EDITOR'S PICKS - Shopping Small? Now's the time.

Regular readers here might be familiar with my love of the Audi A1. As you do when searching for a life partner, you look for somebody that is sensible, fun to be with, and err… affordable and the A1 likewise manages to straddle that strange balance of everyday practicality, handful handling and (relative) affordability that no other car gets quite as right for me.

In a world of raised ride heights and overburdened cars, superminis are becoming a refuge of simple, honest motoring. If you are looking to capture some of this magic for yourself, read on to find out more.

As with relationships, timing is key. With COE prices still at a low, superminis are looking better as a value proposition. Not only will you be getting your car on the cheap, but the premium for a larger vehicle at this point becomes greater and less justified relative to the final price of your car. So strike while the iron is hot.

But if it is the unadulterated motoring experience of driving something light and agile in an affordable package that you are after, the case is made all the more urgent. Starting next year, European Union regulations are going to bring average fleet emissions down to 95g of CO2 per km, which is going to make small, petrol-only city cars a difficult business case for manufacturers. This may seem unintuitive but when you consider the fact that the current Volkswagen Polo still puts out 112 g/km, manufacturers are either going to have to build hybrid technology across all these volume sellers, or raise their prices to subsidise the costs of pure electric vehicles in order to meet those averages. So if carrying the extra weight of a hybrid drivetrain sounds like anathema to your pure and nimble driving machine, this may very well be the last opportunity to get something fun and affordable.

Add to this the fact that the pure-electric options meant to replace this segment have yet to match current options for affordability: speculation on the prices of soon-to-be available electric cars such as the Volkswagen ID. 3 and Honda E still sit close to €30,000, that is, closer to a base specification BMW 3 series than a Volkswagen Golf, and it seems to me that, back to basics, affordable motoring fun could soon see only scarce options. Buy now, you have been warned.

No problem. Gone are the days when buying small meant getting a car absent of features: manufacturers have since wised up to the fact that the young people buying these cars can be easily won over with tech-savvy features, and their cars show it. If you are looking for a supermini that is big on style and personality, consider the Volkswagen Polo Beats: developed in conjunction with the same firm the gives you Beats by Dre, this Polo comes equipped with an upgraded sound system to the tune of an eight-channel amplifier and a digital sound processor, which work through a subwoofer and six speakers with a total 300-watt output. All this is easily controlled from a central 8-inch touchscreen display. Keen drivers also get a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with 3 different view settings and other toys such as a panoramic sunroof and keyless entry.

Velvet Red inserts in the centre console as well as the double seam on the fabric seats invoke the Mk1 GTI’s equally flamboyant styling

All of this is packaged in a platform that provides plenty of grip, while remaining supple, calm, and comfortable in a way that cars with shorter wheelbases rarely are. The Volkswagen Polo Beats is available from $101,400*, but if that interior is a bit to flash for your style, the regular Polo is also available starting from $92,900*. Alternatively you may also want to consider the Seat Ibiza. With prices starting from $81,900*, the Seat Ibiza is built on the same Volkswagen MQB A0 platform as the Polo, but sports a more angular exterior styling, and I find the design aesthetic of the centre display and dials just a bit more pleasing.

Seat Ibiza sports more angular styling outside for those unconvinced by the Polo's looks

Just because you are shopping for a city runabout does not mean you have to settle for a mass-produced commuter. Superminis can be big on history and heritage. Hyundai and Skoda for example both competed successfully in the gruelling World Rally Championship on supermini platforms such as the i20 and the Fabia (both are not available here, unfortunately), and Skoda’s rallying heritage actually stretches as far back as the formative years of rallying itself. But if it is sheer recognisability you are aiming for, the Mini tops the supermini list. 60 years on since the original rolled off the production line, the current Mini still retains its iconic bug-eyes and boxy design, while the placing of all four wheels at the extreme corners continues to grace the current car with that go kart-like handling. Meanwhile, the quirky round dials and centre display as well as the Union Jack tail lights serve as reminders that you are driving a special machine indeed.

With strong grip and balance, this darting and energetic number can be had from just $107,888*. We think the 3 Door One is the best way to experience the handling characteristics the Mini has to offer, but if you crave more performance, Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper works versions are also available, allowing you to choose from different customisation options and to raise the power to as high as 231hp. Pick what tickles your itch for customisation the best.

The current Mini shares many visual cues with its rally-winning original.

From cameras to radios, hotel rooms and trees, the Japanese are no strangers to shrinking objects and making them work well, so it should be no surprise that their cars should stand out amongst this category. Suzuki stands out in this field with their long history of manufacturing small cars and use of clever packaging in order to maximise interior space. For pure driving fun, I find the Suzuki Swift hard to beat. The previous generation Swift established the model for superminis here, being cheap, cheerful and just pretty enough to stand out from the crowd, and this all new one is no different. With 109bhp and maximum torque of 160Nm from a new ‘Boosterjet’ 1.0 litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine the Swift is more than capable of keeping up with the rest of the supermini crowd, while the platform now returns fairly strong grip levels, with smart directional response, respectable handling balance and decent body control, despite the increased suspension tuning towards comfort and greater travel. Get your today starting from $73,900*.

Redesigned headlights and more sculpted body panels give the new Swift more masculine styling next to the previous model

Fans of the responsiveness of a normally-aspirated engine also will find the Mazda 2’s configuration hard to beat. With a lean 1,068kg kerb weight it is endowed with decent handling which combine with well-judged pedal and steering weight to give you something that is uniquely joyous to drive at this price range. the Mazda’s SkyActiv-G 115hp unit is a pleasure to operate and once again, the low kerb weight means that the car always feels playful and up for a spirited drive, regardless of if you are going to the shops or tackling B roads up North. Prices for the Mazda 2 start at $80,888*.

Mazda's focus on Jinba-Ittai, or oneness of car and driver refreshing in a world of overburdened cars.

Hybridisation will continue unabated through the industry. If you are concerned about your personal contribution to the world’s greenhouse gasses, but must get your driving kicks, you can at least take heart in knowing that you are reducing your car’s material footprint by buying small, and minimising your emissions by motoring lightweight.

But I think I may have a silver bullet for those that still feel guilty: research from the University of Oxford has found that cutting meat consumption to just 50 grams a day, from 100g, could cut food-related emissions by a third, saving almost a tonne of CO2 each year. Since the emissions from a supermini like those above only rests at around 120 g/km, and those of a typical hybrid are nearly at 85 g/km, you only need to dramatically cut down on your meat consumption in order to buy yourself a good 28,500 kilometres a year, and that is without considering the additional 0.9 tonnes of CO2 produced in the manufacture of a typical hybrid car. But the best part, is that combined with just a little exercise, you too can stay lean and sharp. Just like your car.

*Prices accurate as of 17 June 2019

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