A visitor looks at a Mercedes-Benz smart fortwo edition 1 vehicle on display at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon car show on January 15, 2016 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo : Christopher Jue/Getty Images)
The year is about to end, so it is time to list down some of the best cars of 2016. Automobile enthusiasts, of course, have their personal choices, but there is no doubt that the following vehicles from top manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, and Ford are among the cream of the crop in the small cars category.
Smart fortwo
Smart fortwo, according to Small Cars Overview, can be considered the smallest of cars on the list that can seat two adults comfortably. This is very convenient for drivers who need to take short rides to do some errands, or for a driver and a companion, provided that they do not not require too much cargo space. Its overall length is just 106.1 inches and comes with a very efficient 3-cylinder engine that can cover up to 34/39/36 (City/Hwy/Com) miles per gallon on a Twinamic (automatic) transmission. Manual transmission is also available, with a slightly lower fuel economy. The Pure Coupe model starts at $14,650 MSRP.
Chevy Spark
Chevy Spark is another option for a small car. It has an estimated 41 miles-to-the-gallon fuel economy on the highway, 10 safety airbags and a starting MSRP of $12,660. It can also be loaded with great optional electronic-related stuff. It could come with a 7-inch digital touchscreen for its infotainment system that is compatible with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It can even be equipped with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection.
Mini Hardtop 4 door
For those looking for a small car with a slightly longer wheelbase, there is the Mini Hardtop 4 door, as shown in its website. It has a total length of 157.4 inches. One can choose from the 12 colors it has to offer for its body paint, with two color options for its roof and mirrors. The Cooper variant comes with a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder engine that produces up to 134 horsepower. Its price starts at $21,950.
Ford Fiesta Hatchback
The Ford Fiesta Hatchback is another viable option for the subcompact car category. It comes with 1.6-liter Ti-VCT I-4 engine that delivers up to 120 horsepower, and has an estimated fuel efficiency of 27 City and 35 Hwy. It comes with a Capless Fuel Filler, SYNC Appllink infotainment system and integrated blind spot side mirrors. Its starting MSRP is $13,960.
Lexus CT 200h
Last, but not the least, a compact luxury hybrid hatchback, the Lexus CT 200h. It has a total length of 171.3 inches, 42 mpg combined fuel efficiency rating and a 0.29 drag coefficient. It also comes with 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 134 horsepower and a 1.31 kWh 202 V nickel-metal hydride battery. The price starts at $31,250.
There are other cars available in the market and this list does not include all the best cars of 2016.
