NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Small family car

A small family car is a European classification of cars which are larger than a supermini and smaller than a large family car. In North America, which uses a different classification system, cars of this size are generally referred to as compact cars. 2000 Ford Focus at Filton, Bristol, England. ... 2000 Ford Focus at Filton, Bristol, England. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile or motor (usually shortened to just car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... 1996 Volkswagen Polo, a popular modern European supermini A supermini is a European hatchback car category. ... A Ford Mondeo, a large family car. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ...

Current small family cars are between 4200 mm and 4350 mm long if they are hatchbacks, or between 4400 mm and 4550 mm if they are cabriolets, saloons or estates. Multi-purpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles based on small family cars, which are called compact MPVs and compact SUVs respectively, have become popular since the early 1990s. Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo... A cabriolet was a light, two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a folding calash top, seating two persons facing forwards, one of whom was the driver. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... An MPV or multi-purpose vehicle is a passenger-carrying vehicle based on a car platform, and is generally a one box designâ€”neither a distinct bonnet (US: hood) nor boot (US: trunk), but rather a maximised interior space. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... Renault MÃ©gane ScÃ©nic, the first car to be marketed as a compact MPV Opel Zafira, a seven-seater compact MPV A compact MPV is a car classification used in Europe to describe multi-purpose vehicle versions of small family cars (sometimes also referred to as compact cars), fitting... Subaru Forester, one of the first vehicles to be named a compact SUV Suzuki Grand Vitara, a modern compact SUV Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length between 4. ...

Usual engines are 1.6 to 2.0-litre straight-4s, either petrol or Diesel, with a range between 100 bhp and 150 bhp. Some models also have economical 1.4-litre units. High-performance versions, called hot hatches, may have turbocharged 2.0-litre engines, or even V6 3.2-litre units, ranging maximum outputs from 170 bhp to 260 bhp. Popular small family cars are the Ford Focus, Opel Astra, Peugeot 307, Renault Mégane and Volkswagen Golf. The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... Gasoline (or petrol) engine is a type of internal combustion engine which is often used for automobiles, aircraft, small mobile vehicles such as lawnmowers or motorcycles, and outboard motors for boats. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... BHP may refer to: Broken Hill Proprietary Company BHP Billiton BHP Steel Brake horsepower This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation pageâ€”a list of articles associated with the same title. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sport compact. ... Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ... See also Vauxhall Astra, Holden Astra, and Saturn Astra for the usage of the nameplate by other General Motors subsidiaries. ... A red Peugeot 307 CC, a coupÃ© cabriolet with a folding steel roof The Peugeot 307 Sedan sold in the Chinese Market only The Peugeot 307 is a small family car produced by the French Peugeot manufacturer since 2001. ... Renault MÃ©gane pre-1999 Renault MÃ©gane Convertible (with 1999-2002 front grille) 2nd generation Megane Renault MÃ©gane CC Megane racing car The Renault MÃ©gane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ...

History

After the Second World War, European manufacturers usually featured two vehicle types: small cars (or superminis) and large saloons. In the 1960s, some brands found that many middle class buyers wanted something larger than superminis, and built small family cars. These were usually saloons, with the first successful hatchback in this class being the 1974 Volkswagen Golf, which moved the layout of the smaller supermini Renault 5 to this segment. This proved popular and by the end of the decade, several other manufacturers launched hatchbacks like the Fiat Ritmo, Citroën GSA, Renault 14, and Opel Kadett. Image File history File linksMetadata Mk3golf. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Mk3golf. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1996 Volkswagen Polo, a popular modern European supermini A supermini is a European hatchback car category. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... The Renault 5 (also called the R5) is a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. ... The 1978 Fiat Ritmo, styled by Bertone of Italy, was the most distinctive looking small family car in Europe on its launch. ... 1970s GS Service Van The CitroÃ«n GS/GSA is a small family car produced by the French automaker CitroÃ«n between 1970 and 1986. ... The Renault 14 was an automobile produced by Renault of France between 1976 and 1983. ... The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992. ...

