Suzuki Announces Plan to Return to North American Market - AGAIN

Suzuki announced today that it is making plans to return to the North American automotive market in 2023. The Japanese automaker pulled out of the U.S. and Canada in 2013, after only having its subcompact SX4, compact Grand Vitara SUV, and mid-sized Kizashi sedan as offerings.

The company, according to a moderately anonymous source maybe, has said it reevaluated the U.S. market and decided to focus on its strength of small crossovers and hatchbacks. It is expected the company will initially offer the latest variant of the SX4 S-Cross pictured above. However, this will be its largest vehicle offering. New dealers might open as soon as Feb. 29, 2023.

Small Cars Are Alive and Well in Mexico

Suzuki Ignis in Mexico

New subcompact car sales are nearly nonexistent right now in the USA. There are only a couple new tiny cars even available for purchase anymore. However, if you want to see a ton of new and different small cars, all you have to do is cross our southern border. I just got back from a week in Manzanillo, Colima, and found small cars are alive and well in Mexico. 

To Be Discontinued: Chevrolet Spark

 

In what can only be described as "completely unsurprising," the subcompact Chevrolet Spark will be discontinued. There had been reports out of Korea that GM Korea was going to halt production months ago, but Chevrolet's U.S. representatives would not confirm its discontinuation for the North American market at that time. Well, now it's official. 

Wrecked: Awesome Lifted Suzuki SX4

Photo via C.Y. Lee

Over eight years ago, I ran into one of the most badass Suzuki SX4s I'd ever seen. This lifted Suzuki SX4 had big knobby tires, a flat-black paint job, and a custom front bumper among other things. I actually got to know the owner, C.Y. Lee, a bit because of it. Ironically, I had just been talking to C.Y. about this car on October 15, 2021, and then, next thing we knew it, it was totaled by someone who went on a rampage in stolen school bus. Yes, you read that right.

Small Cars Are Still Here. So Are We.

Hey SCC readers. I know it's been a while. We've still been here, still been doing things, but just not as active on the website. For what it's worth, we still have a very active Subcompact Culture Facebook Group. Please join! So what've we been up to lately?

Top 5 Mitsubishi Mirage Myths Debunked

Back in 2017, we sold our 265 horsepower Subaru WRX for a 78 horsepower Mitsubishi Mirage ES Hatchback. Crazy, eh? Well, this summer will mark four years of Mirage ownership. Despite the Mirage being on sale in the U.S. since 2014, there are still people out there that have questions about these cars. From roadworthiness to fuel economy, and other ownership items, I decided to debunk some Mitsubishi Mirage myths. 

Driven: 2021 Nissan Kicks SR

 

I'd wanted to drive a Nissan Kicks since they first debuted in 2018, but never got around to getting one for a press loan until just last week. So does the Kicks kick out the fun? Does it kick butt? Does it have pumped up kicks? I'll stop. You're welcome. 

Subcompact Showcase: Wild Widebody Scion iQ

From 2012 to 2015, Toyota's Scion brand offered what might be the company's most unique vehicle. The Scion iQ microcar was squarely aimed at another microcar, the Smart Fortwo (iQ vs Smart—get it?). It's not like the Smart Fortwo was setting the American small car segment on fire with sales, so it was always curious that of all companies, Toyota decided to go after the Fortwo. But Scion—the funky youth-oriented arm of the Japanese automaker, did indeed target Smart. Their tactics were far different than Smart's. And like most of the Scions, they played to enthusiasts who did some really neat things with these petite people movers. 

Subcompact Showcase: Jake Brown's Lifted Toyota Yaris

I've said it before: lifting is the new lowering. In fact, I wrote about this trend back in 2014. Five years later, I keep seeing cars that used to be typically lowered getting lifted. Heck, there are even Facebook groups that celebrate this, such as the Safari All The Cars group. Lifting cars is definitely a thing. 

The Volkswagen Golf: Dead (For The U.S. Anyway)

We've lost a host of small hatchback choices over the last few years from the U.S. market. Most of these departures weren't terribly surprising. Then I read today that the Volkswagen Golf—a mainstay of the U.S. compact car landscape for over 46 years—is being axed. Wow.