Coming Next Spring: Small Cars with Premium Features and Great Fuel Economy

Washington DC October 25, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that Toyota, Honda, and Nissan will all release new subcompact models next spring that are expected to get 40-plus miles per gallon, reports USA Today.

The details are not final, but the Nissan Versa, the Toyota Yaris, and the Honda Fit, all subcompacts, are expected to offer premium features that are uncommon in the smallest of cars on the market currently.

These features include: high-end sound systems, multiple air bags, and anti-lock brakes. "The typical B-segment car sold elsewhere in the world isn’t quite up to the standard for American customers, who expect more roominess, more comfort, more features," says John Weiner, director of car product planning for Nissan North America.

These models by the big-name Japanese makers expect to bring a “marketing heft” to the small-car segment previously missing.