The 1980s began with the launch of two more front-wheel drive hatchbacks: the Ford Escort Mk III and the Lancia Delta. Similar cars such as the Renault 11, Peugeot 309, updated Opel Kadett, Renault 19, Fiat Tipo and second generation Rover 200 followed over the course of the decade. Alfa Romeo's venture into this market, the Nissan-based Arna, was one of the few unsuccessful European small family hatchbacks of the 1980s. Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The Ford Escort was a small family car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia from 1979 to 1994. ... The Renault 9 and Renault 11 were compact automobiles produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1982 and 1988. ... The Peugeot 309 is a small family car designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1986 and 1993, and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd. ... Renault 19 Chamade The Renault 19 is a small family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1988 and 1999. ... The Fiat Tipo was a small family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995. ... The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover. ... The Alfa Romeo Arna was a subcompact automobile produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1984 and 1986. ...

The 1990s saw small family cars firmly pitch themselves as the most popular class of car in Europe. The Volkswagen Golf Mk III was launched in 1991 and elected European Car of the Year. Citroën replaced the GSA with the large family car BX and later the small family car ZX. The ZX's chassis spawned the Peugeot 306 in 1993. Fiat replaced the successful Tipo in 1995 with the distinctive Bravo and Brava (three-door and five-door hatchbacks, respectively). In 1998, Ford launched the dramatically-styled and all-new Ford Focus, completing sales of run-out Escort versions in 2000. The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. ... CitroÃ«n is a French automobile manufacturer, founded in 1919 by AndrÃ© CitroÃ«n. ... The CitroÃ«n BX was a large family car produced by the French manufacturer CitroÃ«n between 1982 and 1994. ... The CitroÃ«n ZX is a small family car produced by the French manufacturer CitroÃ«n between 1991 and 1998. ... The Peugeot 306 is a small family car built by the French car manufacturer Peugeot from 1993 to 2001. ... 1997 Fiat Bravo The three-door Fiat Bravo and five-door Brava are hatchback automobiles built to replace Fiats ageing Tipo. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ...

Some small family cars have also spawned compact MPVs, the first of which was the 1996 Renault Scénic. The Opel Zafira, Citroën Xsara Picasso, Ford Focus C-MAX, Volkswagen Touran and Fiat Multipla followed and are becoming increasingly popular. In few years they outsold estates and saloons in many countries. A more recent trend is to build coupé cabriolets with components from these vehicles. Examples of this are the Peugeot 307, Opel Astra TwinTop, Renault Mégane CC and Volkswagen Eos. Renault MÃ©gane ScÃ©nic, the first car to be marketed as a compact MPV Opel Zafira, a seven-seater compact MPV A compact MPV is a car classification used in Europe to describe multi-purpose vehicle versions of small family cars (sometimes also referred to as compact cars), fitting... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Renault Scenic The Renault MÃ©gane ScÃ©nic was the first European car of its kind: a five-seater based on the chassis of a compact hatchback (in this case the MÃ©gane which had been launched a year earlier) but with a high... The Zafira is a car from General Motors, branded as an Opel in Europe, except for the UK, where it is branded as a Vauxhall. ... The CitroÃ«n Xsara is a compact automobile produced by French manufacturer CitroÃ«n since 1997. ... The Ford Focus C-MAX is a compact MPV designed by Ford for the European market and built since 2003. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Fiat Multipla is the name given to two different automobiles manufactured by Fiat, the first from 1956 to 1965, and the second from 1998 to the present. ... 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 A Retractable Hardtop (also known as a coupe convertible) refers to a car with a movable roof for a convertible that is made of plastic or metal. ... A red Peugeot 307 CC, a coupÃ© cabriolet with a folding steel roof The Peugeot 307 Sedan sold in the Chinese Market only The Peugeot 307 is a small family car produced by the French Peugeot manufacturer since 2001. ... The Opel Astra is a small family car produced by Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors. ... Renault MÃ©gane pre-2002 Renault MÃ©gane Convertible Renault MÃ©gane CC The Renault MÃ©gane is a small family car produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995. ... Back view Eos Highway 1 The Volkswagen Eos is a coupe convertible from Volkswagen produced from 2006. ...

