Honda Civic should top best new small cars list
Though not everyone’s a fan, the sedan is, year after year, a reliable and smart choice
The five cars in this category represent some rather intriguing choices, each with different strengths and weaknesses.
This makes picking a winner a tough job for those of us charged with the task. When the votes are counted, I expect that the Honda Civic Sedan will win the small car category. Honda Civic Sedan —$24,990 as tested The bestselling car in Canada since the late 1990s, the Civic just keeps on chopping wood, year after year. As reliable as death and taxes. Honda’s brilliance with this car has been its ability to isolate consumer expectations and hit that bull’s eye repeatedly. The all-new tenth generation model is a reflection of that ethic.
The spacious EX-T model I drove equipped with an all-new 1.5-litre turbocharged (you heard right!) four-cylinder engine and CVT gearbox was simply a pleasure to drive.
Both powerful and refined, the Civic does it all: darty off-the-line sports sedan, quiet highway cruiser and comfortable daily driver.
Not all of my AJAC colleagues are big fans of the creased, angular sheet metal and tuner-friendly proportions, but I love the new look. It was time for a change.
The rest, in no particular order: Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI —$20,595 as tested After 22 years, the 2-point slow is dead. After powering legions of Jettas since 1993, Volkswagen has stuck a fork in the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine so many have come to know and tolerate. In its place is in an impressive little whippersnapper: a 1.4litre turbocharged four.
Mated to a slick-shifting six-speed automatic, the 1.4 makes the rather blandly handsome Jetta a faster and more fun-to-drive car than its sedate looks would suggest.
Believe me, this little motor really brings the wood:150 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque.
Despite the increase in power, the Jetta remains a very composed and comfortable car to drive at any speed. Scion iM —$21,990 as tested If the Scion iM looks and feels familiar, it should.
That’s because it is essentially the successor to the Matrix, the fivedoor hatch that was in Toyota’s lineup for a decade.
Like the Matrix, the iM shares a platform with the Corolla and is powered by a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or a CVT.
In terms of the driving experience, the iM is a study in highs and lows.
Its comfortable ride, peppy acceleration and great seats are definite strengths. On the other hand, its plain interior and curious omissions (no navigation or push button starter) feels like cost-cutting. Toyota Yaris Sedan —$20,200 as tested Yes, the grouper-faced front end of the Toyota Yaris is something only company executives could truly love but the rest, especially the interior, is quite good. Why? Mazda DNA. The Yaris is a Mazda2 (a car no longer sold in North America) in Toyota clothing and the styling, especially on the inside, is all Mazda.
From the infotainment screen, to the controls on the centre console that operate it, to the steering wheel, the Mazda touches are as plain as the nose on your face.
The seats aren’t great, but everything else is pretty impressive.
On the road, the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine/6-speed automatic combo offers reasonably zippy performance in sport mode, and is pretty quiet otherwise while delivering a comfortable ride. Smart fortwo —$21,895 as tested Appreciating the Smart fortwo is all about embracing its quirky nature.
Are those air vents? Is that a boost gauge? My, that’s a long shifter!
Yes, those are air vents and no, it’s a tach. And the automatic shifter is very long, one of the longest I’ve ever seen in a small car. Or any car, for that matter.
I’m being a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the fortwo is a different animal that requires a bit of getting used to.
All-new for 2016, the fortwo not only gets a snappy design update, but also a performance boost.
Throttle response, especially in sport mode, is much improved over the outgoing car and while the ride can be a bit choppy, it’s still pretty good for such a small car. Freelance writer Lee Bailie is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach him, email wheels@thestar.ca and put his name in the subject line.