According to verified owners and the EPA, these are the most environmentally friendly subcompact cars on the road
It should come as no surprise that subcompact and compact cars together comprise more than half of the top 30 models on the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Environmental Index (AEI). Typically, small cars burn less fuel than larger cars and many models are engineered to exceed strict emissions regulations in California and the New England region. When it comes to subcompacts, some are bigger inside than you might expect—and some are more fun to drive than you might expect—but each of the following models lands on this year’s AEI as among the “greenest” vehicles consumers can buy.
2007 Chevrolet Aveo
Chevrolet restyled half the Aveo lineup for 2007, significantly updating the sedan but carrying over the 5-door hatchback with a snazzy new name patterned after similarly configured vehicles from rival Kia: Aveo5. Perhaps that’s fitting, as the Aveo and Aveo5 hail from South Korea, home to the Kia Rio5 and Spectra5. Sedans receive exterior styling changes and a new interior that Chevy says was “designed to challenge expectations of what an entry-level car can deliver.” Power is sourced from a 103-hp, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder connected to a standard manual or optional automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated by the EPA at 27 mpg city/37 mpg highway with the manual and 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway for the automatic.
Learn more about the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
2007 Honda Fit
Honda’s new Fit is a hit. Dealers recently told industry trade journal Automotive News that they could sell even more Fits if Honda could make more of them, and consumers who bought the Fit rate it highly in J.D. Power and Associates quality, performance, and design studies. This little 5-door hatchback is offered in standard or Sport trim, is powered by a 109-hp 4-cylinder engine, and is rated by the EPA to get 33 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway with a manual transmission, and 31 city/38 highway with an automatic.
Learn more about the 2007 Honda Fit
2007 Hyundai Accent
Redesigned for the 2006 model year, the Hyundai Accent is carried over with only minor changes for 2007. The Accent is available in sedan or 3-door hatchback body styles; the hatchback is offered in GS and SE trim, while the sedan is sold only in GLS format. A 110-hp 4-cylinder engine with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty delivers 32 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway when equipped with the standard manual transmission, according to the EPA. With the automatic, fuel economy is rated at 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The Accent ranks high in quality, according to owners responding to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS).
Learn more about the 2007 Hyundai Accent
2007 Kia Rio
When someone says “Rio” people usually think about a vibrant city in Brazil or a hit song by Duran Duran. When talking about the J.D. Power and Associates AEI for 2007, however, Rio refers to a small car from Kia. Sold as a sedan or a 5-door hatchback called the Rio5, this subcompact is powered by a 110-hp 4-cylinder engine rated by the EPA to get 32 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with a manual transmission, and 29 mpg city/38 mpg highway with an automatic. Plus, the Rio was ranked as the No. 1 subcompact for quality in the 2007 IQS, and it comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Learn more about the 2007 Kia Rio
2007 Mini Cooper Convertible
Mini redesigned the Cooper Hatchback this year, but the Convertible model carried over without changes. A Sidewalk Edition debuted mid-year with special colors, unique trim and standard features that are optional on the standard and Cooper S versions. The standard Cooper Convertible has a 115-hp 4-cylinder rated by the EPA to get 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with a manual transmission, and 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway for the automatic. The supercharged Cooper S Convertible gets 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway with the manual and 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the automatic. Mini has not formally announced that it will introduce a new convertible model based on the redesigned Cooper Hatchback.
Learn more about the 2007 Mini Cooper Convertible
2007 Nissan Versa
Nissan’s new Versa is priced similar to and marketed against subcompact models like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris, but is larger inside and more powerful than its two main competitors. Sold as a sedan or a 5-door hatchback in S or SL trim, the Versa is equipped with a 122-hp 4-cylinder engine. Three transmission choices are offered: on the S models, a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic is available, and on the SL buyers can select the same manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that helps maximize power delivery and fuel efficiency. EPA fuel economy ratings range from 28 mpg in the city with the 4-speed automatic to 36 mpg on the highway with the CVT. Owners like them, too—the Versa ranks just below the Fit and Yaris in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout StudySM (APEAL).
Learn more about the 2007 Nissan Versa
2007 Toyota Yaris
Replacing the Echo as Toyota’s entry-level subcompact, the new Yaris is offered as a 3-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan. The two models share the same engine, but styling is completely different inside and out. The 4-cylinder engine makes 106 hp, and when connected to the manual transmission is rated by the EPA to get 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. With the optional automatic transmission, the Yaris returns 34 mpg city/39 mpg highway. Yaris owners find the car’s performance and design attributes appealing, according to the 2007 APEAL Study, in which it tied with the Honda Fit as the highest-ranked model in the subcompact class.
Learn more about the 2007 Toyota Yaris
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