The small family car market since 1970

1970s

Small family saloons had a strong following among car buyers in the UK as the 1970s dawned, and enjoyed a popularity similar to that of larger family cars such as the enormously successful Ford Cortina. These two sectors were in fact dominant of the new car market at this time, as the Mini and - to a lesser degree - the Hillman Imp were the only popular mini-cars at this time. The Austin 1100/1300 had been Britain's best selling car for most of the time since its launch in 1961, and rival British products included the Ford Escort, Vauxhall Viva and Hillman Avenger. Foreign cars such as the Citroen GS, Peugeot 304 and Datsun Sunny 120Y were being imported, but their sales made up only a small percenage of the small family car sector. The Ford Cortina was a medium sized family car sold by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... Hillman Imp, with the engine cover and the rear window lifted The Hillman Imp was a compact, rear-engined saloon (US: sedan) automobile manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler Europe) from 1963 to 1976. ... Photo from original press release of Austin 1100 The Morris 1100 was a small family car built by the British Motor Corporation and, later, British Leyland, from August 15, 1962 to June 1974, developed under the ADO16 codename. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. ... The Hillman Avenger is a sub-compact car manufactured by the Rootes Group, and latterly Chrysler Europe. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A Peugeot 304 Cabriolet The Peugeot 304 was introduced in September 1969 in France and May 1970 in the UK. It was based on the Peugeot 204 and shared many components, the most obvious difference being the frontal styling. ... Datsun 210 Wagon (Sunny California style), B310 Series The Nissan Sunny is a small car from Nissan. ...

British Leyland replaced the 1100/1300 with the Austin Allegro in 1973, and it sold well despite hefty criticism from the motoring press and public for its unconventional styling and suspect build quality. Ford updated the Escort in 1975 and it quickly established itself as the most popular car in this sector on sale in the UK. The Vauxhall Viva was also a significant sales success, but it finished production in late 1979 on the launch of the all-new Astra - which abandoned the traditional rear-wheel drive saloon in favour of the front-wheel drive hatchback format which was gradually spreading across Europe. The Allegro was front-wheel drive but only came as a saloon or estate, while the Escort was still a rear-wheel drive saloon in 1979 but was due for an imminent replacement by an up-to-date third generation model. The Hillman Avenger continued to sell well as a Chrysler following the 1976 rebranding and as a Talbot after the sale of Chrysler's European operations to French carmaker Peugeot in 1979, in spite of the 1978 launch of the Horizon front-wheel drive hatchback. The British Leyland Motor Corporation (often abbreviated to simply BL), was a Britain in 1968. ... The Austin Allegro is a small family car that was manufactured by British Leyland under the Austin name from 1973 until 1983. ... Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. ... Vauxhall Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. ... For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... Talbot is an automobile brand, whose history is one of the industrys most complex. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n. ... The Horizon is a subcompact hatchback automobile, designed by the European division of Chrysler from 1977. ...

One of the first foreign cars to have a major impact on this sector in the UK was the Golf - a Giugiaro-styled front-wheel drive hatchback launched in 1974. It gained a cult following thanks to its practicality, safety, reliability and build quality, and the sporty GTI version sparked a huge demand for "hot hatchbacks" in the UK and many other countries. Other foreign competitors to sell (though in lesser figures) during this era in the UK included the Renault 14, Fiat Strada, Honda Civic and Mazda 323. The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... Giorgetto Giugiaro Giorgetto Giugiaro (August 7, 1938) is an Italian car designer. ... The Renault 14 was an automobile produced by Renault of France between 1976 and 1983. ... The 1978 Fiat Ritmo, styled by Bertone of Italy, was the most distinctive looking small family car in Europe on its launch. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ...

List of small family cars of the 1970s

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud was a compact car made by Alfa Romeo of Italy from 1971 to 1989. ... The Austin Allegro is a small family car that was manufactured by British Leyland under the Austin name from 1973 until 1983. ... The Horizon is a subcompact hatchback automobile, designed by the European division of Chrysler from 1977. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Datsun 210 Wagon (Sunny California style), B310 Series The Nissan Sunny is a small car from Nissan. ... The 128 was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1969 to 1985. ... The 1978 Fiat Ritmo, styled by Bertone of Italy, was the most distinctive looking small family car in Europe on its launch. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Hillman Avenger is a sub-compact car manufactured by the Rootes Group, and latterly Chrysler Europe. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Hyundai Pony (Hangul: í˜„ëŒ€ í¬ë‹ˆ), was a small rear-wheel drive automobile produced by the Hyundai Motor Company from 1975 to 1988. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ... The Mitsubishi Lancer is a compact car built by Mitsubishi Motors. ... A Peugeot 304 Cabriolet The Peugeot 304 was introduced in September 1969 in France and May 1970 in the UK. It was based on the Peugeot 204 and shared many components, the most obvious difference being the frontal styling. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Peugeot 305 The Peugeot 305 was a compact automobile produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1978 to 1988. ... The Renault 6 was a subcompact automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1968 and 1980. ... The Renault 14 was an automobile produced by Renault of France between 1976 and 1983. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... Volvo 340DL, model 1986-1991 The Volvo 300 series is a rear wheel drive automobile sold as both a hatchback and a conventional saloon. ...

