Redesigned 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage Coming to North America

News just came in from Mitsubishi Motors North America that the reskinned 2021 Mirage and Mirage G4 will be coming to the U.S. and Canada. Despite the company talking about pulling back in certain markets, Mitsubishi has plans for North America and it includes the strong-selling Mirage.

Yes, You Can Buy a New Suzuki Hustler in the USA

I was having lunch with a good friend yesterday and we got talking about Suzuki cars. He told me how much he liked the new Ignis which he saw in Mexico. I told him I saw them in Iceland last summer. I then told him I am in love with the Suzuki Hustler, a small, tall kei car. He said, you know you can buy one in the U.S. right? Wait, what?

Mitsubishi Releases 2021 Mirage, G4 Photos

Mitsubishi Motors debuted its Thai-made 2021 Mirage (aka Space Star) and Mirage G4 (aka Attrage) in Thailand yesterday. The new subcompact hatchback and sedan receive an exterior and interior refresh, and how feature the company's Dynamic Shield front end. Both cars will be on display at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2019 on November, 28.

New 2020 Toyota Yaris to Debut at 2019 Tokyo Motor Show

Toyota showed off its next-generation Yaris liftback today on its global website. This means after more than a decade, the Yaris will finally get a full redesign. It will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, which begins October 23.

Nissan Announces New 2020 Versa

While some automakers are pulling out of the subcompact marketplace, Nissan has recently announced its all-new 2020 Versa sedan.

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.

Subcompact Surprise: 2019 Hyundai Veloster

Photo courtesy of Exploring Elements

Well looky here: Hyundai has debuted the all-new 2019 Veloster at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. OK, that's not really that much of a surprise. However, the promise of a 275 hp Veloster is. Let's see what Hyundai has in store for the little hatchback.

We Bought a Mitsubishi Mirage. Here's Why.

Well, we added yet another small car to the Subcompact Culture stable ... er ... carport. We bought a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage. And we'll be selling our 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX. Before you have us committed to an asylum, read on.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek Revealed

Subaru debuted the 2018 Crosstrek at the Geneva International Motor Show this week. It retains everything Crosstrek buyers want and adds a few other goodies, too. Will Subaru drop the manual transmission option? Read more at Crankshaft Culture.

Toyota Yaris GRMN Specs and Photos

We've been hearing about the hot 2017 Toyota Yaris GRMN for months now, but it has officially debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show. We've got some specs:

The Small Cars from the 2017 Portland International Auto Show

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Words by Andy Lilienthal, Photos by Mercedes Lilienthal

It's that time of year again in Portland, when many of the latest makes and models head to the Oregon Convention Center for the 2017 Portland International Auto Show, held January 26–29. While '17 isn't shaping up to be a highly anticipated small car year, there were some cool—and new—small cars on display.

2018 Ford EcoSport Coming to the U.S.

Ford has finally decided to jump into the subcompact crossover craze, and it's doing so with the EcoSport. The little EcoSport has been sold in other parts of the world since 2004, but is finally coming stateside. In fact, we saw these in New Zealand and Australia and can confirm they are a great size—not too big.

The Chevrolet Spark ACTIV is Ready to Crossover

North America is in love with the crossover, or at least the idea of a crossover. Ideally, they're more rugged than a wagon, less truck-like than an SUV. And as we've seen, compact crossovers are selling like hotcakes. Small, slightly lifted hotcakes with additional plastic body cladding.

Now Chevy has decided to try something a bit different: A "trail-inspired" version of its front-wheel-drive subcompact Spark, which will be called the Spark ACTIV. The Spark already sells surprisingly well for a subcompact, so maybe a butched-up version will sell even better?

Is it Time For a Smaller Subaru?

The 2017 Subaru Impreza models get more power and increase in size.

Information about the all-new U.S.-built 2017 Subaru Impreza dropped last week, and things look good. It'll come in both sedan and hatchback configurations, the 2.0-liter boxer engine will be up four horsepower to 152, the sheet metal has been revised, and the new Sport trim will have 18-inch wheels. There's gobs of tech and safety, four trim levels, and of course, standard all-wheel drive.

And like just about every new car out there, the Impreza is getting larger. The wheelbase is going up to 105.1 inches (1-inch longer than the current model), and both the sedan and five-door are 1.6-inches longer and 1.5-inches wider than the 2017 models. This puts the '17 Impreza at 182.1 inches in length. This begs the question: Is there room for a car to slot under the Impreza?

