New vehicles in Australian showrooms appear to be getting bigger and bigger.
Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless demand for conventional small passenger vehicles, which accounted for 84,360 of the 1.2 million new car gross sales in Australia final yr.
Whereas this was a lower on the yr prior, the small phase was the most important when it comes to conventional passenger automotive gross sales in 2023 – and it’s simple to see why.
In style fashions such because the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla are two of the best-selling nameplates within the phase, which has nearly 30 fashions to select from.
However what would the CarExpert staff decide? We gave our journos the liberty of selecting one budget-friendly and one hotter or extra premium choice, so long as each conformed to the VFACTS definition of “small” – itself some extent of competition.
Jack Fast: Toyota Corolla Hybrid or Hyundai i30 Sedan N
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
I do know that is the boring reply (insert whitegoods joke right here) however with the current replace the Toyota Corolla obtained it’s not lagging behind the competitors within the infotainment sport.
There’s no denying the Corolla Hybrid is an extremely environment friendly car. I keep in mind driving one from residence to the workplace in a few of the worst visitors I’ve pushed in for a really very long time and getting a exceptional common of three.7L/100km. That’s insane.
If I needed to decide a variant specifically I’d go for the Corolla SX Hybrid hatchback which at present begins from $35,260 earlier than on-roads. It’s the hybrid variant that has essentially the most gear however nonetheless retains a spare wheel – the ZR Hybrid solely has a tyre restore equipment.
Hyundai i30 Sedan N
This efficiency automotive cut price is such a hoot to drive round city, however it may additionally maintain its personal out on the observe.
The i30 Sedan N remains to be solely accessible in a single extremely specced variant priced from $52,000 earlier than on-roads. The one choice you may choose (however you’d be foolish to take action) is a sunroof.
Fortunately with its newest replace the i30 Sedan N retains its rip-snorting 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produces 206kW and 392Nm. The exhaust additionally nonetheless produces loads of pops, crackles and bangs that carry a smile to your face each time you downshift.
Now the actual query – six-speed handbook or eight-speed dual-clutch auto?
MORE: Purchase a Toyota CorollaMORE: Purchase a Hyundai i30
Scott Collie: Subaru WRX or Honda Civic Sort R
Subaru WRX
This looks like a loophole, however in response to VFACTS the Subaru WRX is a small automotive.
Though it isn’t good, the most recent WRX remains to be a little bit of a unicorn. It’s a compact, all-wheel drive efficiency automotive with the choice of a handbook transmission and – because of a current replace – a full suite of energetic driver assists.
I’d fortunately have a base mannequin with the handbook transmission, though I’d additionally wish to preserve a number of thousand {dollars} apart to liberate a bit extra noise from the exhaust, and to sharpen up the marginally doughy throttle response with a tune.
Honda Civic Sort R
Whereas we’re speaking loopholes, the Civic Sort R is my premium decide.
Positive, the Honda badge doesn’t carry the identical degree of bragging rights as an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz brand, however the Sort R is priced consistent with a high-end variations of the A-Class or 1 Sequence. It’s additionally much more fascinating to me.
Actually of all of the vehicles I drove final yr, the Civic Sort R was my favorite – if I wanted to purchase a brand new automotive tomorrow, I might need it to be one in every of these.
The vary of issues it may do for the value is exceptional. Our launch overview confirmed you possibly can drive it daily because of its supple experience and sensible inside, and it’ll demolish a again highway like few vehicles this facet of a Porsche 911.
On observe, it provides near the proper mix of approachability and functionality. It flatters from the second you permit pit lane, and pushing more durable simply reveals increasingly more functionality.
There’s greater than only a trace of Porsche GT about the best way all of the controls really feel, which is concerning the highest praise you can provide a automotive.
MORE: Purchase a Subaru WRXMORE: Purchase a Honda Civic
William Stopford: Skoda Scala
You’re taking a look at probably the most unfairly missed automobiles on the Australian new automotive market.
Neatly packaged, elegantly styled, and good to drive, the Scala is just too typically ignored.
