battle of the tiny cars

[brainhulk]

chevy sonic vs ford fiesta vs kia rio vs mazda 2 vs honda fit vs toyota yaris

which is the best out of these? anybody have one? is the low power a problem for merging and driving on hills? which has the best storage with seats folded down? best tech and interior?

 

[adlep]

Honda Fit is the best. Great resale value, decent MPGs, fun to drive, the seats totally fold thous increasing the storage inside. Look it up, it always wins the comparison tests.

 

[LTC8K6]

Fiesta because of it's style and it's fuel economy combo. The Fit seems to be behind on fuel economy.

 

[Demo24]

I've heard the 2 is pretty fun to drive, bit more so than the Ford. None of them are terribly fast, but should be quick enough.

The fit is nice enough, but Honda needs to get its MPG's up with the others.

 

[HAL9000]

I have a Fiesta. I like it, fun to drive, nice car, no problems with it to date, I've had it 5 years, 30,000 miles, no problems.

 

[AstroManLuca]

The Fit doesn't get good enough gas mileage for how small it is. But I rarely found merging to be a problem. I still got stuck behind people merging at 15 under the limit like always. Acceleration once you're already moving is rather poor, but it's quick off the line given the low power. Helps if you get the manual.

The interior of mine was very stripped down, but it was an 08 model. Gauges were great but the controls had an economy car vibe to them. It didn't even let you adjust the intermittent wiper interval, and mine didn't have cruise control (although the sport trim did; now all Fits have cruise).

 

[vi edit]

Fit has the best space and most...errr...utilitarian? interior. My Dad has a 2010 and it's been used like a truck most of the time (dead deer, tools, mulch, trapping supplies, fishing stuff, ect) and it's been problem free in 40,000 miles. It's a comfortable, easy to drive little thing that has pulled around 38MPG lifetime on the highway for him. I'd gladly drive one of the little tricked out sport version ones. It's one of the only cars Honda has out right now I find remotely appealing. It's not bristling with power, but it felt plenty quick for it's size and was able to get out of it's own way.

The sonic has the best power of the bunch and likely best economy in the 1.4T trim. I haven't drove one, but it's supposed to be a punchy, fun to drive little car. Economy is supposed to be easily 40+ on the highway. I've looked at them in the dealer and the back seat is nothing but a place to toss things. It's horribly small. I'm not sure if my 4 year old could even fit back there if I was driving.

No real comments on the Fiesta/2. Both of them are bit...buggy looking to me. Although the sonic isn't exactly much to look at either.

You should give the Kia Rio a shot too...decent

 

[Baked]

For utility, I don't think any of these other cars can beat the Honda Fit. My friend has the sports edition and with the back seat folded down, you can cram anything you want in it.

Pick-up speed is alright for highway merging. Not much hills in LA here, but when I need to, it has no issues going up.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Maybe it's just my driving, but over the lifetime of the car I only ever got 30 mpg overall from the Fit, and that was with mostly highway driving. I did notice, however, that the more recent Fits have slightly improved mileage, at least in the non-sport auto version. On mine, 5th gear wasn't tall enough.

 

[Sid59]

I test drove the Fit 2 years ago. The utilitarian inside was great but I didn't like the buzzy engine. Based on that and not driving any other car, I didn't choose. I'd love to drive each.

Which ever nets me the best combo of driving dynamics and mpg would get my vote. Style-wise, I wouldn't mind any of those choices.

 

[dbk]

I have a 07 Fit Sport.. bought it used and have put around 40k miles on it. No problems whatsoever. It's pretty slow but has good handling. The gas mileage isn't that great for me but I push the heck out of it everytime I drive (it's fun!). The best thing about it is how much cargo room it has with all the seats down. It fit everything I had except for my bed when I moved last year. It is terribly slow though and has a lot of road noise (expected at that price range). I'll prob keep it even if i get a new car later.

 

[momeNt]

Isn't the scion xD in this range?

 

[mmntech]

The Fiesta is a decent car and handles well. However, I really hate its glitchy transmission and anemic engine. Despite allegedly having more power than my Civic, it produces all of it at high rpm. You almost have to floor it to get it to go anywhere. It really drones too.

I've driven both the Rio5 and the Yaris. I like both a lot. The Rio has a ton of features for its price point, and a better engine with a six speed tranny. Very roomy too. Rides a little rough though. The Yaris is quick and manoeuvrable in city traffic, and quite comfortable, but is hampered by its four speed auto. Go manual with it.

Out of the ones I've driven, I'd probably take the Yaris followed by the Rio5.

As for the Sonic, haven't driven it but it's well know that I don't like Chev. I haven't been impressed with their car products in a long time. GM is a truck company.

Dodge is coming out with the new Dart later this year, which is supposedly based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Supposed to feature the same Multiair technology as the Fiat 500. They had one at the Canadian Auto Show but I couldn't get close enough to take a peak inside. Looks nice though.

 

[xanis]

Test driving the Rio5, Sonic, Fiesta and probably Fit next weekend. Will report back.

 

[foghorn67]

The Sonic. By far the funnest to drive out of all of them. To be fair I've only driven the Turbo. HP is the same, but the torque is readily available at low rpm's.
It trumps my previous Fit and Fiesta favorites.
Great storage bins everywhere inside, and a hideaway bin in the hatch valuables.
The only thing the Fit has over it, is the rear seat does amazing things.

 

[Zivic]

haven't driven them all but based on driving some and a lot of reading my top three in terms of fun to drive - considering a manual trans:

1.) Fit
2.) mazda2
3.) fiesta

Now factoring in mileage, I would probably opt for the mazda.

 

[ichy]

Yaris always seemed like a piece of junk to me.

 

[Knavish]

What about the Scion iQ ... or the Smart (lol)

 

[AstroManLuca]

What about the Scion iQ ... or the Smart (lol)

The iQ is overpriced, the Smart is just a terrible car.

 

[mmntech]

The iQ is overpriced, the Smart is just a terrible car.

Terrible is a polite way of putting it. The Smart is the worst car I've ever driven. The iQ is a pretty ugly looking car IMO, and underpowered. I'd probably go with the Fiat 500 if you're in the market for a supermini. I've heard good things about it.

 

[IGemini]

The Sonic. By far the funnest to drive out of all of them. To be fair I've only driven the Turbo. HP is the same, but the torque is readily available at low rpm's.

The LTZ Sonics feel the best, definitely. I've driven close to every trim available, and it feels like the more basic models have lower gears that are too wide. Even the auto feels like it shifts later than it should. Not a bad car otherwise, though.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Hyundai Accent should be on that list and is the winner in my eyes.

6spd manual - most in this class are 5spds.
130HP - most in this class are 110HP

Quality interior materials

The Fit while sporty is an abomination of an interior and carries horrendous fuel economy for a sub-compact. The Sonic is a tiny car, seemed the smallest of the group but quite sporting with its turbo engine

I like the Yaris for looks, but driving dynamics are weak.

Mazda 2 needs a Skyactiv engine - worst mpg of the group.... except the Fit of course.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Yaris has a dated 4 speed. I was too big for the Fiesta and Mazda 2 (6'0 180lbs). Another vote for the Accent, or save a bit and get the Rio5 (same car).

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

I would vote the Accent, too, if it was on the list. It wasn't, so I chose the Fiesta instead. The Fit, while utilitarian, is behind the other cars in fuel economy and I find its interior hideous. It's also more expensive.

 

[SparkyJJO]

The fit on the outside looks like a buck-toothed, bug-eyed, rabid squirrel. I wouldn't buy one on the gross looking exterior alone lol.