1980s

The 1980s began with the launch of one of the UK's most important small family cars ever. The MK3 Ford Escort went on sale in the autumn of 1980 and became the latest car in its sector to ditch the rear-drive saloon format in favour of hatchbacks and front-wheel drive. It was Britain's most popular car for most of the decade and also spawned XR3i and RS Turbo "hot hatchback" versions, as well as a practical Orion saloon which was launched in 1983. The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Ford Orion was a saloon built by the automaker Ford for the European market from July 22, 1983 to 19 September 1993. ...

Vauxhall's new Astra quickly established itself as a popular choice among British buyers, and the aerodynamically-styled 1984 MK2 model carried off where the 1979 original left off. The GTE 16v, with a top speed of nearly 140mph, was the fastest hatchback in the world in the late 1980s. For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... Vauxhall Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ...

British Leyland called time on Allegro production in early 1983 and replaced it with the all-new Maestro. It was initially very popular thanks to its impressive spaciousness and practicality, but doubts over reliability and build quality saw its popularity decline towards the end of the decade and not even the introduction of swift MG badged models could boost sales. Successor organisations Austin Rover and Rover Group kept the Maestro on the price lists in spite of its disappointing sales - and the fact that a second similar-sized car had been on sale since 1981. The venture with Japanese carmaker Honda had seen the launch of the Triumph Acclaim, a four-door saloon which set new British benchmarks for reliability and build quality. It was succeeded by the Rover 200 in 1984 and this model was even more popular. The 1989 replacement for this model was an instant hit with buyers and gave Rover hope of more success during the 1990s. The British Leyland Motor Corporation (often abbreviated to simply BL), was a Britain in 1968. ... The Austin Allegro is a small family car that was manufactured by British Leyland under the Austin name from 1973 until 1983. ... The Austin Maestro is a mid-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland (BL), and its successors, from 1983 until 1994. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... MG Rover was the last independent mass-production producer of the British motor industry. ... Rover Group plc was the name that was given by the British government, in 1986, to the state-owned vehicle manufacturer British Leyland or BL. After divesting of its commercial vehicle and bus manufacturing divisions the company by then consisting of the car manufacturing arm Austin Rover Group and the... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited ) (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... The Triumph Acclaim was a compact automobile made by BL Ltd. ... The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

History was made just before the end of 1985 when the first Peugeot car - a 309 - rolled off the Ryton production line. The Talbot marque was ditched soon afterwards so Peugeot could concentrate on producing some of its own range in the UK, and the 309 was one of Britain's most popular small family cars in the late 1980s. Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n. ... The Peugeot 309 is a small family car designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1986 and 1993, and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd. ... Ryton-on-Dunsmore is a village and civil parish in the Rugby district of Warwickshire, located just to the South East of Coventry, England. ... Talbot is an automobile brand, whose history is one of the industrys most complex. ...

The MK2 Volkswagen Golf went on sale in the UK at the start of 1984 and maintained the success and popularity of its predecessor. Other foreign small family cars to succeed during the 1980s included the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 323 and Nissan Sunny. 1988 saw the arrival of two more impressive foreign imports - the Fiat Tipo and Renault 19 - which were arguably the best small family cars made in Europe at the time and gave the foreign-orientated family motorist even more to choose from as the new decade dawned. The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ... Datsun 210 Wagon (Sunny California style), B310 Series The Nissan Sunny is a small car from Nissan. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The Fiat Tipo was a small family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995. ... Renault 19 Chamade The Renault 19 is a small family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1988 and 1999. ...

