What Was Your Favorite '80s or '90s Subcompact Car?

Subaru Justy

Have you noticed the uptick in the popularity of all things '80s and '90s? Heck, there are even car shows for them. Ever heard of Radwood?

While the Toyota Yaris is Dead for 2019, It Might Be Alive Again in 2020

Photo via Car and Driver

Car and Driver is reporting that while Toyota has axed the Yaris liftback for 2019, in 2020 it could  return with Mazda2 underpinnings.

Toyota already replaced the Yaris sedan with the Yaris iA, based on the Mazda2 sedan, which we reviewed when it was initially launched as a Scion. I said that while it had a willing chassis, it had a minuscule back seat and wasn't too exciting. I'm also not generally a big fan of small sedans. But the idea of a of this coming as a hatchback warms my gasoline-powered heart.

As Car and Driver pointed out, it'll likely be powered by the same 1.5-liter engine making 106 hp. I assume it'll also be mated to either the six-speed auto or the six-speed manual (yay!). And while I still haven't fully warmed up to the fish-face fascia, I think I prefer the package without a trunk—full-on hatchback style.

I'm a fan of most Mazda products, and was bummed when they discontinued the Mazda2. So seeing that it may be coming over in some form is great. I could very well see buying one of these in the future.

It should be said that Toyota has not officially stated this is going to happen, but all signs are pointing to "yes," which makes Toyota one of the few companies to continue offering a small car in its lineup. In fact, has always offered a small car in its lineup. This includes the Yaris, Echo, and Tercel.

2019 Mazda2 Hatchback

New Wheels and Tires for our Mitsubishi Mirage

Well, here we are, 16 days into 2019 and The Rage, our 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage, has new shoes.

2018 Subcompact Sales Results

Well, here we are in 2019. And now that it's 2019, we can reflect on the small car sales of 2018.

Is the Toyota Yaris Liftback Dead?

So, what's going on with the Yaris Liftback in the U.S.? I've repeatedly been on Toyota.com to see if there are any updates for the MY2019, but it still says 2018 Yaris ...

The Mongol Rally Short Film: 16 Countries, 58 Days, and 10,000 miles in 7 Minutes

In 2016, we talked about the Mongol Rally and a certain 1971 Morris Minor sporting a Subcompact Culture decal. Ian Andrews, one of the members of Team Spicy Wanderlust, put together a short film about the trek in the Morris.

2018 Tour de Forest Rally Brings Top Teams Back to Washington Woods

Words and Photos by Scott Fisher

After an absence of more than three decades, the forest roads around Olympia, Washington resonated with the sound of high-performance engines on October 6 & 7, 2018, as the Tour de Forest Rally returned as part of the 2018 American Rally Association National Championship.

Review: 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

When I heard Toyota was bringing back a Corolla hatchback, admittedly, I was intrigued. After all, I’m a hatchback guy. They’re practical, sporty, and I simply prefer the style. But with my intrigue, I prepared for reality to kick in. I assumed the new Corolla Hatchback would probably be equipped with the same-old 2ZR-FE 1.8-liter found in the  Corolla sedan and mated to a fun-killing CVT. It’d be solid but pedestrian method of transportation. Meh.

I'm here to say that I assumed wrongly.

2019 Jeep Renegade Picks Up Horsepower, Drops Manual Transmission

Good news: The 2019 Jeep Renegade is getting a power bump. The bad news: Its manual transmission is going away.

What it's Like to Buy and Own a Kei Truck

Do you own a kei truck? Probably not. But you want to own a kei truck.

These little pickups are gaining popularity and are even road-legal in places, such as Washington state. Not only are they fun, but they can be great little work horses, too. The one pictured above is a Suzuki Carry belonging to our good friend, Tuan. He calls it ... are you ready for this? ... Carry Potter. 

Tuan wrote a great article all about the buying and owning experience on our sister site, Crankshaft Culture. It's a really fun and insightful read for anyone thinking of buying one of these.

You can also follow Crankshaft Culture on Instagram @crankshaftculture.