Small Japanese Cars Are Coming to North-America, Again
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 09.10.05
Is it any surprise that Japanese carmakers are planning to bring some of their small cars – which are already best-sellers in most parts of the world – to North-America now that gasoline prices are rising and that SUVs are finally losing steam? Of couse, our European and Asian readers won't find these cars particularly small, but to most people in the US, they are. Here is some of what you can expect to see on the roads of N-A in the next months and years: First, there's the new Suzuki Swift pictured above. Three engines are offered, 1.3 liters, 1.5 liters and 1.3 liters turbocharged diesel, getting respectively, on average, 6.1l/100 km, 6.5l/100 km and 4.6l/100 km (38.5 mpg, 36 mpg and 51 mpg). We'll have to wait and see if the diesel makes it to North-America, though. You can read a review of the Suzuki Swift here, visit the official Suzuki Swift page here (warning: flash animation and music) and get more information on the three engines here.
The Toyota Yaris, also known as the Vitz in some parts of the world, and as the Echo Hatchback in Canada, is a small hatchback with a 1.5 liters high-tech engine. As a reference point, the 2005 Canadian Echo Hatchback gets 6.7 liters per 100 km in the city and 5.2l/100 km on the highway (35/52 mpg) according to the Canadian Energuide. The 2006 model will be redesigned (the same one that the US will get as the Yaris) and will possibly be even more fuel efficient. It's also possible that idle-stop technology will be available as an option, which would mean that the engine would turn itself off and restart automatically in certain situations to conserve gas (read about it here). Finally, here you can find an overview of the Yaris (although they call it "Vitz").
Another "big" player in the small car world is coming: The Honda Fit (known as the Honda Jazz in many parts of the world – we think Honda didn't call it the Jazz in North-America because they already have a motorcycle with that name). When introduced in Japan, the Fit/Jazz sold more than the Toyota Corolla, a car that has been at the top of the best-selling list in Japan for 33 consecutive years! You can find incredibly in depth reviews of the car here and here. It is not clear exactly what engines will be available for North-America, but the 1.5 liters VTEC version of the Fit is officially rated at 5.0l/100 km (47 mpg).
Nissan is also working on an all-new small car for North-America, but few details are available. It is known that it will feature the new HR15DE 1.5 liters engine (more about it here), which is 30% lighter than a comparable engine from Nissan and, when used in combination with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) transmission, could improve fuel economy by 28% while increasing torque. The car will use the chassis of the Japanese March model (pictured above). More details here.
Of course, there's also the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid that is coming soon...
Update - October 3rd, 2005: An entry that could be titled "Small German Cars are Coming to North-America": the Mercedes B-Cass car is now available in Canada (and soon in the US, probably).
Hmmm. I see serious 'Mini-factor' not only in the styling, but in the decision to bring these cars here. Now if only Mercedes and Audi would bring over their beautiful and practical A-class and A-2 models....
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passenger_cars/home/products/new_cars/a-class_hatchback.html
http://www.audi.co.uk/newcars/model.jsp?section=/models/a2
Ford's got one or two cars in the UK/Euro market that fit this size profile, too. I'd love to see the Fiesta ST come over...smaller and lighter than a Focus, handles like a go-kart.
Carl—I know exactly how you feel. During a recent trip to Spain, I found myself snapping more pictures of lovely, compact A2s & A-Class cars than of castles and cathedrals. Sadly, though, neither model was small enough to be smuggled in my carry-on luggage. :)
Suzuki Swifts have been available in Canada for years.
"Suzuki Swifts have been available in Canada for years."
The name "swift" was, but the current canadian swift is actually a rebadged Daewoo. It wasn't designed by Suzuki and is very different from the new global swift design created by Suzuki.
I've posted my hope/wish/desire that American car companies bring over their small European models. Thank goodness for the Japanese. As I've also posted before, it is nice to have a separate "system" of automobile design - in a country totally dependent on oil imports.
If we were in a position like them we might be as "good" - but we haven't been, so we are lazy.
suzuki corp. unfortunately does not meet standards of social responsibility, as they have assembly plants in burma. burma is so bad that even the USA has prohibitions on doing business there(!). read on:
http://www.badasf.org/suzuki.htm
http://www.ncgub.net/Int'l%20Action/ICFTU%20Burma%20and%20multinational%20companies%2025Jan2005.htm
Very interesting, drei. I'll investigate a bit and update the post accordingly. Thanks for posting.
I hope that all these guys are planning on bringing the diesel versions of these cars as well. With diesel offering the best fuel economy and the potential for bio-diesel, it would be nice to see. Unfortunately, there's a tradition of not bringing diesel models to American markets.
I suspect that more diesel will come to N-A once we get low sulfur diesel.
i do belive that i wouldn't mind having one of these vehicles. only thing would be, is i like cars that i can customize. something that looks different from the rest. not just because it comes from somewhere else, i like to be seen no matter where i go.
Mark,
If you like to be seen, you can always buy a bright yellow or red model. It's a low cost way to get noticed!
Mark, you can customize any car. Not only will the aftermarket industry be prepared for these cars, but you could actually try inventing a customization of your own, unlike the 20,000 other guys who all bought the same ground effects kit for their Civic. You can bolt the same gigantic aluminum wing on a Yugo or a Bentley, if you needed to bad enough.
Interesting article and comments. Here in Australia the Suzuki Swift has made a pretty big splash in the small car market. With the sudden jump in petrol prices our country is currently experiencing (> AUD$1.30/litre; used to be AUD$0.70/litre) it's making more sense for individuals, businesses and even families to buy cheaper, smaller, 4-cylinder cars. My partner recently bought the Swift and I'm intending to make the same purchase very soon myself, and boy is it competing with the Honda Jazz, Toyota Carolla and Echo, and the Mitsubishi Colt. Wouldn't go past the Swift though. Fantastic zippy little thing ;)
Bring back the diesel VW Rabbit!!!
doesn't the geo metro get in the 45-50mpg range? lots of used ones out there.
if you want customization options, a scion XA is one of the current top cars for fuel economy.
Yes the Geo gets even better than that, The Geo metro is made by Suzuki, and is the same car as a swift!
its always better for the environment to buy a used car, and keep it in shape, after all there is more pollution made from manufacturing a car, than by driving it.
Why dont u guys send the Nissan Skyline to the US to??
Only few skylines go to US and only rich people buy GT R, In japan, it is cheap and easy to buy. I hope you can drive GT R, very powerful!!! Very differnt!!
James: I think you have been misinformed about the energy used in manufacturing a car. According to the table at www.ptua.org.au/myths/energy.shtml, (scroll down a bit) it comes to only about 15% of the total used across the life of the vehicle. That means manufacturing a vehicle uses about the same energy as two years of driving it.
Obviously that percentage would rise for a car that rusts out or breaks down quickly, and hence uses little energy in lifetime operation while still needing a lot to manufacture. Conversely, it would drop for well-maintained car operating for thirty years in a dry climate, say.
So you're right, keeping a used car in good shape helps amortize the energy-cost of its manufacture over as many kilometres of travel as possible, hence reducing the total energy/kilometre. I don't think that would make it worthwhile, though, to keep an old, highly-polluting, low-efficiency engine on the road. Two years extra driving would use up all the energy it would take to build a whole new car, and thereafter the advantage would like with the modern vehicle.
Jen, you said "Bring back the diesel VW Rabbit!!!" But they are here... Every VW dealer should have one, they are just called golf now. You can get them in 2 and 4 door versions and they are all avaliable in diesel...
Does anyone know when these small cars will be available for purchase? I want a very small compact car & these look great but when can will they be for sale?
Thanks.
Hi again,
I should have asked when will these little compact cars be for sale in the USA (New Jersey)?
Thanks!
Suzy,
Looks like the Yaris will be available in spring 2006, and the Jazz in summer or fall. There's no word on the other. Hope this helps!
Burma has been renamed Myanmar by the military regime that seized control.
hello treehuggers from canada!
i've been trying to find out how to import a small car (like twingo/ berlingo/ agila/ panda) into canada. very difficult. canada signed up as member
to united nations economic developement, the u.s. did not. there's a worldwide forum to bring all the standards concerning cars to the same level worldwide. the u.s. would of course have any interest in doing so, i think many, many people would like to drive a small european or japanese car
and save fuel, and cut down on greenhouse gases.
can't we start a list of people that want the
safety/emission standards changed so we can finally shop global for the cars we want without all the hassle? kind regards, marijke/ 100 mile house, bc, canada
The car that everyone else in the world calls the Toyota Yaris is sold in the USA as the Scion xA at some Toyota dealerships. I purchased one of the first ones sold in Virginia in Feb 2004. I have driven it 30,000 miles, and get nearly 40mpg. It is the best car I've owned in 30 years, and I plan to drive it for 10 years (which I did with my previous car, a '94 Toyota Corolla that gave me 160,000 trouble-free miles).
Well, for us, Europeans, all this is showing how Canada is close to the European Union in its culture were as, you guys are a bit like a "teenage culture" that's finally starting to grow up. Moderation has is vertues and, the majority of the World know it very well. There is no shame at being more moderate. Discretion is a sign of Taste and, Respect in all senses. Cars are only one aspect. You'll find out later on...
Im a happy owner of a Honda Fit. I live in Mexico City, my model has got a 1.5L/109hp engine. It runs beautifully. This is my sencond Honda, my first, was my first car also; a 98' Honda Civic. Honda's cars aint cheap. But Honda wont ever dump you. =) So, to anyone out there thinkng about getting a Yaris or a Fit... No doubt, Fit is the best there is.
Earlier on this page was a comment about Skylines being hard to get in North America and easy to get in Japan. Will Skylines ever be mass produced in North America so that Americans can easily and less expensively buy them in North America?
I am very tarlented in technology.
I did some art works
"Jen, you said "Bring back the diesel VW Rabbit!!!" But they are here... Every VW dealer should have one, they are just called golf now. You can get them in 2 and 4 door versions and they are all avaliable in diesel.."
Isn't the golf the rabbit again? But I don't think you can get diesel anymore.
"Burma has been renamed Myanmar by the military regime that seized control."
And many western news agencies, the US State department, the British Govt.and others don't acknowledge the new name in protest to the regime. Both names are historically correct.
Burma has to be one of the most oppressive governments in the world, after DPRK.
The Nissan Micra is a fantastic little car. I saw many of them in Europe. got to drive one. They have very nimble handling and adequate power. Build quality is superb.
Lancia also has a cute one about the same size as Micra. So do Fiat, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen. I'd wish they'd bring all the european brands back to the US. Nissan and Renault are now merged and both produce quality vehicles.
The Nissan Micra is a fantastic little car. I saw many of them in Europe. got to drive one. They have very nimble handling and adequate power. Build quality is superb.
Lancia also has a cute one about the same size as Micra. So do Fiat, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen. I'd wish they'd bring all the european brands back to the US. Nissan and Renault are now merged and both produce quality vehicles.
The Nissan Micra is a fantastic little car. I saw many of them in Europe. got to drive one. They have very nimble handling and adequate power. Build quality is superb.
Lancia also has a cute one about the same size as Micra. So do Fiat, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen. I'd wish they'd bring all the european brands back to the US. Nissan and Renault are now merged and both produce quality vehicles.
The Nissan Micra is a fantastic little car. I saw many of them in Europe. got to drive one. They have very nimble handling and adequate power. Build quality is superb.
Lancia also has a cute one about the same size as Micra. So do Fiat, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen. I'd wish they'd bring all the european brands back to the US. Nissan and Renault are now merged and both produce quality vehicles.
I've just come back from the poorest country in Central America (Honduras) where the Citroen C3 is now being sold for $16,500. This is a five passenger, five door car with a four cylinder diesel 1.6l engine that is rated at 92 hp and gets and amazing 76 mpg (highway) according to Citroen's website. But at the moment it is not built to US specifications, which I suspect means it is engineered to reduce CO2 and not NO4 or particulate matter, which is what the EPA looks for. Anyone have a better reason it is not being sold here in the US?
I've just come back from the poorest country in Central America (Honduras) where the Citroen C3 is now being sold for $16,500. This is a five passenger, five door car with a four cylinder diesel 1.6l engine that is rated at 92 hp and gets and amazing 76 mpg (highway) according to Citroen's website. But at the moment it is not built to US specifications, which I suspect means it is engineered to reduce CO2 and not NO4 or particulate matter, which is what the EPA looks for. Anyone have a better reason it is not being sold here in the US?
I've just come back from the poorest country in Central America (Honduras) where the Citroen C3 is now being sold for $16,500. This is a five passenger, five door car with a four cylinder diesel 1.6l engine that is rated at 92 hp and gets and amazing 76 mpg (highway) according to Citroen's website. But at the moment it is not built to US specifications, which I suspect means it is engineered to reduce CO2 and not NO4 or particulate matter, which is what the EPA looks for. Anyone have a better reason it is not being sold here in the US?