Simplify, and add lightness. In the 1950s and ’60s, that was the credo of Colin Bruce Chapman, creator of some of the finest Formula One racers of the era.
However, we’ll be leaving the Lotuses off this particular list, as they’re simply too expensive. Remember, “simplify” leads off the famous phrase, and in this particular case, we’re looking for cars that are defined not by fragile expense, but by simplicity.
Smart for two
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Smart ForTwo Coupe
Look, it says so right in the name: Smart. This diminutive little coupe tips the scales at just 820 kilograms, far and away the lightest machine on Canadian roads, other than a motorcycle. The ForTwo coupe has been around since 2004 in Canada, though it’s sadly no longer offered in a fuel-sipping diesel. Instead, there’s currently a 1.0L three-cylinder gasoline engine that pumps out a modest 70 hp, and it’s tucked away under the trunk. Rear-wheel-drive and rear-engined? Why, this thing’s a baby Porsche! It does, however, have possibly the worst automatic transmission available in a modern vehicle. The
Smart’s five-speed auto-manual is better than it used to be, but it still lurches around so much it could be the butler for the Addams Family. That aside, the Smart is actually an interesting little city car. Fuel economy is pretty good at 5.8 L/100 km in the city and 4.7 L/100 km on the highway. Sure, there’s only seating for two, but that’s enough to take the carpool lane.
Mitsubishi Mirage
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Mitsubishi Mirage
At 895 kg, the Mitsubishi Mirage is the second lightest among four-wheeled conveyances in Canada. If we’re being honest, it’s pretty dang basic. However, that elemental nature equals decent fuel economy at 4.4 L/100 km on the highway, and it’s cheap at $12,498 to start. This is engineering from the Hyundai Pony school of thought, except that it also comes with a 10-year, 160,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Not that there’s much to break here. The Mirage is powered by a 1.2L three-cylinder engine that makes 74 overtaxed horsepower. Either with the five-speed manual or the optional continuously variable transmission, it is sloooowwww.
However, it doesn’t let the rain in, and it has a working heater, and it doesn’t appear to burn fuel at all — just what the heck else were you expecting? The Mirage may be unexciting, but if you want a little fizz, you can always buy one the colour of Pepto-Bismol.
2014 Scion iQ
John LeBlanc,
Scion iQ
Part of Scion’s biggest problem, apart from an apparent misunderstanding of how capitalization works, is not explaining its cars well enough to the public. Sure, everyone knows that the FR-S is lightweight, chuckable fun, but do they pitch the iQ the same way? It doesn’t, but it should. This is a very cleverly packaged little car, with little space-saving details like a glovebox tucked under the passenger’s seat for better legroom, and a power-steering box located atop the engine. It’s almost as tiny as the Smart, and that means it can whip around in 26.5 feet. That’s amazing. You could do doughnuts inside your two-car garage. This incredible manoeuvrability lends the iQ a certain charm around city streets, where its combination of 94 hp 1.3L four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission is best described as “adequate.” Actually, it’s best described as “barely adequate,” but at least the in-city fuel consumption is pretty good at 5.5 L/100 km. If you want a machine that’s more manoeuvrable than a Smart car, yet with seating for four, this is your ticket.
Toyota Yaris
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Toyota Yaris
Here’s the biggest reason people don’t bother buying the iQ: Toyota’s smallest car. The Yaris weighs just 55 kg more than the iQ, yet offers normal-car layout and feel. Toyota has famously killed off any sporting pretensions in its main line of cars, having done away with interesting stuff like the Supra and the MR2 years ago. However, here, in their tiniest, wimpiest car, is something kind of interesting.
Powered by a 106 hp, 1.5L engine, the Yaris is no rocket ship. You can choose from either a five-speed manual or a ho-hum four-speed automatic transmission. Unintended acceleration? I’m not sure this thing is capable of intended acceleration. Its front page on the Toyota website proudly declares, “Epic Reliability!” This is all deeply, deeply boring stuff. However, partly because it weighs only 1,020 kg, the Yaris is actually a bit of a hoot. You can drive it everywhere at 10/10ths without breaking the law, and the fuel economy hardly wavers from its 6.2 L/100 km mixed-mileage rating.
