I recently searched on the internet for “small cars” and was very surprised by some of the models which manufacturers consider to be “small”.
Ultimately, you would think that a small car would be fuel-efficient, warrant cheap car insurance prices and generally be an all-round money spinning item.
However, when you consider the size and price of some of the new Mini models, you realise that small just isn’t an appropriate adjective.
Back in the day, when motoring was still a luxury, car manufacturers did produce some teeny-tiny little vehicles, but their lack of comfort and safety features generally made motorists want to up-size (and you can’t really blame them).
So now, with advances in technology and the introduction of lightweight materials, small cars surely should be a priority for designers.
There’s got to be a happy medium between size and spec, because although we’re not sure anyone wants to return to the days of the BMW Isetta bubble car; there has to be an alternative to the Perodua Myvi (which although it looks glossy on the website, is extremely disappointing if you’ve ever approached one in a car showroom).
Personally, I think the latest incarnation of the Fiat 500 has got a lot going for it – a brand new one will set you back just shy of £10,000, but good quality, second-hand models are now on the market starting at around £3,500, so they might just be the answer to a young driver’s prayer.
The Fiat 500 1.2litre Pop starts with a car insurance group of 3, so that’s nice and low and its vehicle tax band is C, which helps to keep costs down.
So, there you have it; small cars are out there – we just wish there were more of them.
Image © Bernie CB via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence