The agile little hatchback, cast on a rigid chassis with a four-in-line engine directing all torque to front wheels wrapped in 185/55R16 rubber, slithers up the curlicue trace like a slot car locked on a track. It's obviously playful, and in the hands of a skillful driver allows a creative expression of kinetic movement in linear form which can be both exhilarating and satisfying. Read More »

Yet Nissan breaks this custom with Versa because the notchback seems substantial: Versa's designers pull off a magician's trick by creating surprising cabin room with a lot of nice equipment aboard, and in the process end up with a small car that feels pleasant to drive. Built on Nissan's new global front-wheel drive V platform, the small-scale Versa notchback model aimed at the North American market comes together at a Nissan assembly plant located in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Read More »

Rio 5-Door in long-roof hatchback format spins off Kia's Rio 4-door notchback sedan, which has been rebuilt for a third generation in the Class of 2012. Each Rio 5-Door model features a sleek package design with pronounced wedge profile and a prominent prow with gaping lower grille divided into three sections, edgy contours on side panels and wheelwell flares which turn into sculpted shoulders. Read More »

Aimed at young shoppers seeking a fuel-thrifty small car packing high-tech hybrid hardware, the new subcompact-size Prius c employs Toyota's proven Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system and earns downright impressive fuel economy numbers of 53 mpg City/46 mpg Highway. The itsy-bitsy economy car provides room for up to five riders on comfortable seats with a pair of buckets in front of a bench for three and room at the rear for cargo due to the hatchback roofline. Read More »