Cars From the 2016 Portland International Auto Show

Yes, that's a PDX Carpet wrap on this 2016 Smart Fortwo. It doesn't get much more Portland that this. Scroll down to see yet another PDX Carpet-wrapped vehicle, and to learn what the hell PDX Carpet is. 

By Andy Lilienthal

The Portland International Auto Show runs from January 28–31 at the Oregon Convention Center, but we got a sneak peek for media day on the 27th. We also got to hear presentations from a host of automakers and learn about some of the cool new vehicles out there. And while there are a lot of cars on display from nearly every manufacturer (sans Mitsubishi), we were mostly interested in the compact, subcompact, micro, and mini cars on display. Here are some cars that were standouts in those categories.

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt: 200 Mile Range, Under $30K, All in a Small Package

By Mercedes Lilienthal

General Motors formally unveiled details about the new all-electric Chevrolet Bolt last week. This four-door EV will deliver an impressive 200 mile range for a price tag of under $30,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Wait, what? That many miles for that little dough? To get that many miles on a single charge, you’d have to buy a Tesla Models S 70, which would run you nearly twice that price. Finally, an EV with more than 90 miles of range for the masses. GM hopes many people will see it, realize it, like it, and buy it. With its practicality and comfortable nature, GM is betting on success.

2016 Toyota Yaris Info

The 2016 models are right around the corner, and in Toyota's case, the subcompact Yaris will get a few minor changes. The biggest change will be the availability of Crushed Ice and Barcelona Red with a Black Sand Pearl Roof, as witnessed in the photos above. While these photos are of European-spec Yaris models, we expect to get the same treatment here on this side of the ocean.

Other than the new black-top versions, the French-made Yaris will continue to offer 106 hp and 103 ft/lbs of torque from its 1NZ-FE 1.5-liter DOHC engine. Available transmission choices remain the trusty (read: old) five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. Proven? Yes. Old technology? Ditto.

The car is available in L, LE, and SE trim levels, the latter getting the "sport" treatment with a sport-tuned suspension and steering. You can see our 2015 Toyota Yaris SE review from a few months ago and get our impressions.

And yes, we own a 2007. 

Buick Introduces A More Powerful Encore For 2016

By Andy Lilienthal

Buick's subcompact Encore CUV has been a strong seller for the GM brand (30,549 units moved as of June 2015, up 29%). However, if there's been one sticking point, it's been the power. The current Encore makes just 138 hp and 148 lb/ft of torque from the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mill, yet has to haul around as much as 3,358 lbs.

GM announced today that there will be a new Encore Sport Touring model for 2016, which will make 153 hp and 177 lb/ft of torque from an all-new direct-injected 1.4-liter engine, which will also feature start/stop technology. And despite the fact the new engine's displacement is the same as the older one, nothing else is.

The 2016 Miata Is Darned Near Perfect

By Andy Lilienthal

We're facing automotive bloat these days. Many cars just keep getting bigger and heavier—you can almost count on it. However, this is not the case with the upcoming 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Compared to the outgoing '15 Miata, the '16 will actually have a slightly shorter wheelbase (90.9" vs. 91.7"), it will weigh less (2,332 lbs vs. 2,480), and get 25% better fuel economy (27 city, 36 highway, 30 combined vs. 21 city, 28 highway, 24 combined). Now granted, it's new 2.0-liter engine makes less horsepower (155 vs 167), but it makes more torque (148 ft/lbs vs. 140 ft/lbs) using the new SKYACTIV-MT engine. With the weight reduction, the power-to-weight ratio is nearly unchanged—but the car will be more efficient. To me, this all sounds perfect. Smaller, lighter, and more fuel efficient: The Miata just might be the perfect car—assuming you don't need four seats and a big-ass trunk.

2016 Chevrolet Spark

By Andy Lilienthal

We're big fans of the Chevrolet Spark. The car is proof that if you build a practical (e.g. four-door), well-built, modern A-segment car it will sell in the U.S. In fact, my mother-in-law just bought a 2015 Spark LS. Chevrolet isn't content to rest on its laurels with its A-segment offering; the company just announced a new-for-2016 Spark last week. Here are some details.