2020Nissan Versa

1972Ford Pinto

Subcompact car is a North Americanclassification for cars smaller than acompact car. It is broadly equivalent to theB-segment (Europe),supermini (Great Britain) or A0-class (China) classifications.

According to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) car size class definition, the subcompact category sits between the "minicompact" and "compact" categories.^[1] The EPA definition of a subcompact is a passenger car with a combined interior and cargo volume of 85–99 cubic feet (2,410–2,800 L).^[2] Current examples of subcompact cars are theNissan Versa andMitsubishi Mirage. The smaller cars in theA-segment/city car category (such as the Chevrolet Spark and Smart Fortwo) are sometimes called subcompacts in the U.S., because the EPA's name for this smaller category — "minicompact" — is not commonly used by the general public.^[3]

The prevalence of small cars in the United States increased in the 1960s due to increased imports of cars from Europe and Japan. Widespread use of the term subcompact coincided with the early 1970s increase in subcompact cars built in the United States. Early 1970s subcompacts include theAMC Gremlin,Chevrolet Vega, andFord Pinto.

The term subcompact originated during the 1960s.^[1][4] However, it came into popular use in the early 1970s, as car manufacturers in the United States began to introduce smaller cars into their line-up.^[5] Previously, cars in this size were variously categorized, including "small cars"^{[6][7]: 120} or "economy cars".

Several of these small cars were produced in the U.S. in limited volumes, including the 1930American Austin (later called the American Bantam)^[8] and the 1939Crosley. From the 1950s onwards, various imported small cars were sold in the U.S., including theNash Metropolitan,Volkswagen Beetle, and various small British cars. The term subcompact did not yet exist, so the Metropolitan was labeled a "compact or economy car" and marketed as a second vehicle for use around town, not as a primary car.^[9][10] The Volkswagen Beetle was marketed with advertising pointing out the car's unconventional features as strengths and to get buyers to "think small."^[11] Prompted by the British government for exports, Ford was one of the first companies to try and sell inexpensive small cars in volume. From 1948 to 1970, approximately 250,000 economical English Fords were imported to the US while over 235,000 went to Canada.^[12] Models such as the 1960Ford Anglia were promoted as "The world's most exciting light car."^[13]

1971AMC Gremlin X

1972Ford Pinto Runabout

1973Chevrolet Vega GT Hatchback

Due to the increasing popularity of small cars imported from Europe and Japan during the late 1960s, the American manufacturers began releasing competing locally-built models in the early 1970s.^[14][15] TheAMC Gremlin was described at its April 1970 introduction as "the first American-built import" and the first U.S. built subcompact car.^[16][17][18] Also introduced in 1970 were theChevrolet Vega andFord Pinto.^[19] Plans for the subcompact AMC Gremlin pre-dated Vega and Pinto by several years because of AMC's strategy to recognize emerging market opportunities ahead of the competition.^[20]

Sales of American-built "low weight cars" (including subcompacts) accounted for more than 30% of total car sales in 1972 and 1973, despite inventory shortages for several models.^[21] The Gremlin, Pinto and Vega were allrear-wheel drive and available with four-cylinder engines (the Pinto was also available with aV6 engine, and the Gremlin was also available withI6 andV8 engines).

ThePontiac Astre, the Canadian-originatedre-badged Vega variant was released in the U.S. in September 1974.^[22] Due to falling sales of the largerpony cars (such as the Chevrolet Camaro and first-generation Ford Mustang) in the mid-1970s, the Vega-basedChevrolet Monza was introduced as an upscale subcompact and theFord Mustang II temporarily downsized from the pony car class to become a subcompact car for its second generation. The Monza with its GM variantsPontiac Sunbird,Buick Skyhawk,Oldsmobile Starfire, and the Mustang II continued until the end of the decade. TheChevrolet Chevette was GM's new entry-level subcompact introduced as a 1976 model. It was an 'Americanized' design fromOpel, GM's German subsidiary. Additionally, subcompacts that were imported and marketed through domestic manufacturers' dealer networks ascaptive imports included theRenault Le Car and theFord Fiesta.

In 1977, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to use a new vehicle classification system, based on interior volume instead of exterior size.^[23]: 3 Sedans with up to 100 cubic feet of passenger luggage volume were classified as subcompact. There was not a separate subcompact station wagon class with all up to 130 cubic feet of volume classified as "small."

In 1978, Volkswagen began producing the "Rabbit" version of theGolf— a modern,front-wheel drive design— in Pennsylvania. In 1982, American Motors began manufacturing the U.S.Renault Alliance— a version of theRenault 9— in Wisconsin. Both models benefiting from European designs, development, and experience.^[24]

To replace the aging Chevette in the second half of the 1980s, Chevrolet introduced marketed imported front-wheel drive subcompact cars: theSuzuki Cultus (a three-cylinder hatchback, badged as the Chevrolet Sprint)^[25] and theIsuzu Gemini (a four-cylinder hatchback/sedan badged as the Chevrolet Spectrum).^[26]

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During the 1990s GM offered theGeo brand featuring the Suzuki-builtMetro subcompact.

Because of consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars during the mid- to late-2000s, sales of subcompact cars made them the fastest growing market category in the U.S.^[27] In 2006, three major subcompact models were introduced to the market, theToyota Yaris,Honda Fit, andNissan Versa. These models were released by their manufacturers to aim at a group of younger buyers who otherwise shop for used cars.^[28] While fuel prices at the time were increasing, the small cars were planned before fuel prices soared; for example, Honda had announced that it would release a subcompact model as early as 2004.^[29]

By 2008, sales of subcompact cars had dramatically increased in the wake of a continuing increase of fuel prices. At the same time, sales of pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles had dropped sharply. By April 2008, sales of Toyota’s subcompact Yaris had increased 46 percent, and Honda’s Fit had a record month with an increase of 54 percent.^[30][31]

However, low fuel prices and the added room inSUVs impacted subcompact sales negatively in the late 2010s. During this period, industry executives and analysts said that the subcompact car market was returning to historical norms after an unusual period when manufacturers had expanded small car lineups in anticipation of rising demand fueled by rising fuel prices, which has since eased.^[32] In the United States, the segment experienced a 50 percent drop in sales in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019.^[33] In Canada, the subcompact share of the car market shrank to 1.6 percent for the year ending 2020, down from 2.4 percent in 2019.^[34]

As a result, manufacturers stopped offering subcompact models and focused on larger cars instead, includingsubcompact crossover SUVs which offer higher profit margins and a higher average transaction price.^[35][34] Models that were no longer sold in the United States by the end of the decade include theMazda 2 (discontinued after 2014),Scion xD (2016),Toyota Prius C (2017),Ford Fiesta (2019),Smart Fortwo (2019),Fiat 500 (2019),Toyota Yaris (2020),Honda Fit (2020), andChevrolet Sonic (2020).^[36][37][38]

• Car classification
• Mini SUV
• Economy car

• Car classifications
• Subcompact cars

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