QOTD: The Last Compact Car Left Alive?

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Continuing sadness. That’s all this writer feels when he gazes at the small car space these days, what with GM culling the Cruze, Ford’s Focus inventory dwindling like SPAM supplies before a hurricane, and the Dodge Dart….well, maybe it’s not all that sad after all.

Meanwhile, departing domestic compact customers aren’t heading over to their foreign competitors in the amount those automakers would like. Honda Civic sales? Down 13.4 percent this year, through the end of November. Toyota’s Corolla, now bolstered by a better hatchback variant? Down 10 percent this year. Hyundai Elantra sales are up, actually, by 4.8 percent, though its volume falls far below that of its Japanese rivals. Nissan Sentra sales are down 3 percent.

So far, the American consumer shows no signs of falling out of love with light trucks of every size and description.

Which brings us to today’s question: with gas prices now trending downwards after an uptick earlier this year, which compact passenger car nameplate will be the last one standing? Changing consumer preferences and market forces could one day leave the new car shopper with no new compact cars to choose from.

This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but look where we are now. Fiat Chrysler’s out of the game. And how many Dodge Shadows and Neons did it once sell? Ford’s packed up and left, too. Our streets were awash in Focuses in the previous decade. General Motors roared out of bankruptcy with the high-MPG Cruze — the first GM compact that didn’t suck, according to many — but now faces enough shrinking demand to warrant a death sentence for Lordstown Assembly.

You have to shed a tear for the working class car buyer who’ll soon face fewer options for a cheap car. Still, it’s not as it that buyer doesn’t still have good options. The Civic can be had in three bodystyles and four power flavors. Toyota’s finally getting its ass in gear, bestowing a new, TNGA-platform sedan on us, including a hybrid variant. A new hatch is already on the market, making up for the mediocrity that was the iM.

In this writer’s mind, one of these two nameplates will be the victor (if you can call being the last to die a victory). Volume and name recognition backs up this assertion. You, on the other hand, might have other ideas. Perhaps I’ve got it all wrong — maybe the last compact cars alive will be electric, and they won’t come from traditional automakers. This is a chance for you Tesla Model 3 fans to chime in with predictions of doom and gloom in a marketplace.

Sound off in the comments.

[Image: Honda, General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Mechimike Mechimike on Dec 04, 2018

    Mazda just releases its brand new 2019 '3' this week, and already it's been forgotten and you all are arguing over Civics, Corollas, and Elantras. The 3 is the better car all around. I drove 'em all, and bought a 2018. Just had a rental Corolla for a recent trip...and was reminded of just how glad I am I didn't go that route.

  • Lightspeed Lightspeed on Dec 04, 2018

    When this generation of Civic arrived, it was astonishing how many were sold so quickly. Overnight the streets became filled with them. Now seeing more Elantras and Fortes, but barely ever see a new Golf. Mind you Alberta is a weird market - Trucks, trucks, trucks, German lease-bait, CUVs and Civics are pretty much the whole market.

    • Stuntmonkey Stuntmonkey on Dec 04, 2018

      > When this generation of Civic arrived, it was astonishing how many were sold so quickly. A few factors for that: - The large number of Honda drivers, dealer and independent mechanics, built in market momentum - At the time, the 170 bhp turbo motor was exciting for a mass market compact and caught on in a way that the Mazda 2.5L never did. - Pricing was competitive for what you were getting - The relative scarcity of the Fit makes the low end Civic a better option for a lot of people - The divergence of the Accord from its historic mission as a family hauler makes the top-trim civics essentially the new Accords of today. So basically the Civic and Corolla will be the last of mainstream mass market compacts, mostly because they can cannibalize other segments within their own respective families. In Canada the Mazda3 does well, but up until now it wasn't space efficient to really be an alternative to a downsizing Mazda6 customer.

  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
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