2009 Geneva: Five Favorite Small Cars
Although big, bold, and brash automobiles all but rule the Geneva motor show, we can’t ignore the smaller rides – especially when they happen to be fun, fresh, and funky. Here are five of our favorites from this year’s show.
2009 Fiat 500
What’s to like? We can’t praise this one enough. It’s an adorable, affable little car, but it doesn’t let its retro-chic shape prevent it from offering a suave interior and a surprisingly refined drive. There’s also a version for every taste – a convertible for sun worshipers, a diesel for hypermilers, and a 160-hp Abarth “esse-esse” model for the hot hatch fanatics.
Will it come Stateside? Possibly. Should the Fiat-Chrysler deal actually transpire, the 500 is on the short list of cars that would cross the pond.
Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA
What’s to like? The normal MiTo is already a shapely, sporty hatchback, but the GTA kicks things up a notch. 240 hp, sport-tuned suspension, and racy styling are all pluses in our book.
Will it come Stateside? Our Magic 8 ball says to “ask again later.” Not only is the MiTo’s arrival in the U.S. hinged upon the Chrysler-Fiat marriage, but there’s also a lot of speculation as to the GTA’s future itself – after all, it’s still a concept at this point.
2009 Suzuki Swift Sport 100th Anniversary Edition
What’s to like? Although the name might trigger flashbacks of a Geo Metro twin, the present Swift – sold almost everywhere but America – is a slick-looking hatchback. The Sport 100th Anniversary Edition model looks even better – adding a monochromatic paint treatment, a custom body kit, and large aluminum wheels makes the miniscule Swift look a lot like a shrunken VW GTI.
Will it come Stateside? Not likely, as Suzuki plans on keeping the SX4 as its smallest North American offering at this point. A shame, as the Swift actually seems to be a competent, attractive, and (possibly) inexpensive ride.
2010 Volkswagen Polo
What’s to like? It’s like a fifth-generation Golf, but at three-quarters scale. Everything you may like about VW’s “larger” hatchback – styling, interior, powertrain – is here, albeit in a resized form. Still, it comes off as one of the most upscale subcompacts we’ve seen in a while.
Will it come Stateside? Most likely, as VW’s expressed interest in playing in the growing subcompact segment in the U.S. Whether we’ll receive this car or the last-generation model remains to be seen.
Daihatsu Trevis
What’s to like? The Mini Cooper may be retro, but Daihatsu seems to capture more of the original’s spirit with its Trevis. It’s slow (power comes from a 1.0-liter I-3) and small, but hey – so was the first Austin Mini. The look is so convincing, we’ve had to do a double-take several times as we’ve passed these on the street (one, painted in British Racing Green with white hood stripes, really had us confused.
Will it come Stateside? We’re fairly certain Daihatsu’s parent company – Toyota Motor Corporation – has bigger fish to fry than re-launching the brand in the U.S.
