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I mourned when Toyota retired the Echo, but it turns out the company was just retooling for another assault on the bottom end of the market. When it comes to highly fuel-efficient mini cars from Japan, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Toyota, Honda and Nissan are planning to bring whole fleets of 40-mile-per-gallon cars to the U.S. next spring, at a very affordable $12,000. If you can’t afford a hybrid, here’s a great alternative.
The three new cars are the Nissan Versa (38 mpg combined) and the even more fuel-efficient Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. OK, the names aren’t great, but the cars probably will be, featuring premium audio, multiple air bags, ABS brakes and more at an entry-level price. Keep in mind Toyota already offers the excellent Corolla and the whole Scion line to small car buyers. Honda’s Civic is unparalleled. Nissan has the Altima. These cars are slotted below that, in a market Detroit has totally ignored.
As their market share slides to just more than 50 percent, the U.S. automakers are realizing the folly of single-minded concentration on SUVs. General Motors is suddenly selling tons of its Korean-made Aveos and may finally be getting the message about small cars. But it will take real work to keep up with these new products from Japan.
Another interesting international race is the one emerging between the Mazda MX-5 Miata, retooled for 2006, and the Pontiac Solstice. This is a race GM could conceivably win. The Miata is a thoroughly wonderful car, but the Solstice might be something new from Detroit: an affordable, fun-to-drive roadster for $20,000.
I haven’t driven a Solstice yet, but early reports are encouraging. The front-engine, rear-drive two-seater features a 2.4-liter, 170-horsepower four with four valves per cylinder and a zero to 60 time estimated at 7.5 seconds
It’s really cute, too, with a slippery fender-free body shaped by hydroformed panels (might be a bit vulnerable in parking lots, though).
But, again, the competition from Japan is fierce. The 2006 Miata is slightly bigger and better in nearly every way. I will hate to hand over the $24,595 example I’m driving this week.
At first I blanched at the sight of the test car’s automatic transmission, but this is a six-speed version (with manual option) that adds $1,100 to the bottom line and with well thought-out shift points doesn’t affect drivability all that much. It still makes lovely growling noises when you put your foot down.
The 24/30-mpg Miata (now with slightly macho fender and hood bulges) is still a very small car – it was risible to see it parked next to a Ford Expedition the other day. But there’s significantly more elbowroom and neat 10-CD storage between the seats. Engine displacement has been increased to two liters, developing the same 170 horsepower as the Solstice.
From the first day in 1989, there was a wide constituency for the Miata and a burgeoning aftermarket catering to every taste. Mazda caters to the car’s wide appeal with a profusion of models, from the stripped racer-oriented Club Spec that lacks even air conditioning (a feature in 90 percent of new cars!) to the base MX-5 (ac), Sport (bigger wheels and tires, six-speed manual) and Grand Touring (add leather and a cloth top).
I plan to add a Miata to my own fleet soon and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one of the numerous used examples on the market today. This car was good from day one, and it only got better.