List of small family cars of the 1980s

The Alfa Romeo 33 is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1983 and 1994. ... The Austin Maestro is a mid-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland (BL), and its successors, from 1983 until 1994. ... The Fiat Tipo was a small family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Ford Orion was a saloon built by the automaker Ford for the European market from July 22, 1983 to 19 September 1993. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Hyundai Pony (Hangul: í˜„ëŒ€ í¬ë‹ˆ), was a small rear-wheel drive automobile produced by the Hyundai Motor Company from 1975 to 1988. ... Lada Samara The Lada Samara was a Soviet automobile produced from 1984 until 2004. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ... Datsun 210 Wagon (Sunny California style), B310 Series The Nissan Sunny is a small car from Nissan. ... The Peugeot 309 is a small family car designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1986 and 1993, and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd. ... The Renault 9 and Renault 11 are compact automobiles, launched in the early 1980s, by the French car manufacturer Renault. ... The Renault 9 and Renault 11 were compact automobiles produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1982 and 1988. ... Renault 19 Chamade The Renault 19 is a small family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1988 and 1999. ... The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover. ... The Å koda Favorit is a small car, production of which started in early 1990. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ...

1990s

Ford began the 1990s by replacing its 10-year-old Escort (and the Orion saloon version) with an all-new model. The new Escort/Orion range was one of the most eagerly-anticipated launches of the year, but met with disappointment among buyers who expected more from the car in terms of design flair and driven appeal. It didn't stop the Escort from being Britain's best selling small family car throughout the decade though. Two mild facelifts during the 1990s saw the Escort go from strength to strength, though it was starting to look a little dull and outdated by the time the end of the decade was in sight. Its eventual successor - the stylish Focus - went on sale in September 1998, but Ford hedged its bets with this radical new design and kept the Escort in production for two more years, as a cheap and conventional alternative to its more adventurous successor. Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Ford Orion was a saloon built by the automaker Ford for the European market from July 22, 1983 to 19 September 1993. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ...

Vauxhall rejuvenated its Astra with the launch of an all-new model in October 1991, and although the new model was a big improvement over its predecessor it failed to match the Escort's sales success. Its replacement in early 1998 was a better-looking, better-built, better-handling and more reliable contender. For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... Vauxhall Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. ...

Rover's 200 Series - launched over the autumn of 1989 - was very popular with British buyers during the early 1990s, and its successor - launched in 1995 - initially achieved the same success. But a dip in sales during 1999 suggested that the car needing a major overhaul to keep in pace with its competitors, and that overhaul came in the form of a facelift which saw it transformed into the Rover 25 and re-positioned as a supermini. Rover Group plc was the name that was given by the British government, in 1986, to the state-owned vehicle manufacturer British Leyland or BL. After divesting of its commercial vehicle and bus manufacturing divisions the company by then consisting of the car manufacturing arm Austin Rover Group and the... The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover. ... The Rover 25 was launched in autumn 1999 as a facelifted version of the 200 Series which had been in production since the summer of 1995. ...

As well as the Volkswagen Golf (which entered its third incarnation in 1991 and its fourth in 1997), another foreign car to prove popular with British family buyers was the 1993 Peugeot 306 - though it was actually built in England at Ryton. Its sharp looks, refined diesel engines and impressive ride and handling attracted huge sales throughout the decade, at the end of which it was still one of the most impressive offerings in its sector despite being more than six years old. The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... The Peugeot 306 is a small family car built by the French car manufacturer Peugeot from 1993 to 2001. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England â€” the United Kingdom anthem is God Save the Queen. ... Ryton-on-Dunsmore is a village and civil parish in the Rugby district of Warwickshire, located just to the South East of Coventry, England. ...

