One of Jack Baruth’s many great contributions to modern auto writing is “Mr Euro,” an archetype he first identified in his excellent Ford Fiesta review. According to Jack’s original taxonomy:
Mr. Euro is the guy who, for some reason, wants the cars he cannot have in the United States. He’s the guy who says he would drive a 520i “in a heartbeat” given the chance, the dude who thinks we’re missing out because the Renault Twingo stays on the froggy side of the pond, the fellow who desperately wants a Vauxhall Zafira for child-lugging purposes.
Now, I hope I manage to avoid the most extreme expressions of the stereotype Jack describes here, but yeah, I’ve got some “Mr Euro”-ish tendencies. What can I say, the grass just looks greener on the other side… sue me. In that spirit, follow along as I explain why I’m leaving this dump and moving to China.
While America finally catches up with us Europhiles who spent the last (fill in the blank) decade(s) lusting over efficient little compact hatches, it seems the game is being changed… in China. You see, Americans, the world’s leading proponents of awesome, are buying ever more compact cars but not because they offer the best mix of fun, utility and efficiency. Instead, we’re buying them because gas prices are high and we’re sick of filling out a credit application every time we tank up the Tahoe. Meanwhile, in China, consumers have been buying weedy little compact cars in increasing numbers for years, and now they’re being rewarded… *cue Clarkson voice* With more power.
Case in point: the Nissan Versa. While we Americans are getting the faintly miserable-looking, 109 HP Sunny sedan “recession special,” Chinese buyers can choose either the Sunny or, starting in May, a proper hatchback Versa (only they call it a Tiida). And that’s not just a “proper hatchback.” It’s a Versa hatch with a 190 HP version of the delightfully fizzy direct-injection turbocharged 1.6 liter engine found in the Nissan Juke (just like we asked for). That’s right, for under $14,000 (at current exchange rates, usual disclaimers apply), the Chinese can buy a sleek Nissan hatch with very nearly the same power (if not the dual-clutch transmission and legendary handling) of a VW GTI. Kind of makes you wonder who the world’s lone superpower is, doesn’t it? But wait, there’s more.
Nissan’s not alone. Sure, the new Beijing-Hyundai Elantra may be a po-faced old thing compared to the new hotness of the latest US-market Elantra, but according to Car News China, this milder update to the old Elantra is about to get a hot new engine to match the Versa’s: a 1.6 liter turbo making 200 HP and 200 ft-lbs. Imagine that engine in America’s spicy new bodystyle, and you’ve got yourself a feisty little way to get through the lingering economic uncertainty. On the other hand, with Hyundai USA banging the 40 MPG, “who’s afraid of the big, bad CAFE?” drum, don’t expect this enthusiast no-brainer to happen anytime soon. After all, Americans don’t choose small cars… we take them grudgingly, when we can’t afford to do otherwise. In fact, you might even argue that we’re lucky to be getting as solid a crop of compacts as we are. But so help me, if China gets that 1.6T engine in a turbocharged Veloster and we don’t, I’m moving and I’m never coming back. Seriously.
After all, Americans don’t choose small cars… we take them grudgingly, when we can’t afford to do otherwise.
China gets the Park Avenue and SLS too (I know full-sizers aren’t exactly your style though).
We get CUVs. Hooray.
I’m so disappointed that we didn’t get a proper Tiida sedan with the new Versa sedan. The old one, while the styling may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, had a IMO class leading interior when it comes to fit and finish on “SL” trim levels. Pop open a 2011 Versa SL and you see high quality, soft-touch plastics that line the window sill on all four doors and the dashboard itself. Not to mention the stitched leatherette armrests. While it might not be stylish, it shows that Nissan put some effort into it, and I’d go as far as argue that it beats the Fiesta in terms of interior materials as well.
Compare that to the 2012 “Versa” interior and it’s nothing but oddly shaded, poorly shaped hard plastic everywhere. Nissan keeps mentioning the gauges when they say how “high-quality” the new car’s interior is…um Nissan I’d gladly trade those fancy pants gauges for some soft-touch door trim, and a dashboard design that looks as if someone actually took the time to *gasp* style it, instead of doing the bare minimum to mold cheap plastic around interior components that need to be shielded from view.
Not counting that, what happened to the other “premium” features that, along with the size and ride comfort, made the Versa feel more expensive than it’s rivals? Where’s the smart key, where’s the Bluetooth?
It’s sad to see the first “premium mainstream” subcompact fall so far so fast, and I’m hoping we’ll get the Versa hatch unmolested.
This is the 2011 Jetta of subcompact redesigns…
Singing in Green Acres lyrics.. “”China I love you, but buy me a Park Avenue!””
Darn I love this Buick rear driver over here. Even the older ones.
There was a book named “Mr. China”.
I read it many years ago before my first trip to China.
It reflected the wild, wild, east of Chinese business culture.
The experience really seemed to wear the author down.
I can relate, I feel like I am living the sequel.
“”No, Detroit is where I’d rather stay, I miss driving my old car today!”
Actually you’d love the Caprice that is sold down here. The thing really look the part. The last one before the WM also looks good.
And that’s before you see the Grange…
Nissan,
Please bring that Tiida to the US. The one with the dual-clutch tranny and turbo. Please show the US car market that sub-20k compact sedans don’t have to be rolling boxes of lameness like the Corolla and (sadly) the newest Civic.
Thanks.
You guys act as if this is purely the fault of the manufacturers.
There are pretty good reasons we don’t get the more interesting cars of the world, and most of those reasons have offices in an 8 square mile slum situated between Virginia and Maryland.
When I was studying in Europe (all be it back when petrol was relatively cheap) all my fellow classmates from that side of the pond lusted after American vehicles. They all raved about Corvettes, large SUV’s and American pickups. Most of all, many wanted to “see America” from behind the wheel of a motor home – the bigger the better. The grass is truly greener.
It is sad that most automakers don’t believe that a 200 hp/200 lb-ft compact car (e.g., Cruze, Elantra, Civic) would be successful in the U.S. For me, it’s the perfect combination.
The lack of a turbo in the Veloster is a major crime. Hyundai is a on a roll, but this a serious mistake. I can only hope they see the light and put the turbo in next year. As a sporty hatchback like the Veloster is begging for a turbo. Its already running in RallyCross against other well know turbos like the Evo and WRX. The main reason I bought a Volvo C30: turbo (227HP/236TQ) + hatchback = awesomeness.
A Veloster with the 1.6T (208HP) has been confirmed for Europe with the US likely getting it a little later.
There are also reports that Kia is going to put the 1.6T in a hot hatch version of the new Rio.
But Kia Europe is purportedly thinking of developing a GTI competitor using a detuned version of the 2.0T – which may come in the form of the next Kia Cee’d hatch, which we, most likely, would never see here.
Enjoy China’s red-hot market while you can…
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/04/roubini-on-chinas-unsustainable.html