10 American Small Cars with World-Class Features

There’s no doubt that the current crop of American small cars can compete with rivals from around the world. Less clear, perhaps, is exactly what qualifies as an “American” small car. After all, many of the vehicles sold here by the Big Three automakers—one of which is now owned by an Italian corporation, anyway—are built outside the United States, and many of those from the foreign companies are manufactured inside our borders. So, with that in mind, here are the top 10 small cars from the American brands for 2016.

The smallest American small car is the 2016 Chevrolet Spark, which, at 143.1 inches in length, is more than a foot shorter than the Bowtie brand’s traditional subcompact hatch, the Sonic. On the other hand, the Spark’s also 37 inches longer than a smart fortwo, with essentially the same amount of rear-seat legroom as the third row in a Ford Explorer. But rather than get hung up on size, the only American-branded “mini-car” in the country has much of the modern technology found in its larger siblings, including a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay for advanced smartphone integration and four popular pro-active driver-assistance systems: a standard rearview camera, along with available forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning and side blind zone alert. Further, the current Spark was completely redesigned for the 2016 model year, from a peppier 1.4-liter engine that still achieves 41 mpg highway to modernized LCD instrument-cluster display.

Offered in sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact entry that, per Chevy’s measures, sets the segment’s benchmarks for rear-seat roominess and cargo space. Of course, as a GM product, the Sonic also stands out as the only mainstream car in its class with mobile Wi-Fi capability and 4G LTE connectivity, and for another important exclusive, it’s the only one to have garnered a Top Safety Pick endorsement from the IIHS. Additionally supporting Sonic safety are 10 standard airbags, a rearview camera, forward-collision alert and lane-departure warning. For enthusiasts shopping for American small cars, the Sonic RS provides a turbo-derived 18 percent spike in torque—and total outputs of 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque—along with a retuned, lowered suspension and custom-style body mods. But the beauty of the Sonic’s premium powerplant is that it also enables EPA grades of up to 40 mpg in highway driving.

Backed by a brand-new propulsion system—able to deliver a 53-mile all-electric driving range and 42 mpg in combined driving with gasoline—the next-generation 2016 Chevrolet Volt furnishes a unique ownership experience in a compact-sized package. Consider: According to Chevy, drivers who regularly charge the Volt “are expected to travel more than 1,000 miles between gas fill-ups.” And to be clear, the Volt’s overall range is 420 miles when starting with a full battery charge and full tank of gas, which takes travel anxiety right out of the picture. Naturally, the Volt also offers the Bowtie brand’s mobile Wi-Fi technology and numerous driver-assistance measures, highlighted by forward collision alert with automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert and park assistance. The car even ups the ante on other American small cars by being built in the United States, since production is ongoing at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.

Another of Chevy’s brand-new American small cars for 2016 builds on Bowtie-brand strengths, such as its mobile Wi-Fi and safety technologies, by premiering an expanded lineup for the current selling season. As introduced at the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback has a noticeably more athletic silhouette than the sedan model as well as, obviously, a significant upgrade in cargo-carrying versatility. Thus, the hatch has 18.5 cubic feet of space in its rear cargo hold, and total capacity grows to 47.2 cubic feet if owners fold the car’s rear seats. Yet it’s also worth pointing out that both sedan and hatch configurations offer roomier cabins, too, thanks to a longer wheelbase, and while the new-generation Cruze is bigger than before, it’s lighter as well, then packs a more powerful new turbocharged engine that can score 39 mpg highway with the EPA.

A number of American small cars pay lip service to high performance, but it’s the Blue Oval that does more than just talk the talk. Take the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST. Packing a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine, the car comes with a combustible combination of 197 horsepower and 202 lb.-ft.of torque, and there’s plenty of technology onboard to ensure drivers can make the most of that output. For instance, a six-speed manual is the only transmission available—or necessary—while Torque Vectoring Control, a sport-tuned suspension and brakes, and multi-model electronic stability control are all standard. Enthusiasts also should keep in mind that the settings for that latter setup include a full “off” position that allows the driver’s skills to come to the fore. The Fiesta ST is a fairly practical choice, too, since it’s priced from just $20,970 and features the latest, and much improved, Sync 3 voice-controlled infotainment system.

