Might be on to something, there…I remember not liking the look when they first came out, but poking around at some reviews and pictures it seems to have grown on me.
Think I’ll go check one out in the next couple days.
I have a Fiat 500. Love it. I used to drive a mid-size pickup and wanted something smaller. We almost got a Honda Fit, but I got to get the Fiat for my own. Awesome car.
It’s grown by itself too. The current (2nd generation) Scion xB is quite a bit larger than the original xB. In Japan it’s sold as a Corolla wagon.
The Nissan Cube is probably closer to the original xB, in that it’s still a fairly compact car. But the interior isn’t as practical as the Fit (e.g. rear seats don’t fold flat).
I can’t quote you cubic inches, but I will say that my best friend is 6’0, and she’s been in the shotgun seat for two of the most recent road trips. Her husband (6’2") was in the backseat for a 5 hour trip with my husband and our 11 year-old son…so the five of us - two tall folks, a medium guy (5’10"), an 11 year old and me - for a five hour road trip and we were super comfortable, and had all our stuff for a weekend stay in the back. Oh, and the 11 year old is little over 5’2"…officially taller than me now. :eek:
Other things I love about my car: The rear camera option and small footprint make me a BEAST at parallel parking- a necessity in our “historic” neighborhood, and the handsfree bluetooth sync for my phone means I can talk to my mother during my commute.
Love my 2012 Chevy Sonic. Have had it almost a year. I got the sedan because I was too cheap to shell out another $1000 for the hatchback, but I’ve gotten used to the whole trunk thing. Stick shift, rated at 29 combined MPG, currently averaging 39 MPG. LOVE IT. Fun little car.
Since I know you were all on pins and needles waiting for the outcome of this, I’ve ended up with a ToyotaYaris. I am finding it an absolute delight to drive - the manual transmission has enough kick to it to make it go, but it’s got the small size that I really wanted. Toyota reliability tends to be very good, so I’m not concerned about the kind of problems I had with the Ford.
It almost makes me want to start driving into work, just so I can drive it more (but since the students will be back soon, that’s a guarantee of door dings that I don’t want quite yet.)
2011 Prius IV. Comfortable (adjustable lumbar), multiple CD player, blue tooth, iPod jack, power windows & doors, AC, JBL sound system, heated front seats; rear seats fold down, providing lots of space for ‘stuff’. Handles very well, has decent acceleration, and the warranty is bumper to bumper. Then there’s the mileage, of course: 35-40 in town, up to 55 on the highway. Keeps up with 70mph traffic without a problem. I like it a lot, and I was prepared to hate it, as I’ve always found Toyotas to be uncomfortable and under-equipped.
I have two.small cars and love them both. A 2012 Fiat 500 Sport and a 2013 MINI Cooper Roadster. Neither are especially “practical” though both have deceptively large trunks. What I love is the way a small car handles. My MINI is the “S” model so it is also very quick as well as nimble. When I drive my wife’s Subaru Outback its like driving a boat. I’m over 6’ 2" tall, 215 lbs and have plenty of room in either car. I’ve always been partial to small cars and will purchase the smallest that I can be comfortable driving.
Having said that, I’m not at all enamoured with the Smart or the tiny Scion.
My 2006 red Fit has only 7 cup holders. And the dot on the i in the name Fit is a jewel (something they abandoned after a year or so).
But seriously, I am in full accord (no pun intended) with the above. I love my Fit. In six years, I have put only 22,000 km on it, but there has been close to 0 maintenance. And everything is still working perfectly. If you are interested in a small car with lots of interior space, you cannot do better.
I have a 1966 MG Midget. It gets about 50mpg.
It’s smaller than a Mazda Miata, so you can park it anywhere.
I have a slightly shorter Mini, but I can’t put its top down…
I actually has 2 cup holders. 
I heartily recommend either!
I have a 2008 Yaris hatchback. Only one repair in 90,000 miles- an axle seal which I replaced myself. Always gets 35+ mpg in half city, half highway driving. The steering wheel position is uncomfortable after about three hours, though. Other than that, it’s great.
Also- for anyone else in the U.S. that has a Yaris without cruise control, go to yarisworld.com and look up how to add it for cheap in the DIY/maintenance section. It works!
I have a Nissan Versa. It gets great gas milage, it never needs anything beyond basic maintenance, it’s pretty roomy for its’ size, and it’s really cute. Love my Nissan.
I have a 2008 Honda Civic Si which I hardly drive but which I love. But it’s not a hatch. The old model '92 was and that was also an amazing car. It could swallow a full office size filing cabinet or storage cabinet with no problem. I was almost tempted to say it was bigger on the inside.
I really wanted that in the new car but my only option was the Fit and I wanted something with more performance which I get with the Si - 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds. I do miss having a hatch but the fun I have winding this puppy up does compensate to a great extent.
edit: and if you like manual transmissions, this has one of the smoothest, slipperiest manuals I’ve ever driven.
I know the OP has already bagged the Ford idea, but I have a 2012 Fiesta and I love it. My only complaints would be the above about the steering wheel and that the guy who ordered it forgot to order cruise control.
I enjoy driving my 2011 Dodge Caliber. Madame X gets decent mileage, handles like a dream, and can turn on a dime and give back 8 cents change.