Renault's Megane, which replaced the successful Renault 19, arrived on the UK market in early 1996 and was an instant hit with British buyers, being the nation's fifth best selling new car in 1998. Its comfortable ride, impressive diesel engines and good equipment levels were a winning formula for success, and a mild makeover midway through 1999 strengthened its position. Renault S.A. is a French vehicle manufacturer producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. ... The Renault Mégane is a compact automobile made by Renault. ... Renault 19 Chamade The Renault 19 is a small family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1988 and 1999. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

Other foreign imports to sell well in this sector during the 1990s including the Citroen ZX, its successor the Xsara, the Fiat Brava/Fiat Bravo, the Nissan Almera and the latest incarnations of the long-running Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 323. The Citroën ZX was launched early in 1991 as the French marques competitor in the Ford Escort class. ... The Citroën Xsara hatchback/estate/coupé (1997-2004) was introduced in the autumn of 1997 as replacement for the Citroën ZX. Like its predecessor, it was based around the running gear of the Peugeot 306. ... The three-door Fiat Bravo and five-door Brava are hatchback automobiles built to replace Fiats ageing Tipo. ... The Nissan Almera was a small family car built by Nissan from 1995 to 2006. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ...

Small family cars of the 1990s

The Alfa Romeo 145 and Alfa Romeo 146 were two compact cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1994 and 2001. ... Please see the article entitled Alfa Romeo 145. ... The Audi A3 is the new BMW and an entry-level Noobluxury car / Wagonsmall family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. ... The BMW 3 Series is an entry-level luxury car / compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. ... The Citroën ZX was launched early in 1991 as the French marques competitor in the Ford Escort class. ... The Citroën Xsara hatchback/estate/coupé (1997-2004) was introduced in the autumn of 1997 as replacement for the Citroën ZX. Like its predecessor, it was based around the running gear of the Peugeot 306. ... The Daewoo Nexia (known worldwide variously as the Nexia, Cielo, Racer, Maepsy) was one of the first cars manufactured by Daewoo to be sold in Europe. ... The Daewoo Lanos was a subcompact car designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and produced by Daewoo Motors from 1997 to 2005. ... Daihatsu Applause promotional brochure, highliting its unusual liftback body The Daihatsu Applause was a compact car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu from 1989 to 2000. ... The three-door Fiat Bravo and five-door Brava are hatchback automobiles built to replace Fiats ageing Tipo. ... 1997 Fiat Bravo The three-door Fiat Bravo and five-door Brava are hatchback automobiles built to replace Fiats ageing Tipo. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Hyundai Accent (sold in some regions as the Verna) is a subcompact car produced in South Korea, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. ... The Kia Mentor is a family automobile manufactured from 1994 to 2004. ... The Kia Shuma, pronounced ShÃ¼-mÃ¤Â´, is a hatchback automobile produced from 1999 to 2004. ... The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia from 1979 to 1994. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ... Datsun 210 Wagon (Sunny California style), B310 Series The Nissan Sunny is a small car from Nissan. ... The Nissan Almera was a small family car built by Nissan from 1995 to 2006. ... The Peugeot 306 is a small family car built by the French car manufacturer Peugeot from 1993 to 2001. ... The Proton Wira is a model of car manufactured by Malaysian national carmaker Proton Berhad. ... Renault 19 Chamade The Renault 19 is a small family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1988 and 1999. ... The Renault Mégane is a compact automobile made by Renault. ... The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover. ... The SEAT Cordoba is a compact car built by Spanish car maker SEAT. SEAT Cordoba Mk I (1993–2002) The original SEAT Cordoba was launched in the summer of 1993, based on the chassis of the SEAT Ibiza hatchback which would spawn the new VW Polo the following year. ... 1998 Å koda Felicia. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... See also Vauxhall Astra, Holden Astra, and Saturn Astra for the usage of the nameplate by other General Motors subsidiaries. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ...

2000s

Despite raising a few eyebrows on its launch in terms of style, the Ford Focus quickly proved to be an instant hit with UK buyers and by the time of the second generation model's launch in December 2004 it had been Britain's most popular car every since month since May 2000. The MK2 Focus inherited its predecessor's attributes and most importantly built on its sales success. Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ...

The relatively dull-looking but fun-handling Vauxhall Astra played second fiddle to the Focus right up to the launch of an all-new fifth generation model in March 2004, and in 2005 and 2006 the latest Astra was Britain's second most popular new car thanks largely to its distinctive styling, excellent ride and handling, solid build quality, good equipment, wide trim range and impressive reliability. Vauxhall Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. ...

