Comparison review: subcompact 5-doors

[ifcar]

In the week it spent with the DC Car Examiner, the new 2010 Kia Soul Sport impressed for its handling and interior space but didn't demonstrate the highest levels of power, refinement or fuel economy.

But do any similar cars do a better job?

Continued at link:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d7-Comparison-review-six-subcompact-hatchbacks-Introduction

[Nethead]

ifcar:  Would a Mini Clubman qualify for consideration in this size/style of car?

[ifcar]

ifcar:  Would a Mini Clubman qualify for consideration in this size/style of car?

I would be inclined to say no.

[Vinsanity]

This is how I would personally rank them:
(preliminary, at least)

1. Nissan Cube (it seems best suited to what I would use a small box car for: urban commuting)
2. Kia Soul
3. Honda Fit
4. Scion XD
5. Suzuki SX4
6. Chevy Aveo

[the Teuton]

I refuse to click on the link.  How did he rank them?

[Tave]

I refuse to click on the link.  How did he rank them?

The ranking isn't out yet. This was the intro.

[TBR]

I refuse to click on the link.  How did he rank them?

If you don't care enough to make him a couple of cents by looking at the site then why do you care what the rankings are?

[ifcar]

If you don't care enough to make him a couple of cents by looking at the site then why do you care what the rankings are?

I don't include only a link because I need the pennies. It's so I don't have to do page formatting twice.

[TBR]

I don't include only a link because I need the pennies. It's so I don't have to do page formatting twice.

I am not blaming you or anything, I just don't understand why teuton won't simply click the link and find the answer for his own question.

As a fellow poor college student, I am more than happy to help you out all I can.

[the Teuton]

Your reasoning is sound.  I might.

[ifcar]

I am not blaming you or anything, I just don't understand why teuton won't simply click the link and find the answer for his own question.

As a fellow poor college student, I am more than happy to help you out all I can.

Well, thank you. Pennies do add up.

[ifcar]

Sixth place: Pontiac G3

To anyone following the subcompact car market, the last-place finish of the Pontiac G3 is probably not a surprise. Pontiac is a lame duck brand; General Motors has already announced it will die. The new G3 is nearly identical to the Chevrolet Aveo5, which dates to 2004 without a full redesign. And the Aveo has been criticized since it was new for mediocre interior quality, relatively little cargo space, and unexceptional gas mileage.

With all that going against it, how could the G3 possibly beat more modern competitors?

It actually comes surprisingly close...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1017-DC-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d8-Comparison-review-six-subcompact-hatchbacks-Sixth-place

[Vinsanity]

$16 grand? LOL.

They're going to be selling these things for barely more than half the price as they languish on dealer lots.

[93JC]

the Aveo has been criticized since it was new for mediocre interior quality

The Aveo/Wave/Swift+ has, since the facelift, arguably had the best interior quality of any subcompact.

[ifcar]

The Aveo/Wave/Swift+ has, since the facelift, arguably had the best interior quality of any subcompact.

In context, I was talking about mistaken stereotypes based on earlier models. That paragraph also discusses formerly low gas mileage that has improved to beat out the Fit's. Despite some assembly issues, I'd agree that the G3/Aveo interior is now among the best of the subcompacts, and I think I made that clear later.

[ifcar]

$16 grand? LOL.

They're going to be selling these things for barely more than half the price as they languish on dealer lots.

Not necessarily. There's little room between invoice and sticker on the Aveo and G3, and I don't know that they're that desperate to unload them. Aveo sales have been acceptably brisk and there just aren't that many G3s in existence to represent a glut of inventory.

[USA_Idol]

Sixth place: Pontiac G3

You know, I have to admit...the Pontiac styling cues actually work.  It's ever so slightly better-looking than its Chevy version.  It's an extremely minor difference, but there it is.   

[Eye of the Tiger]

And in forty-seventh place:

[2o6]

And in forty-seventh place:

What brings that up?

-----------------


30MPG for a subcompact is good!? There are some serious problems with this segment.

[Raza]

30mpg is seriously weak for a car that size.  My car gets higher than that, and I've got 200 horsepower!

[ifcar]

30MPG for a subcompact is good!? There are some serious problems with this segment.

Under the old EPA standard, that would be 34. Not weak at all.

30mpg is seriously weak for a car that size.  My car gets higher than that, and I've got 200 horsepower!

Your car is rated for 25.

[Raza]

Under the old EPA standard, that would be 34. Not weak at all.

Your car is rated for 25.

Bah, I read highway in that number somewhere, not mixed.  That isn't bad then. 

[MrH]

Not necessarily. There's little room between invoice and sticker on the Aveo and G3, and I don't know that they're that desperate to unload them. Aveo sales have been acceptably brisk and there just aren't that many G3s in existence to represent a glut of inventory.

Aren't that many G3's in existence?!  Apparently you missed the memo.  At the rate G3's were selling a little while back, they had enough inventory at dealers that they could stop production and it would take 2 years to sell them all.

[ifcar]

Aren't that many G3's in existence?!  Apparently you missed the memo.  At the rate G3's were selling a little while back, they had enough inventory at dealers that they could stop production and it would take 2 years to sell them all.

They sell slowly, but there also aren't all that many in existence.

For example, my local dealer has three. Those three might be there for the next 18 months, but 3 cars isn't a glut.

On a national scale, Pontiac is moving about 250-500 G3s a month. That leads to excess inventory, because they expected to sell maybe 1,000 a month. But the number of actual cars was never high.

[MrH]

They sell slowly, but there also aren't all that many in existence.

For example, my local dealer has three. Those three might be there for the next 18 months, but 3 cars isn't a glut.

On a national scale, Pontiac is moving about 250-500 G3s a month. That leads to excess inventory, because they expected to sell maybe 1,000 a month. But the number of actual cars was never high.

When a car is selling that slow, any on the lot seems like a ton of inventory.

I consider 2 years worth of inventory to be a "glut".

[the Teuton]

G3 = Driving excitement!

[Eye of the Tiger]

G3 = Driving excitement!

Thank you for your unthusiasim.

[ifcar]

When a car is selling that slow, any on the lot seems like a ton of inventory.

I consider 2 years worth of inventory to be a "glut".

It's only based on previous selling rates, which can fluctuate drastically when volume is so low. If my Pontiac dealer sold three G3s, they would go from 2 years to 0 days of inventory.

Again, what I said was that there weren't very many G3s in existence. That's still true. It's something like 6,000 total. It's not like an inventory problem with a high-volume car, like the overflowing dockyards.

[2o6]

G3 = Driving excrement!

There we go. I fixed it for ya.  

[MrH]

It's only based on previous selling rates, which can fluctuate drastically when volume is so low. If my Pontiac dealer sold three G3s, they would go from 2 years to 0 days of inventory.

Again, what I said was that there weren't very many G3s in existence. That's still true. It's something like 6,000 total. It's not like an inventory problem with a high-volume car, like the overflowing dockyards.

There is nothing to indicate that sales will speed up anytime soon unless there are some serious incentives.

Having 2 years worth of product sitting around is a serious inventory problem.  Past sales is the only thing you have to rely on when it comes to how desperate they are to sell them, and based on that, I think they'll definitely be pushing some huge incentives on them soon.