Small Car

Audi claims it created the premium compact segment. But does the Audi badge have sufficient clout to defeat the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series?

Hands up if you remember the Nissan Pulsar? Born in 1978 and sold all around the world (various generations were even built in Australia) until it disappeared in 2007, replaced by the Nissan Tiida, the Nissan Pulsar became an icon. And now it’s back. And at exactly the same price it listed for back in 1996 – $19,990 (+ORC). Clever.

The Fiat 500 has never really been a serious choice for Australian motorists, but with a price cut and cute looks that might be about to change. It also makes a strong case for itself against the other “retro” contenders such as the VW Beetle and Mini, which are bought more for image than any compelling practical reasons.

At $16,000 driveway for the base model, the Fiat Punto is well worth a look on price and equipment alone. It’s a decent-looking car and the fit and finish is impressive, as are the standard five doors, nice manual gearbox and roomy, airy interior.

If you’re in the market for a highly sensible new car with all the attributes of a small car but the space and practicality of a mid-size car, the Nissan Almera almost stands alone. You’ll miss out on a few of life’s little luxuries, but you shouldn’t get too many complaints from the back seat.

If you’re looking for an engaging little hatch that rides and handles well, looks great, and is loaded with plenty of standard kit which you usually have to pay a lot more for, then the Hyundai Veloster is the car for you. And the car’s five-year warranty is icing on the cake.

The Hyundai i30 offers good looks (inside and out), an impressive list of standard equipment for the money, good ride and handling with a level of refinement neither the Toyota Corolla or Mazda3 can match, and enough room for a family of four.

The new Golf is a case of more of the same, only different. It should be more than enough to […]

The Peugeot 208 starts at $18,490, and that is, quite frankly, overpriced compared to what else is available. If your heart is set on this French cutie, at the bare minimum we’d suggest you consider the 1.6-litre four-cylinder, even though it is an additional $3000.