Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again

[litesong]

Originally Posted by MeteorGray

The red car above looks like it's photoshopped with wheels too small for the body.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

But they're 15's!

Could use a bigger aspect ratio tire to give lower rpms on the highway & higher MPG.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I always thought it was strange that the G4 came to Canada in the first place -- the Canadian market generally prefers its small cars to be hatchbacks, not sedans.

It's generally opposite to the U.S. situation, eg: The Nissan Micra completely replaced the Versa sedan here. Meanwhile in the States, the Versa is available as a sedan only from 2020 on. The U.S. Hyundai Accent is sedan only; here it's hatchback only. There are more examples I can't think of right now....

Seems like the American market, just like the Chinese, sees the sedan as the regular car by default, while the French Canadians might influence the local market more toward some European preferences, not to mention Canada is somewhat hard to understand with its own market dynamics. Sure there might be some Anglo Canadians who prefer a hatchback over a sedan, and sometimes it does make more sense,

[MetroMPG]

^ You are not wrong. Mirage and Micra (and other small hatchback) sales are disproportionately big in Quebec.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

^ You are not wrong. Mirage and Micra (and other small hatchback) sales are disproportionately big in Quebec.

Besides some cultural influences, what else could lead to that? I can't really relate to what I see in Brazil and Uruguay, where small hatchbacks are strong sellers for both the lower price and easier maneuvering on tight parking spots.

[MetroMPG]

(Base $9998 2015 5-speed Micra - from Review: driving a $9998 2015 Nissan Micra (Nissan's most efficient manual in Can/US.)


Well crap!

Another one bites the dust... I just read that the Micra is finished in Canada as of the 2019 model year. Production (Mexico) ends in December.

Source: https://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatur...ome-to-canada/

What's next... the Mirage??

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I just read that the Micra is finished in Canada as of the 2019 model year. Production (Mexico) ends in December.

I don't know about Brazil, but it doesn't seem so likely to be phased out here so soon. But at least in Australia, Nissan has been focusing on SUVs, trucks and its sportscar range. Well, is it so easy to just certify the Kicks as a "light truck" and try to feature it as some sort of one-size-fits-all replacement for the Micra, Versa sedan and Versa Note?

What's next... the Mirage??

I wouldn't hold my breath for the Mirage to be phased out there, unless the Canadian branch of Mitsubishi goes the same route the Souza Ramos company took here in Brazil, focusing on the L200 and the SUV range. But since the Mirage is now the only conventional car left in the Mitsubishi range on a worldwide basis, and there are some markets such as Europe where a small hatchback is still essential to ensure a strong foothold while a compact sedan is much valued in emerging markets where such bodystyle is still seen as somewhat aspirational, plus its production is mostly concentrated on countries with a comparatively cheaper labor cost (Thailand and Philippines), it's a much valuable asset for Mitsubishi to get rid of.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I wouldn't hold my breath for the Mirage to be phased out there, unless the Canadian branch of Mitsubishi goes the same route the Souza Ramos company took here in Brazil, focusing on the L200 and the SUV range.

The main reason I see the Mirage continuing in Canada/U.S. is that the company still doesn't have much of a selection of vehicles for sale here. Until more SUV's/trucks/crossovers are made available, the dealers would probably fight if the company wanted to pull the Mirage.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

The main reason I see the Mirage continuing in Canada/U.S. is that the company still doesn't have much of a selection of vehicles for sale here.

Nowadays it doesn't really have much of a selection of vehicles everywhere else too. Wait until the Lancer gets phased out in Brazil too and the Pajero Full inventory gets cleared, and the local Mitsubishi range will be only the ASX/Outlander Sport, the Outlander, the Eclipse Cross, the Pajero Sport and the L200. What did surprise me is the Mirage and the G4 being available in Uruguay with the 1.2L engine, while in Brazil none are available not even with the 1.0L engine which could benefit from lower taxes.

Until more SUV's/trucks/crossovers are made available, the dealers would probably fight if the company wanted to pull the Mirage.

What does surprise me is Mitsubishi not even seemingly trying to sell the L200 there.

[MetroMPG]

Chicken tax!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Chicken Tax is a PITA, but Mitsubishi could at least try to bring the trucks there from Mexico in order to take benefit from the NAFTA.