subcompact

At $19,705 and up, the 2012 Toyota Prius C subcompact is the company's least expensive hybrid. It's also tied with its larger Prius liftback sibling for best gas mileage on the market: 50 mpg combined. And those two qualities seem to be making it a sales hit for Toyota, meaning car buyers seem to...

We like the extreme aerodynamic shape and exaggerated styling of the Toyota FT-Bh Concept unveiled at last week's Geneva Motor Show, though that's far from a common view. Now, it appears the subcompact FT-Bh will become a future Toyota model--one targeted for extremely high fuel economy. FT-Bh...

Not all the cars being unveiled at today's Geneva Motor Show are destined for the U.S. But the 2013 Fiat 500L, the longer, taller, larger "Fiat 500" crossover that will offer all-wheel drive in a Fiat 500 for the first time, is one that will definitely come Stateside. Fiat released photos of the...

Chevrolet's Sonic subcompact is many things. Small. Fun to drive. Economical too, with its 40 mpg highway rating. It's also a rather good musical instrument, as it turns out. Or at least, the accompaniment to over 1,000 genuine musical instruments, in the music video for indie rock band OK Go's new...

Although Nissan already has a subcompact, fuel efficient hatchback in the U.S. market in the form of the 2012 Versa hatchback, the Japanese automaker has just released details on an inviting new subcompact concept car it plans to unveil at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Called the Nissan Invitation...

A few days back we took a look at two similar, yet very different Hondas. The 2012 Honda Insight and 2012 Honda Fit share a platform, but different bodystyles and the use of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid technology in the Insight, makes each model unique. The same could be said of the...

Toyota's upcoming Prius C will give the automaker a subcompact hybrid offering to compete with the Honda Insight.

Toyota officially launched the 2012 Prius C compact hybrid hatchback at the Detroit Auto Show. The new car adds a fourth member to the expanding family of Prius hybrid vehicles and takes the base price for a Toyota hybrid below $20,000 for the first time. While the car is considerably smaller than...

In the U.S. market, the vast majority of crossovers and sport-utility vehicles are compact or mid-size vehicles. That's about to change, as Ford continues to launch vehicles that can be sold globally, rather than developing individual cars for specific countries. Today, Ford unveiled its EcoSport...

The 2012 Chevy Sonic subcompact launched this year to largely favorable reviews, including our own (here and here). For next year, Chevy is upping the ante, with a turbocharged 2013 Sonic RS model that's meant to take the littlest U.S.-built Chevrolet into hot-hatch territory. The Sonic RS will be...

Normally, when an automaker brings a new car to the market, it invites automotive journalists to get behind the wheel to put the car through its paces and render their professional opinion on how the car drives, feels and performs. But as part of the launch of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, Chevrolet is...

It's autumn, so what better way to highlight the changing leaves than a tomato-soup red Chevy Sonic subcompact? Three weeks ago, we drove our first new Sonic: a high-end 2012 Sonic LTZ sedan with the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. We liked the little turbo, and found the sedan roomy and comfortable...

Although the Honda Insight was eagerly awaited before it launched as a 2010 model, the little hybrid hatchback has never come remotely close to its sales goals. But the company isn't giving up, and the new 2012 Honda Insight features revised front styling, a nicer interior, and improved gas mileage...

"Bracket creep" is the phenomenon where each successive generation of a car gets slightly bigger. It's what allowed the Honda Civic to evolve from the 1973 model, which today we'd call a minicar, to the compact it is today. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, deemed a subcompact by GM, is a prime example of...

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the first subcompact car built in the U.S. in a very long time, and one of several new Chevy models that aim to lift the carmaker's overall fuel efficiency. We'll be driving at least three separate 2012 Sonics within four weeks, so we're seeking your input. What do you...

The influential Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has designated the subcompact 2012 Chevy Sonic one of its Top Safety Picks.

With the dust settling on press days at the Frankfurt Auto Show, we can take a breath, think about what we saw, and start to sort out our impressions. One very clear message: German carmakers are taking electric cars seriously. Finally. Both Audi and BMW unveiled electric-car concepts that are...

It's not always true that the smallest cars get the best gas mileage. In many cases, compact cars get mileage equal to or better mileage than their shorter, stubbier subcompact brethren. The new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact has managed to crack the magic 40-mpg highway mark, though. Estimates...

The IIHS has named the 2012 Chevy Sonic a "Top Safety Pick," signifying that the car has scored high in crash testing and comes with standard electronic stability control.

Mercedes-Benz is betting the time is right for a new range of compact and subcompact vehicles in the U.S. market. Expect to see the first of these, the B-Class wagon, in 2013.