mm) wheelbase to which a station wagon, hardtop, and sedan versions were added.[3] Several competitors to the Nash Rambler arose from the ranks of America's other independent automakers, although none enjoyed the long-term success of the Rambler. Other early compact cars included the Henry J from Kaiser-Frazer (and its Sears, Roebuck and Company marketed variant the Allstate ), as well as the Willys Aero and the Hudson Jet.[3]

    By 2005, the Megane II was Britain's fourth most popular new car. The Volkswagen Golf entered its fifth incarnation at the beginning of 2004.[3]

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    Today numerous models of subcompacts are sold, including the Toyota Yaris, the Nissan Versa, the Honda Fit, the Scion xD, the Chevrolet Aveo, the Kia Rio, and the Hyundai Accent. [2] The upcoming Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover SUVs will use that architecture, also. Work has just begun on the new subcompacts, Imaki told the paper, and it will be a few years before they hit the U.S. and European market.[5]

    The Wall Street Journal reports that Mazda President and Chief Executive Hisakazu Imaki said Ford's Japanese affiliate will lead a project to develop the basic architecture for Ford's next-generation subcompact vehicle.[5] Why buy an economy car that doesn't get very good economy? Utility, perhaps? Well, Aveo (the hatch) has average utility, the back seats do fold giving it decent hauling capacity. but the rear seats leave suprising little leg room (surprising considering the greater space the competition manages). Price? Well, it's nothing to write home about, but it is comparable to the rest of this segment's numbers.[7] Let's look at it from the get go, shall we? If you're going to buy a sub-compact car you belong to the small sect of people who are looking for utility and economy at a good price.[7] SMART will not succeed in the U.S. at any price (apart from novelty sales in very congested cities - but there will not be enough of those). it is one of the worst mistakes the great car maker in the world has ever made.[7]

    Ford doesn't have a sub-compact in the States. It's Focus is loosing the hatch in its 2008 year and the car never got good mileage (with a manual gearbox and a lot of pampering you might squeeze out 34 mpg. and deserve a reward for doing so). Now, there are some in Mexico and Europe. but I said we weren't going to go there (Ka & Fiesta for those who must know).[7]
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