Edmunds CarPool

Seemingly warping the reality of space, these seriously small vehicles (the Fit is nearly 16 inches shorter lengthwise than a Civic) are able to seat a pair of adults comfortably in their back seats or easily transport bulky items that wouldn't fit into even a large sedan's trunk. How is this possible, you wonder? By going taller instead of longer. The tall architecture of these cars provides plenty of head- and legroom by positioning the seat cushions higher up so that occupants' legs drop straight down. A lower cushion would require ones legs to be kicked out straighter, requiring more floor length. Think of it as sitting on a kitchen chair versus sitting on a beach chair.

But enough of Automotive Design Efficiency 101 and cute, "box that it came in" styling. We were most curious to see how the Fit would fare against the new Soul as well as a more distinctive version of the Cube -- the upscale Cube Krom -- than we previously tested. Three Automotive Editors -- Warren Clarke, John DiPietro and Mark Takahashi -- lived with them for a week, drove them back-to-back-to-back on our comparison test loop, debated the merits of each over lunch and filled out our comprehensive evaluation forms. We also got performance numbers at the test track. 

After crunching the numbers, we had less than a half point between two of the combatants, resulting in a tie for second place.     

2nd Place (tie): Nissan Cube Krom
Base MSRP (with destination): $20,090
Options: Interior Designer Package ($230 -- includes floor/cargo mats, shag dash topper, bungee cords in front doors), Alarm impact sensor upgrade ($100) 
As-tested Price: $20,420
For more information, please read the 2010 Nissan Cube Test Drive and the Model Review

Where It Follows
As we've noted previously with the Cube, its somewhat slow steering and softly sprung suspension prevent any aspirations of motoring fun. Although the Cube -- in the words of our test track driver -- "...handles respectably", it is more transportation appliance than fun on four wheels.

Styling is of course subjective, but we couldn't help but notice the Krom's Gillette Mach3-inspired (or is that Ford Fusion-inspired?) grille design. "Too much bling for me" was one editor's opinion, whereas another likened the body styling (particularly around the side windows) to an LG washing machine. The cabin drew some fire even though it had some interesting elements, such as the "pebble dropped in a pond" headliner. Editor Takahashi felt it lacked a theme, noting "odd shapes everywhere". Mr. T. also didn't care for the Cube's climate controls, calling them "awful" due to their "gimmicky" circular layout and squishy action. In fairness, the other editors had no issue with them so we'll let you be the judge. One thing we all agreed on was that the optional dash top cover -- a small oval rug that looks like a cover for a miniature toilet seat -- is simply bizarre.

Lastly, the Cube is the least accommodating as far as cargo. A golf bag barely fit behind the rear seat, and would only do so angled and with the sliding rear seat all the way up. The same was true for stowing our roll-away carry-on.

Where It Leads
Those who think driving a small car means a cramped cabin, uncomfortable seats and a busy ride should take a Cube out for a spin. The wide and plush seats seemed like they came out of a premium sedan rather than an economy car. The rear seats in particular impressed us with their room and standard niceties that included a fold-down center armrest, a reclining feature and a fore/aft adjustment. Whether negotiating pockmarked city streets or cruising on the freeway, the Cube comfortably soaks up the bumps and ruts without jiggling its passengers. 

The powertrain deserves kudos as well, for its polished performance. Though its performance numbers are about average and there's a slight "rubber-banding" effect under hard acceleration (where it starts off a bit slowly and then quickly hits its stride), the Cube doesn't get thrashy or too loud when you lean on it. And the CVT (Continuously-variable Transmission) is the best we've seen in a small car as it responds fairly quickly when you step into it for passing or merging. Most other CVTs in small cars tend to feel like they're slipping and thus sapping the engine of whatever meager reserves it may have.

