Feeling the pinch at the pump, American consumers are re-evaluating their priorities and many are making a clean break to small cars, trading in gas-guzzling full-size pickups and SUVs for more fuel-efficient modes of transportation. Fortunately, driving a small car today doesn’t necessarily mean swapping performance for economy like it once did, but there are some sacrifices in choosing a small car. Passenger space, trunk and storage capacity, acceleration, and even some aspects of safety may suffer when moving from a large car, truck or SUV to a small car. It’s just a matter of finding what works for you.
In the ultra-competitive subcompact and compact car segments, the Honda Fit and Mini Cooper are the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM award recipients.
Subcompact Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2008 Honda Fit
Introduced for the 2007 model year, the subcompact Fit is the smallest car in Honda’s U.S. lineup. Available exclusively as a 5-door hatchback in Base and Sport trims, the Fit offers a spacious
interior (90 cubic feet of space) and an innovative rear seat that offers versatile cargo- and passenger-carrying options. New for 2008 is a standard tire-pressure-monitoring system. Honda plans to unveil a redesigned Fit for the 2009 model year.
Though the Honda Fit has only been on the market for a couple of years, it is quickly earning its share of J.D. Power and Associates awards. In its launch year, the Fit ranked No. 2 in the subcompact car segment in the 2007 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and ranked highest (in a tie with the Toyota Yaris) in the 2007 APEAL Study. In 2008, the Fit ranks highest in the subcompact car segment in both IQS and APEAL, demonstrating that quality and appeal can peacefully co-exist, no matter how small the package.
Among the seven models in the subcompact car segment, the 2008 Honda Fit achieves the highest ratings in four of the 10 categories that comprise the study, including:
- vehicle exterior
- storage and space
- seats
- driving dynamics
Additionally, the Fit scores above the segment average in each of the other six categories.
According to consumers, the top three attributes of the Fit compared to the subcompact car segment are: the appearance of the wheels, rims and tires; amount of trunk/cargo area space; and the ease of loading/unloading the trunk/cargo area. The Fit’s bottom three attributes are: the ability to comfortably rest arms while driving; effectiveness of center console storage; and quietness over harsh bumps.
2008 Honda Fit Prices
2008 Honda Fit Photos
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Honda Fit First Time Buyer’s Guide
Ranked No. 2: 2008 Toyota Yaris
Ranked No. 3: 2008 Scion xD
Compact Car Segment
Highest Ranked: 2008 Mini Cooper
Mixing updated chassis technology, modern safety advances and the original Mini’s small-car formula, a brand-new 3-door hatchback Mini was 
launched in 2001. It was followed by an all-new, second-generation model in 2007. For 2008, the Mini Cooper hatchback and convertible carry forward mostly unchanged, and are joined in the lineup by a stretched-wheelbase, 5-door Clubman model.
Following a string of APEAL model awards from 2002-2006 and a one-year absence atop the segment rankings in 2007, the Mini Cooper returns to the top of the compact car segment in this year’s APEAL Study, earning its sixth model award in seven years. Mini has done an admirable job of updating the Cooper over the years, enhancing the premium mini car and staying ahead of the competition.
Among the 20 models in the compact car segment, the 2008 Mini Cooper achieves the highest ratings in seven of the 10 categories that comprise the study, including:
- vehicle exterior
- vehicle interior
- audio/entertainment/navigation
- seats
- driving dynamics
- engine/transmission
- visibility/driving safety
Additionally, the Cooper scores above the segment average in climate control and fuel economy, but below the segment average in storage/space.
According to consumers, the top three attributes of the Cooper compared to the compact car segment are: the rating of fuel economy and range between fuel stops; rear-end styling; and the appearance of the wheels, rims and tires. The Cooper’s bottom three attributes are: rear passenger room; the amount of trunk/cargo area space; and the usefulness of front and rear cupholders. The introduction of the extended-length Clubman model should help to address consumer concerns over rear-seat passenger and trunk/cargo space.
2008 Mini Cooper Prices
2008 Mini Cooper Photos
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Ranked No. 2: 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
Ranked No. 3: 2008 Ford Focus
More Research
2008 APEAL Study Results
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