The iconic Volkswagen Golf entered its fifth incarnation at the beginning of 2004 and maintained the huge sales success of its predecessor. But perhaps the most surprising success so far this decade would have to be the Renault Megane II, launched in November 2002 with styling quite unlike any other offering in this sector at the time. Some onlookers doubted that the latest Megane could match its predecessor's sales success in the UK, but it ended up reaching even greater heights. In 2005, the Megane II was Britain's fourth most popular new car. Other impressive offerings in the small family car sector currently include the Peugeot 307, Honda Civic, Toyota Auris, Citroen C4 and Mazda 3. The small family sector is now firmly establishd as Britain's most favoured sector. In 2004, five of Britain's 10 best selling cars were in this sector - compared to just three in 1992. Many of these sales have been won from would-be buyers of larger cars who want something with less size but more specification. Back in 1992, the top 10 in the UK featured three larger family cars, but from 2001 to 2006 has featured just one. The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... The Renault Mégane is a compact automobile made by Renault. ... A red Peugeot 307 CC, a coupÃ© cabriolet with a folding steel roof The Peugeot 307 Sedan sold in the Chinese Market only The Peugeot 307 is a small family car produced by the French Peugeot manufacturer since 2001. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Toyota Auris is a new compact car that was released on February 1 2007 in the UK. It replaced the Toyota Corolla hatchback in several continents and the Toyota Corolla Runx in Japan. ... The Citroën C4 is a European compact car designed to be the sucessor to the Citroën Xsara. ... Mazda Motor Corporation assembles the Mazda3, an automobile model (known in Japan as the Axela), and offers it to the public under the Mazda brand. ...

Small family cars of the 2000s

The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 2000. ... The Audi A3 is the new BMW and an entry-level Noobluxury car / Wagonsmall family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. ... The BMW 1 Series (code name E87) is a Small-luxury car / small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004. ... 2004 Daewoo Lacetti The Chevrolet Lacetti is a compact 5-door hatchback made by South Korean GM Daewoo. ... The Citroën C4 is a European compact car designed to be the sucessor to the Citroën Xsara. ... Fiat Stilo The Fiat Stilo is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat since 2001. ... Ford Focus is the name of a series of compact/small family cars made by the Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... The Hyundai Accent (sold in some regions as the Verna) is a subcompact car produced in South Korea, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. ... The Hyundai Elantra (sold in South Korea as the Avante) is a compact car from Hyundai of South Korea launched in 1991. ... The Kia Cerato also known as the Kia Spectra is a small car made by the South Korean company Kia Motors. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mazda Familia. ... The Nissan Almera was a small family car built by Nissan from 1995 to 2006. ... Versa is the North American name for this vehicle, see Nissan Tiida for article The Nissan Versa is a new subcompact car from Nissan starting with the 2007 model year in North America. ... A red Peugeot 307 CC, a coupÃ© cabriolet with a folding steel roof The Peugeot 307 Sedan sold in the Chinese Market only The Peugeot 307 is a small family car produced by the French Peugeot manufacturer since 2001. ... The Renault Mégane is a compact automobile made by Renault. ... In the autumn of 1999, Rover gave the 400 Series a facelift and a new name - Rover 45. ... The SEAT Cordoba is a compact car built by Spanish car maker SEAT. SEAT Cordoba Mk I (1993–2002) The original SEAT Cordoba was launched in the summer of 1993, based on the chassis of the SEAT Ibiza hatchback which would spawn the new VW Polo the following year. ... The SEAT León is a model of car manufactured by the Volkswagen Group and sold under the SEAT brand. ... 2002 Suzuki Aerio sedan Suzuki Aerio wagon The Suzuki Aerio (called the Liana in Europe) is a car built by Suzuki Motor Corporation for the lower midsize segment in the Japanese and European markets and for the subcompact segment in the North American market. ... The Suzuki SX4 is a mini SUV developed by Japanese and Italian automakers Suzuki and Fiat and produced since 2006. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Toyota Auris is a new compact car that was released on February 1 2007 in the UK. It replaced the Toyota Corolla hatchback in several continents and the Toyota Corolla Runx in Japan. ... See also Vauxhall Astra, Holden Astra, and Saturn Astra for the usage of the nameplate by other General Motors subsidiaries. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mark 1 and Mark 5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car / small family car that Volkswagen manufactures. ... The Volkswagen Jetta is an automobile manufactured by Volkswagen. ... The Volvo C30 is a small family car / compact near-luxury car produced by the Volvo division of Fords Premier Automotive Group. ...

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