Yes, You Can Still Have a Small Car With a Family

By Scott Huntington

Can you name the truck with four-wheel drive, smells like a steak and seats thirty-five? If you’re not a “Simpsons” fan or you somehow missed this episode, check this out.

The long-running animated series may have lost a step in recent years, but “The Simpsons” was never more on-point than it was with the satirical SUV archetype. Even in the 1990s, this is what it took for people to ask the question: “Does a typical family really need a seven-seat SUV?”

Review: 2016 Honda Civic EX

By Andy Lilienthal

The omnipresent Honda Civic’s last major overhaul was for the 2012 model year, and if you remember, many didn’t like the redesign. In fact, Honda made an emergency update for MY2013 to make it more appealing, and yet another update in 2014. We assume Honda wanted to avoid such shenanigans for its next redesign, and thus appears the all-new 2016 Honda Civic.

Small Luxuries: Well-Appointed Compact Cars Blur the Lines of Luxury

I was sitting inside a fully loaded 2014 Mazda3 S Grand Touring (review to come in the following weeks) the other day and noticed how well appointed this compact five-door was. There were heated leather seats, navigation, touchscreen everything, heads-up display, lane departure warning system, an excellent stereo, outstanding driving dynamics, and a very premium overall feel. It also has a premium price at close to $30,000. For a non-luxury-branded, non-high-performance (think Jetta GLI) compact, that’s getting pretty expensive. But let’s compare it to a premium-brand; I’ll pick on the BMW 320i for a moment. Similarly equipped, the ’14 320i is over $14,000  more expensive than the Mazda3 S 5-Door Grand Touring. Oh, and the Mazda has more horsepower (although slightly less torque) and better fuel economy. Is this an apples to oranges comparison? Well, one is FWD, one is RWD; the BMW is technically a compact whereas the Mazda3 is uh, well, technically a midsize. So much for car classifications (thank you EPA). Of course, the Mazda3 is just one example. You can option up a host of compacts and subcompacts with scads of luxury-like options (and price tags) which begs the question: Are these really expensive small cars, or great bargains on compact luxury?

The “premium” small car isn’t anything new. It’s been tried in all sorts of forms from the often mocked Cadillac Cimarron, which was just a Chevrolet Cavalier in a tuxedo; to the latest Acura ILX, which rides on the Honda Civic chassis and is quite good. Small luxury cars have been a fairly hit-or-miss, but with today’s emphasis on fuel economy and downsizing, perhaps higher-end small cars have more of a fighting chance than before. (Remember the Infiniti G20?)

And while today’s luxuriously appointed small cars are extremely nice for what they are, they’re still lagging behind in the must cutting edge methods of vehicular-provided pampering. Sit in a new Audi, BMW, Lexus, or Cadillac, and many of the technologies and interiors are definitely pushing the envelope in terms of tech and creature comforts. From heated a steering wheel and automatically adjusting seat bolsters; to a touchscreen with handwriting recognition, and ventilation systems that mimics natural air currents of a forest—the latest crop of bona-fide luxury rides have features such as these, and yes, all of the aforementioned luxury accouterments are real.

However, step inside a ’14 Mazda3 S Grand Touring, complete with its attractive two-tone leather seating, center console-mounted audio controls, and adaptive front lighting system, and you’ll quickly realize that this compact, and many others, offer a level of luxury and technology that hasn’t been seen in a small car before. In fact, many of today’s small cars are can be so well equipped that they cross the lines into bona-fide luxury vehicles. That, of course, begs the question, what is a luxury car? If you clad a Chevrolet Spark with leather, a touchscreen, heated seats, and Bluetooth, is it a “luxury car”? Of course not (and the Spark 2LT has all those features).

But with enough features, sold build quality, plenty of the latest technology, and a smooth ride and remarkable handling, many of today’s small cars are blurring the lines of what constitutes a luxury vehicle, regardless of size.

Review: 2012 Mazda3 i Grand Touring SKYACTIV: The frugal driving enthusiast’s car

The Mazda 3 SKYACTIV has noteworthy driving dynamics, a great interior, and is fuel efficient. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

Ever since the Mazda3 debuted 2004, it’s been known as a “driver’s car.” Great driving dynamics and responsive engines—both normally aspirated as well as turbocharged—have made and continue to make this an enthusiast’s choice among many “driving appliances.” For 2012, Mazda has released another 3 model, this time setting its sights on efficiency. Called SKYACTIV, this 3 comes with a high-compression 2.0-liter four cylinder engine with direct injection, and unique body/chassis features that help the ’12 Mazda 3 join the ranks of other compact sedans that now get 40 MPG on the highway. Welcome to the club.

In the flesh: 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye

Dodge brought the all-new 2012 Dart to the 2012 Portland International Auto Show, and I'll say—it's a good looking compact car. The overall shape is very attractive, sleek, and modern. It's the first time Dodge has had a C-segment sedan in the lineup since the departure of the Dodge/Plymouth Neon. Unlike the Ford Focus, Mazda3, or Kia Forte, the Dart is only available as a sedan. The Dart's underpinnings are based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but has been modified for the North American market.

In the driveway: 2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring with SKYACTIV Technology

In the driveway this week is the 2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring with the new SKYACTIV engine. What makes this engine so special? It is a gasoline-direct-injection mill that gets 29 city and 40 highway MPGs but still offers 155 hp.

This one is fully loaded with the Bose stereo, the six-speed auto, heated leather seats, and navigation. I really like the color. Not a huge fan of the sedan's somewhat bland overall look, but the trademarked "smiling" front end is still present. I do really like the interior, however.

As expected, this 3 has showcased Mazda's wonderful driving dynamics.overall thus far, although the 2.0-liter engine seems to have some odd throttle response. But hey, it's hard to argue about 40 MPG. This rig lists for $24,970, though—not cheap.

More about the Mazda later. Stay tuned.