Features

Below we highlight important features for you to consider when purchasing a small car.

Engines and fuel economy

All small cars offer a four-cylinder engine, with some small sporty cars offering a V6. For saving fuel, a four-cylinder engine is a practical choice. Manual transmissions can be thriftier than automatics, though the difference is dwindling. Modern automatics with five speeds can help fuel economy by letting a car cruise at lower revs and also contribute to performance. Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) also aim to save fuel. If you're budget conscious, look for a car that does not require premium fuel.

Gas/electric hybrid technology can save significant amounts of fuel although their higher initial cost might take many years to recoup, depending on fuel prices.

Even among nonturbo, four-cylinder cars, there is a significant range in fuel consumption, making it important to check our test-based fuel-economy Ratings.

Drive wheels

The vast majority of small cars use front-wheel drive. The space efficiency from that design allows a car to have a smaller engine compartment (the engine is mounted side-to-side, rather than longitudinally), leaving more room inside for passengers and cargo. It's also effective in slippery conditions because the engine's weight sits directly over the drive wheels. Some small cars, such as the Subaru Impreza, have all-wheel drive. AWD provides heightened foul-weather traction and distributes power transfer to the wheels, which could otherwise overwhelm the available traction with a front driver. While AWD aids in snow traction, it does nothing to aid stopping without winter tires. It also adds cost, weight, and it carries a small fuel-economy penalty.

Access

When comparing small cars, try entering and exiting from all seating positions. A well-designed sedan should provide wide doors and enough head room so that front and rear passengers can enter and exit easily without bumping their heads. With many two-door coupes, accessing the rear is a chore and the seats are not comfortable for large adults. Check the vehicle's site lines to ensure clear visibility in all directions. Historically, this has been a limitation common to coupes, though we have seen this problem appear on some hatchbacks as well.

Cargo

If you expect to ever carry long or bulky cargo, look for a fold-down rear seat with a tall, wide opening to the trunk. Even a small pass-through port can be handy for long, slender items such as skis. A hatchback with a split-fold rear seat can be quite practical for hauling cargo.

Safety features

There is no question; small light cars are at a disadvantage in collisions with larger, heavier vehicles that comprise the majority of cars on the road. But size doesn't help in single-vehicle collisions. Also, many small cars have an advantage in avoiding an accident. Contemporary safety-oriented designs and equipment help to even the odds.

Not all models provide the same protection, so it's important to check the overall safety Rating. Consumer Reports' safety Ratings include assessments of crash-avoidance capabilities and crash-test results, based on tests performed by the federal government and the insurance industry. Further, road tests detail issues regarding child seat installation and the adequacy of front and rear head restraints.

All new cars have standard left and right front air bags, lap-and-shoulder belts in all outboard seating positions, and top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in the rear seats. Chest-level side air bags are common for front-seat passengers. Head-protecting side air bags, usually in the form of a side curtain that covers front and rear side windows, are becoming very common and we recommend them.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computer-controlled feature that automatically and selectively applies brakes to pull a car out of an incipient sideways slide. We highly recommend ESC in cars in which it's not standard. It can help to reduce the risk of a rollover and other crash types. Already widespread, ESC becomes standard in all cars by the 2012 model year. Another feature, traction control, can help you to get going on a slippery road but doesn't aid in a sideways skid. (Learn more about car safety.)

Emerging safety technologies

The latest automotive safety advances include telematics systems that alert emergency personnel if an air bag deploys, lane-departure warning systems that sound an alert if you change lanes without signaling, rear-view cameras to prevent back-over accidents, and blind-spot warning systems that indicate that vehicles are driving in the blind spots to the side and rear of you. Automatic-braking systems are also spreading. These apply the brakes if you're approaching the car ahead too fast and ignore an audible warning that alerts you to the situation. Such premium safety features are not available on most small cars, but over time, they are expected to trickle down from more upscale models. Some small cars, notably GM vehicles and those from Audi, Subaru and Volkswagen, offer OnStar, a cellular-based subscription service. It provides emergency aid and numerous travel-related services. (Learn more about car safety.)

Entertainment and convenience

The latest mobile electronics enable cars to deliver the fidelity of home theater, along with cell-phone connectivity and navigation guidance. There is a wide range of information and entertainment features available from the factory, and even more available through the aftermarket. (See our guide to mobile electronics.)

Audio system

The standard car-audio package is a stereo radio tuner and in-dash CD player with speakers left and right and fore and aft. An upgraded system typically has higher-watt amplifier power output, so you can play music loud while minimizing distortion, and more and better-quality speakers to enhance clarity and sound separation. Top-level systems add digital sound fields, noise canceling, surround sound, and DVD-Audio playback. Depending on the package, an audio upgrade can add many hundreds of dollars to a car's sticker price. Cars at every price level are adding a jack where you can plug in an MP3 device for playback through the car's audio system. Only stereos with a specific iPod connector, rather than a micro plug port, will be able to control and recharge an iPod.

Satellite and HD radio

Subscription-only satellite radio offers broad channel selection, catering to a variety of musical and information interests, much like cable TV. Most vehicles offer satellite radio readiness in some audio systems. HD Radio is a relatively new system that allows conventional (or terrestrial) AM and FM stations to broadcast their content over digital signals with higher fidelity. It also allows stations to add more programming over several additional channels that can be broadcast "alongside" a station's main frequency, for delivering traffic or weather information, or diverse music content.

Navigation systems and connectivity

In-car navigation systems can be a valued featured if you often drive in unfamiliar territory. They typically retail for about $2,000 when offered alone but are often bundled with other features, such as a backup camera or a high-end audio system that can add another $1,000 or more. Built-in systems have large, clear screens in the center of the dashboard and have generally intuitive controls. They are integrated nicely into the car, and some use touch-screen displays that make it easy to enter destinations and navigate through menus. Some can also respond to voice commands, giving you the added safety of keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. For a fee, many systems can provide real-time traffic reports, which can alert you to congested traffic, accidents, or road construction. But portable units can offer most of the same abilities for much less money. (See Ratings and learn more about portable GPS navigation systems.)

Bluetooth connectivity is becoming widely available, enabling wireless devices such as a cell phone to wirelessly communicate with the car's audio system. That can provide convenient, hands-free phone operation.

Popularized by GM's OnStar, telematics systems use a combination of cellular telephone and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to connect drivers to a call center staffed 24/7 at the touch of a button. For a monthly or annual fee, such concierge services can provide directions or summon emergency aid based on your vehicle's location.

See also:

GPS Navigation Systems

Car batteries

Car seats

Special Section:
Guide to Driving Green