Chevrolet Spark
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Chevrolet Spark
What a homely looking little car this is. However, it’s cheap, efficient, and safe. Pretty much every car on this list takes an absolute kicking from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new small-overlap crash test. The test notes are deeply alarming, with metal crumpling into the cabin and the crash-test dummies losing limbs to crush injuries. Lest you think this is just the price of owning a small car, larger vehicles like the RAV4 have also been getting smoked and manufacturers are scrambling to get better scores. Chevrolet, on the other hand, can look at the Spark’s Top Safety Pick rating and smile smugly to itself. The Spark has an 84 hp 1.2L four-cylinder engine, which scores 5.2 L/100 km on the highway, but a not terribly impressive 7.1 L/100 km in the city. Performance is best described by words such as “modest,” or perhaps “glacial.” However, as a city car, it’s pretty good, and does come with an abundance of tech. That fuel-economy rating is pretty accurate too — the Spark isn’t flashy, but it is efficient.
2014 Mazda2
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Mazda2
Imagine if the first-generation Miata had been a front-wheel-drive hatchback. Well, here it is. The Mazda2 is very lightly equipped in terms of available features, but it is one of the most fun-to-drive cars you can buy new today. It has just 100 hp, but feels zippier and sprightlier than cars that have four times as much. The excellent five-speed manual is the way to buy it, of course, but I suppose the four-speed automatic will do in a pinch. The steering is great, and while there’s not a lot in on-board infotainment, you can get your kicks by just driving the wheels off it. And, like the Miata, because it’s quite slow, the RCMP won’t show up and take your licence away. Neither will it cost you a lot, either up front or at the pump: fuel economy is just 6.8 L/100 km in the city and 5.6 L/100 km on the highway. It’s a great little car.
Nissan Micra
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Nissan Micra
It’s back! While I can’t tell you how it’s going to drive yet, the Canada-only Nissan Micra will return as the cheapest car in Canada, and with a curb weight of just 1,044 kg. With a 109 hp, 1.6L four-cylinder engine, the Micra should be plenty spry enough, and should sip the gas too. For just $9,998 to start, things sound good.
Fiat 500.
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Fiat 500
A stylish little city car, the Fiat 500 takes the wind out of Mini sales somewhat by being cheaper and more cheerful. It weighs just 1,074 kg with a manual transmission. Having said that, you’re probably better off with the available six-speed automatic, as the 500’s manual transmission is a bit vague. It feels like a child-sized bowling pin flipped over and stuck in a flowerpot. Very odd. The rest of the car is a blend of cutesy retro chic and modern flair. It handles a bit like a Weeble — it wobbles but it doesn’t fall down — and really seems to enjoy being driven con brio. You can get it in all sorts of unique colours and trims, and it’s certainly the pick of this bunch for curb appeal. Under the hood is a cheeky 101-hp engine that scores a best of 6.4 L/100 km in the city and 4.9 L/100 km on the highway. An espresso of a car.
Hyundai Accent.
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Hyundai Accent
Just undercutting its stylish cousin, the Rio, and lighter than the Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta, the base model Accent nudges the scales up to a svelte 1,087 kg. While (barely) the heaviest in this group, the Accent also has the most power by a long shot. Its direct-injection 1.6L four-cylinder puts out a very respectable 138 hp, and gets it to the ground through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Lest you think that makes it a rocket ship, it’s not. Acceleration times are pretty average at around 10 seconds to get up to 100 km/h, and it’s not a particularly thrilling car to drive. Fuel economy figures are 7.5 L/100 km in the city and 5.3 L/100 km on the highway. Commuters should have no difficulty achieving them.