After one thing extra thrilling? The Hyundai i30 Sedan N, Subaru WRX RS sedan and Cupra Leon VZx stand out to me, although contemplating the staff received’t cease speaking about how nice the Honda Civic Sort R is, I believe that needs to be on my shortlist, too. I simply must drive the factor…
Should you’re trying to go electrical, the MG 4 is my decide of the cut-price, small Chinese language EVs. It’s well-packaged, engaging, and has a pleasant experience/dealing with stability.
I’d love a Corolla-sized sedan with a richly appointed inside, an extended record of options and a punchy turbo powertrain. Of the premium-brand small vehicles available on the market, the Audi A3 comes closest to assembly my tastes.
MORE: Purchase a Skoda Scala
Josh Nevett: Mazda 3 or Honda Civic Sort R
Mazda 3
Mazda could not fairly match the European producers on the subject of high quality, however the hole is certainly closing.
The Mazda 3 is a cushty, sensible and comparatively dynamic small automotive that additionally appears nice as a hatch.
My decide of the vary could be the mid-spec G25 Evolve SP. For $34,520 earlier than on-road prices, you get a 2.5-litre, 135kW four-cylinder engine, wi-fi smartphone connectivity, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and sporty design accents in and out.
It’s an important package deal. And the color? Soul Crimson, after all.
Honda Civic Sort R
The Civic Sort R isn’t fairly as inexpensive because it was once, however the newest technology of scorching Civic has been in comparison with Porsche’s GT merchandise on the subject of dealing with and driving really feel, so simply over $70,000 is a small value to pay for a real driver’s automotive.
The brand new automotive can be much more refined than its predecessors. Ridiculous exterior styling selections have made means for cleaner, extra palatable traces, and inside you’ll discover all of the creature comforts that new automotive patrons demand in 2024.
Honda has honed this recipe over greater than twenty years now, and it reveals.
MORE: Purchase a Mazda 3MORE: Purchase a Honda Civic
James Wong: Audi A3
For the longest time the Volkswagen Golf was billed because the premium compact automotive for the individuals, however as of late the Audi A3 appears to embody that mantra a bit of higher.
Audi has additionally managed to get its engine specs extra aligned with the European market, together with the wonderful 1.5 TFSI mild-hybrid within the base 35 TFSI.
The posh marque’s tech has lengthy been a minimize above the broader VW Group for person friendliness and connectivity, and the present one has the identical stuff you count on in Audi’s flagship merchandise.
With an up to date mannequin on the best way with a extra refined tackle the present technology’s already strong foundations, I’d be eager on a well-specced 35 TFSI Sportback in District Inexperienced.
MORE: Purchase an Audi A3
Jordan Mulach: MG 4 or Audi RS3
MG 4
Once I consider a small automotive, a metropolis runabout crosses the thoughts. With gasoline costing most of an arm and a leg, I’d be tempted to go electrical and there’s in all probability no higher value-for-money EV available on the market than the MG 4.
MG appears to have aced it with the 4’s packaging and expertise, plus it appears nice throughout all grades. I don’t even really feel the necessity to go for the quick XPower, because the common automotive will probably be a lot zippy sufficient for Brisbane’s streets.
By all accounts it’s additionally a strong long-haul cruiser, that means I wouldn’t be afraid to take it on the motorways.
Audi RS3
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, in case you’re going to discover a loophole, go large – and it’s exhausting to discover a cooler “small” automotive than the Audi RS3.
Its turbocharged five-cylinder sounds precisely like its distant Audi 90 quattro IMSA predecessor, and supplies greater than ample outputs of 294kW and 500Nm, driving all 4 wheels and generally with extra of a rear bias.
Inside you discover all of the options you possibly can ever need with supplies to make it really feel like a correct premium providing. Actually, there’s no drawbacks.
I’d discover it exhausting to go previous the sedan, not solely as a result of it has a nicer form however these rear seats are in all probability going to be offering a little bit of soundproofing if the exhaust was upgraded.
MORE: Purchase an MG 4MORE: Purchase an Audi RS3