Comparison review: six subcompact hatchbacks

[oklapike]

Originally Posted by Millefune

Ooh ooh! Another Brady comparison. I'm going with the Fit or Soul to win it! *Staying tuned.*

I'd bet on the Fit personally. Until the Fiesta and Viva (or whatever it ends up being called) get here, the Fit is the only game in town for this kind of car.

[F14CRAZY]

WTF?..."hey guys I got an idea...how about we get some remnant pieces from the dumpster of the carpet store and charge people more to have it on their dash?"

[bradyholt]

Third place: Scion xD

In most ways, the Scion xD is simply acceptable by the class standards, nothing more. It’s rarely a standout for positive or for negative characteristics. It’s rather stiff-riding and noisy, like most of its competitors. It holds four passengers in acceptable but unexceptional comfort, like most of its competitors. It displays no cleverness in its design, but few “what were they thinking?” flaws.

There are just three key aspects of the xD that are even moderately distinguished from the competition, for better and for worse...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...ks-Third-place

[page2171]

Can you just tell us who first place is? The suspense is killing me!

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by page2171

Can you just tell us who first place is? The suspense is killing me!

My prediction:

Second Place - Kia Soul

First Place - Honda Fit

[bradyholt]

Second place: Honda Fit

When the market decides one car is in a class by itself, that car’s automaker and that automaker’s dealers know just what to do: milk that for all it’s worth...

...Of course, if the Fit truly were in a class by itself, a princely sum might be worth it, despite the necessity of value in to an economy car. But although it does outshine the competition in several ways, it does not manage to avoid sharing their subcompact feel...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...s-Second-place

[bradyholt]

First place: Kia Soul

It likely comes as no surprise that the Kia Soul is the least expensive of these six, the only one you’re likely to be able to buy for under $15,000, nearly $2,000 less than the second-place Honda Fit.

But the Soul also has a distinctive personality that distinguishes it in more ways than price...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...ks-First-place

[Ttple]

I don't understand why they had a picture of the Scion xD but didn't include it in the competition.

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Ttple

I don't understand why they had a picture of the Scion xD but didn't include it in the competition.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...ks-Third-place

[Millefune]

That is an ugly car. You have bad taste in "style."

[Ttple]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...ks-Third-place

I don't know how I missed it.

I test drove an xD and found it to be a fun car to drive.

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Millefune

That is an ugly car. You have bad taste in "style."

Why, what's your pick of the litter?

Certainly none of them is lovely. But I think the Soul pulls off its attempted look pretty well.

[bradyholt]

Overall conclusion:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...cks-Conclusion

[Millefune]

The Fit is smoother, and nicer looking. The Soul looks like it's trying to look like a toy. The headlights are ridiculous, and what's with the grill trim trying to have extra "mass" in the middle parts? The front bumper looks like it belongs on a truck.

[YEH]

Originally Posted by Millefune

That is an ugly car. You have bad taste in "style."

The Soul is the best-looking out of the group of boxy "cute-utes."

Originally Posted by Millefune

The Fit is smoother, and nicer looking. The Soul looks like it's trying to look like a toy. The headlights are ridiculous, and what's with the grill trim trying to have extra "mass" in the middle parts? The front bumper looks like it belongs on a truck.

The Fit looks more like a toy to me and one really can't compare a hatch/mpv w/ a "cute-ute."

A better comparison for looks would be the Hyundai i20 or the upcoming Kia mpv (No.3) - they would also be a better comparison w/ regard to handling/road manners and fuel consumption (if had been available) against the Fit than are the cute-utes like the Soul and Cube.