2nd Place (tie): Kia Soul !
Base MSRP (with destination): $18,595
Options: None
As-tested Price: $18,595
For more information, please read the 2010 Kia Soul Test Drive and the Model Review

Where It Follows
Although the "!" trim level doesn't have the sport-tuned suspension of the Sport trim, it does have a rather stiff ride compared to the other cars here.  We also noticed its firm underpinnings while evaluating handling. Though the Soul has admirably crisp steering response and a lack of body roll when being pushed moderately hard, mid-corner bumps can upset the chassis which results in a bit of skittishness. We're sure that the standard 18-inch wheels with their low-profile tires aren't helping matters, given the ultra-short tire sidewalls that don't help absorb sharp impacts as well as taller ones.  

Dynamically, it's a mixed bag. The 2.0-liter four pulls adequately but gets noisy as the tach needles approaches the redline. The four-speed automatic shifts smoothly but has widely-spaced ratios that dull the car's responsiveness. It's also rather old-fashioned now that five-speed autos and CVTs are becoming more typical in the subcompact segment.

Though we all felt that the interior was a design success, it was comprised almost exclusively of hard plastic. Even the door armrests and center console armrest were covered in it. The rear seat is comfortable but it lacks the sliding and reclining features seen in the others. Wind noise was noticeable on the freeway and the "beep" for the Bluetooth voice prompts was simply annoying -- it was loud, high-pitched and not adjustable.

Where It Leads
Kia is all about value, and at $18,595 with plenty of features, the Soul ! represents a fair amount of it. Consider that Bluetooth connectivity, with automatic phone book download comes standard as does a power sunroof, an iPod connection and those 18-inch alloy wheels (though we'd prefer 17s for a better ride). There's also the peace of mind provided by the long warranty.

Style is important in this segment too; where does it say that those on a budget shopping want boring looks? We'll let you be the judges, but to our eyes the Soul is sharp and distinctive yet doesn't look like it's trying too hard. The cabin's two-tone color scheme along with houndstooth seat upholstery accents (did someone at Kia have a thing for the '69 Chevy Camaro?) provide an upscale vibe.

1st Place: Honda Fit Sport w/ Navi
Base MSRP (with destination): $18,780
Options: None
As-tested Price: $18,780
For more information, please read the Honda Fit Road Test and the Model Review 

Where It Follows
In keeping with a strange Honda tradition, the Fit was the noisiest of our test cars while cruising on the freeway. It's more road noise than wind noise, and it's especially pronounced on grooved, concrete superslabs such as those seen here in California. Some folks shopping this segment may find the ride too firm, though it's not as stiff as that of the Soul !.

Some of us took issue with the Fit's styling as well.  The drooping roof looks as if an elephant sat on its trailing edge, while the dash looks like the designers took two of them from different cars and mashed them together. Most of our staff prefers the cleaner look (inside and out) of the previous-generation Fit.

Where It Leads
Key strengths of the Fit are its communicative well-weighted steering and precise, sporty handling. The blog for our long-term Fit has a number of entries stating how enjoyable it is to drive on a winding road, where a lack of body roll and the quick steering inspire confidence. The smooth-revving engine gladly gives you everything it's got without sounding strained, even as you zing it to redline. Note that for this test an automatic Fit was unavailable, so we used our long-term five-speed manual Fit. The Road Test link above is for an automatic Fit.

When it comes to more practical concerns, the Fit is fantastic. The "Magic" split rear seats are not only comfortable and fold flat but they also feature flip-up seat cushions to accommodate tall items (your big dog, for instance). If the seats are in use, you'll find nearly double the amount of cargo capacity behind them (about 20 cubes) compared to the Cube. Then there's the matter of fuel economy -- the Fit averaged 31 mpg whereas the Cube and Soul each averaged around 25 mpg (24.6 and 25.4, respectively).  Granted our Fit was a manual-transmission version, but the EPA estimates for the automatic are identical apart from the "combined" number, which is actually one mpg better. 

So once again, the well-rounded and fun Honda Fit fends off its foes, validating its standing as a favorite not only among our staff but among savvy economy car consumers as well.