How much has the tiny city car improved over the past decade?

I was looking at my car comparison, Chevrolet Matiz vs Ford Ka, which triggered this question.

Many small cars have grown in size over the past twenty years. First we had the super-mini at about 3.75m. Today some small cars have grown to around 4m. Only the Matiz, Ka, Fiat 500/Panda, Aygo/107/C1, Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto remain around the 3.5m.

But even some of these tiny cars have grown in width to match a Chevrolet Captiva SUV at 1.85m.

Another point to notice is some small cars have been styled in a way that shrinks their rear windows.

A car that's wide with limited visibility is more difficult to park. Ease of parking being one of the reasons to buy a tiny car.

Another point to watch out for is the price you pay for brand equity and style.

There is a difference in the acceleration figures for these cars but otherwise the mpg, VED and car insurance groups are very similar. Fuel economy and emissions have improved over the years.

Car safety could be better in this class as the Fiat 500 has achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.

So overall the tiny city car is progressing but if they become more difficult to park what's the point?

If you are thinking of buying a car be aware of some nasty finance quotes that are about with high APRs ranging from 10 to 14% while other offer 4 to 5% if not 0%.

Have a look at my Chevrolet Matiz vs Ford Ka car comparison for yourself.

Regards
Ralph