Nissan Micra...
Zippy handling and sharp pricing but the engine's a little underdone and lagging on safety. New model soon.
Suzuki Alto...
Great value and strong safety story but cramped and has an underpowered engine.
Mazda2
Mazda recently shifted production of the 2 from Japan to Thailand, lowering labour costs and taking advantage of the Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and Australia, which means zero tariffs (instead of the 5 per cent impost on other imports).
For the buyer, that means standard stability control and a value equation that Mazda says has improved by about $1000. Add to that the fact Mazda doesn't charge you for prestige paint - the Toyota, Hyundai and Volkswagen do - and the 2 looks like good value.
Inside, the 2's cabin is neat, simple and well laid out, although it's let down a little by large expanses of plain, black, hard plastic and no digital trip computer readout. The seats are comfortable, with good side support, although the steering wheel only adjusts for height.
The back seat is fairly tight, with our rear seat testers ranking it the most cramped of the five, but the rear load area was a decent size. Niggles include a space-saver tyre sitting under the floor and a middle child-restraint anchor placed on the rear load lip, allowing the strap to eat into cargo space.
We had the top-of-the-range Genki version, which gets larger wheels, a body kit, fog lamps and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob. It also gets the full safety package, including curtain airbags to protect rear passengers. Unfortunately, the Mazda - along with the i20 and Toyota Yaris - doesn't get cruise control.
On the road, the Mazda is an accomplished performer. It steers accurately, is composed and agile through the corners and has a slightly more cosseting ride than the Fiesta. Its weakness is the 1.5-litre engine under its bonnet.
It struggles to conquer hills with a couple of people on board. In our four-aboard, uphill acceleration test it was the slowest by a decent margin (even the automatic Yaris was more than two seconds quicker).
With less of a load on board, though, the Mazda feels spritely enough. The engine likes to rev and the five-speed manual gearbox feels precise, while engine noise and vibration are well suppressed.
Mazda2 Genki
How much? $20,940 (auto $1650 more) plus on-road and dealer costs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl
Power: 76kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 135Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission: 5-sp manual, FWD
Weight: 1038kg
Fuel use: 6.4L/100km (6.8L/100km auto)
Emissions: 152g/km CO2 (162g/km CO2 auto)
Safety: Five-star crash rating; front, front-side and curtain airbags; stability control
Rating: 4/5
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Ford fiesta
This pint-sized Ford has enjoyed a sales revival since the new model arrived early last year.
The Fiesta is attractively priced for a European-sourced car. Our test car was the 1.6-litre manual version, which Ford says is the most popular choice. That's unusual, because most light-car buyers favour autos, but the anomaly can be traced to the fact that the manual gets a bigger engine (the auto mates it to a 1.4) and it's $1500 cheaper.
That will change when Fiesta production shifts to Thailand later this year, and the 1.6-litre engine becomes standard across the range.
We chose the five-door, middle-of-the-range Fiesta LX, which costs $1800 more than the base model and gets voice-activated Bluetooth, a leather steering wheel, power rear windows and bigger, 15-inch alloy wheels.
The LX model on sale now doesn't get standard stability control (which can prevent a skid) or side airbags, while no Fiesta gets curtain airbags to protect rear-seat passengers.
That will also change with the shift to the Thai plant, with all but the CL model getting seven airbags and stability control standard.
The Fiesta's cabin has its ups and downs. The seats are comfortable and supportive, with good-looking cloth trim, while the central information screen looks good and is easy to read.
There are also steering wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and cruise control, a welcome addition at this end of the market.
Soft-touch plastic on the dash is a rare touch in this class but the overall cabin design lacks cohesion, with too many different colours and textures.
The rear of the Fiesta isn't as spacious as some light cars, with leg, shoulder and headroom on the tight side for adults. The rear load area is reasonable, although there's exposed metal on the backs of the rear seats.
The Fiesta's strong suit is the way it drives. The 1.6-litre engine is one of the perkiest in the class, getting along reasonably swiftly even with four adults on board. It can get a little buzzy on the freeway but, for the most part, it is refined.
The ride is firmer than most but not unduly uncomfortable, save for the occasional thud on sharper potholes. Through the corners, the little Ford sits flat and feels composed, with nicely weighted steering.
If you enjoy driving, the Fiesta is an excellent companion on a twisty road.
Ford Fiesta LX
How much? $18,790 (auto $1500 more) plus on-road and dealer costs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl
Power: 88kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 152Nm at 4050rpm
Transmission: 5-sp manual, FWD
Weight: 1099kg
Fuel use: 6.1L/100km (6.9L/100km auto)
Emissions: 143g/km CO2 (164g/km CO2 auto)
Safety: Two airbags; knee and side airbags and stability control as a $1000 option.
Rating: 4/5
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Signatures suck.
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