The debut of the 2016 Ford Focus RS marks the first time that the Blue Oval’s global go-getter has ever been sold in the United States, but the wait will have been worth it. That’s because the 2016 Focus RS is the most powerful example to ever wear the name—and one of the most powerful American small cars—courtesy of a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that benefits from EcoBoost engine technologies. As a result, drivers benefit from 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque, and that gets sent to all four-corners by a performance-tuned all-wheel drive system with Dynamic Torque Vectoring—which can adjust torque distribution to each wheel individually for optimum grip. The Focus RS also showcases the industry’s first dedicated drift mode for slick sliding capability if that’s more your kind of thing. The cockpit? It’s a driver-focused environment notable for its Recaro sport seats, flat-bottomed racing-style steering wheel and exposed-metal pedals.

Although Alfa Romeo’s slow-motion return to the United States is starting in the more premium reaches of the market, the 2016 Dodge Dart actually brings some of the Italian brand’s building blocks to the ranks of American small cars for about $17K. Yet the Dart’s underpinnings, borrowed from the European Alfa Romeo Giulietta, are merely the foundation for a stylish sedan that gets more style enhancements for 2016. There’s expanded availability for Dodge’s scooped and sculpted Sport Appearance hood and the darkly detailed Blacktop package, along with more dramatic wheel designs for the Dart GT. The new standard setup serves up 18-inch aluminum wheels in Hyper Black, and owners can opt for similarly sized wheels with a Gloss Black finish and 10-spoke configuration. Also optional, but well appreciated by drivers: a 1.4-liter turbo engine with the most torque in the Dart lineup—184 lb.-ft.—and a top EPA grade of 41 mpg highway.

Those customers looking for premium cues in American small cars will find quite a few of them in the 2016 Buick Verano, especially in the cabin. There, owners can luxuriate in heated leather seats, with the driver enjoying eight-way power adjustability, a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and safety assistance from forward collision alert, lane-departure warning, side blind-zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert. All occupants can take advantage of the Verano’s infotainment technology, though, with mobile Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity further bolstering Buick’s latest IntelliLink system. Like other upscale brands, Buick also makes an effort to reach enthusiasts, but unlike a surprising range of rivals, the Verano does so with an available manual transmission—mated to a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that can supply 250 horsepower, 260 lb.-ft. of torque and 31 mpg highway. But those who’d rather revel in the convenience of a six-speed automatic can do that, too.

At nearly 185 inches in length, the 2016 Buick Cascada does extend a bit beyond the 180-inch mark of the typical mainstream compact. However, the car itself is no typical mainstream anything. The Cascada is a 2+2 convertible with a distinctive design and a top that can be dropped, even at speeds of up to 31 mph, in about 17 seconds. But it’s also motivated by a 200-horsepower turbo engine that can catapult the Cascada from 0-60 in a lot less than that, and Buick’s HiPer Strut front-suspension technology, matched with a Watts Z-link setup in the rear, delivers superior all-around driving dynamics. Also superior—particularly compared to other American small cars—is the Cascada’s level of standard content, as each model comes fresh from the factory with a mobile Wi-Fi hub, massive 20-inch aluminum wheels, and leather seats that can warm occupants on cool days but reflect the sunlight to prevent overheating during sunny ones.

As mentioned at the outset of this gallery, Autobytel experts picked today’s honor roll by focusing on vehicles from the traditional U.S. auto brands—and not by trying to determine which were somehow the most “American.” Yet there is one annual resource that tries to figure that out: the “Made in America Auto Index” of the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, D.C. And it was the 2016 Cadillac ATS that led all American small cars in the most recent ratings. Per the data, 82.5 percent of the ATS’ assembly, parts and materials, including labor, were domestic. Cadillac also stakes out a leadership role with the ATS—sold in both sport sedan and coupe body styles—in the performance arena. More specifically, the ATS-V brings a twin-turbo V6 to the table, allowing it to eat it up the road with 464 horsepower and 445 lb.-ft. of torque.