2016 Drive Car Of The Year
Here are our finalists for the Small Car category
The Best Small Car class forms the largest category in 2016 as five machines look to take victory in one of the most competitive classes. Ford's Focus Trend is a Drive favourite thanks to its excellent dynamics and punchy turbo engine, though it will have to knock off fresh foes from Europe ? the Holden Astra R and Renault Megane Zen - and Asia - Honda Civic VTi-S and Kia Cerato S Premium ? to retain its crown.
Renault Megane Zen View vehicle
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| Price: | From $27,490 plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder Turbo Intercooled Petrol - Premium ULP |
| Power: | 97kW at 4500rpm |
| Torque: | 205Nm at -2000rpm |
| Transmission: | 7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch, Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel use: | 5.6L/100km |
Small hatchbacks have been a staple of French car makers like Renault for decades, and the latest Megane is a return to form for the brand. Its stylish body is bigger, lighter and stronger than its predecessor with a cabin that is spacious, comfortable and equipped with plenty of modern conveniences. Its 1.2-litre turbo charged engine might the smallest among the finalists, but it punches well above its weight and Renault charges a premium over small car rivals but it counters that by being among most affordable to run and has a five-year warranty.
Kia Cerato S Premium Hatch View vehicle
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| Price: | From $24,990 plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder Aspirated Petrol - Unleaded ULP |
| Power: | 112kW at 6200rpm |
| Torque: | 192Nm at -4000rpm |
| Transmission: | 6-speed Sports Automatic, Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel use: | 7.1L/100km |
Kia has come a long way in a relatively short period of time to become a serious player in the small car sector. The Cerato might not have the same level of sales success as the Hyundai i30 it is related to, but it is no less of a car. A recent update has simplified the range, added more equipment and increased its value. The S Premium model is powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder with a six-speed automatic and, like all Kia models, is covered by an industry-benchmark seven-year factory warranty.
Honda Civic VTi-S View vehicle
| Price: | From $24,490 plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder Aspirated Petrol - Unleaded ULP |
| Power: | 104kW at 6500rpm |
| Torque: | 174Nm at -4300rpm |
| Transmission: | 1-speed Constantly Variable Transmission, Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel use: | 6.4L/100km |
Honda is the first to admit it has been in the doldrums over the last decade, reversing into a cave of conservatism in the wake of budget cuts brought on the by the global financial crisis. But this tenth-generation Civic heralds a return to form for the Japanese car maker; built around a spacious sedan body style, it looks and drives like a 21st century small car. The VTi-S specification we're testing has a 1.8-litre four cylinder engine with a CVT automatic and a generous level of equipment for its price.
Holden Astra R View vehicle
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| Price: | From $24,290 plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder Aspirated Petrol - Unleaded ULP |
| Power: | 103kW at 6300rpm |
| Torque: | 170Nm at -3800rpm |
| Transmission: | 4-speed Automatic, Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel use: | 7.8L/100km |
As Holden prepares to farewell its locally-built Commodore - a car that it has been at the core of its focus for decades - the company has begun to rebuild the rest of its passenger car range, starting with this car, the all-new European-sourced Astra hatch. Fresh off the boat (the Astra officially goes on sale in showrooms this month), the entry-level Astra R is excellent value, has a modern 1.4-litre turbo charged engine and has been expertly tuned for local conditions by Holden's engineering team.
Ford Focus Trend View vehicle
As a perennial winner of the small car class, the Ford Focus Trend is an under rated family-focused hatchback. It has taken the class crown in previous years on the strength of its dynamic driving character, the effortless combination of its 1.5-litre turbo charged engine and six-speed automatic transmission and the option of fitting all the latest semi-autonomous driver and safety aids that are generally only found in high-end luxury cars. Even in its base-level Trend specification, the Focus is a classy, spacious and well-equipped hatchback that also has affordable long-term running costs.
| Price: | From $24,390 plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder Turbo Intercooled Petrol - Unleaded ULP |
| Power: | 132kW at 6000rpm |
| Torque: | 240Nm at 1600-5000rpm |
| Transmission: | 6-speed Automatic, Front Wheel Drive |
| Fuel use: | 6.2L/100km |