Are you ready for European style and gas savings? That’s what auto makers will be selling as they introduce their new small 2011 models.
Ford’s Fiesta and General Motors’ Chevrolet Cruze have looks and engineering based on versions already sold in Europe, where gasoline prices are much higher. They also both boast 40 mpg ratings on the highway in their most economical models.
But the Fiesta and Cruze are aimed at different car shoppers. Fiesta, already on sale and starting at $13,300, aims to go against small, popular, high-mileage cars like the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa. The Fiesta looks alluring for a recent grad who commutes by car or anyone driving and parking mostly in a city. The bigger Cruze, on sale in December and starting at $16,275, will compete with Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf. If high gas mileage is crucial but you still want space and comfort for a weekend jaunt, Cruze might be for you.
Two more new models likely to attract young buyers that are also currently available overseas: Mazda2, already on sale, (the smaller brother to the popular Mazda3), and the Scion iQ minicar, which will go on sale early next year.
Beyond the brand-new models, look for a redesigned Volkswagen Jetta-continuing with a high-mileage diesel version.
Here’s a closer look at the four new 2011s, followed by the Jetta redesign:
Chevrolet Cruze-Cruze aims to deliver comfort and interior room in a small package. Reviewers say it may even make buyers forget General Motors’ woeful small cars of the recent past–think Cavalier and Cobalt. But the Cruze pricing will make you pay more to get its best features and –at the top end–cough up as much as you might for a mid-size sedan such as the Hyundai Sonata. The $16,275 base Cruze LS model will lack
the high-mileage engine. To get the 1.4-liter, turbocharged engine touted to get 40 mpg on the highway (official EPA ratings are not yet available), you’ll have to move up to at least to the 1LT model starting at $18,175, before options. The top of the line LTZ will start at $21,975. So, we’re talking a price range similar to the Honda Civic. All Cruze models will pack plenty of safety gear, including 10 airbags and standard electronic stability control.
Ford Fiesta-The Fiesta, which comes as a sedan or hatchback, does hit an official EPA rating of 40 mpg on the highway and 29 in the city with the automatic transmission (37 highway, 28 city with the manual). Reviewers say the Fiesta is a worthy competitor to the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris, although it has only 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats folded down vs. 57 cubic feet for the Fit. So you might not choose the Fiesta if hauling stuff to a college dorm room or traveling with lots of luggage is a priority. Fiesta offers options rarely seen in cars this small, though–including the Ford SYNC system for giving voice commands to play music or to make phone calls. Such equipment will cost you, of course, and is not available on the base S model starting at $13,320. The SYNC and premium sound system package on the next model up, the SE, cost another $1,480. With SYNC and automatic transmission plus delivery charge, the SE total is $17,545.
Mazda2-Because Ford owns a small stake in Mazda, the Mazda2 shares some mechanical basics with the Fiesta. But it gets considerably lower gas mileage (29 city, 35 highway with manual transmission, 27 and 33 with automatic). That may be a concession to Mazda’s “zoom-zoom” promotional image of sporty small cars. Reviewers do like its handling, but some complain that the Mazda2 is underpowered. Prices start at $13,980 for the base Sport version up to $16,235 for the Touring trim. The Mazda2 will attract some young buyers, but the Fiesta seems like a better choice for the money.
Scion iQ-Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion division originated the boxy but cool small car look. Now Toyota is billing the Scion iQ as the world’s smallest four-seater. It’s only a foot longer than the Mercedes corporate stablemate, Smart Fortwo. To offset its small size, Toyota has given the Scion iQ 10 airbags and standard stability control. Though yet to face U.S. safety tests, the iQ fared well in similar European tests. On sale early in 2011, the iQ will start at $14,125. Reviewers have not yet had a chance for test drives.
Volkswagen Jetta-VW has followed the Honda Civic strategy of making its compact car bigger and roomier. The new version is three inches longer than the 2010 and adds rear-seat leg room. The new Jetta, which will start about $16,000 and be available in October, will still come with an optional diesel engine, which the company says will get ratings of 42 mpg in highway driving. Neither an official EPA rating or full pricing is yet available. Full reviews are also yet to come. Despite being below average for reliability in J.D. Power rankings, recent Jettas have been among the best small cars in holding their resale value.source : http://moneywatch.bnet.com/
