In Pictures: 21 safest small cars on the road
Most small cars now are equipped with air bags and electronic stability control as standard equipment, and are designed to help protect people better in front, side, rollover and rear-impact crashes
2012 Ford Focus
2012 Honda Civic:
2011 Hyundai Elantra: Completely reinvented for this model year, the Elantra is exceptionally fuel efficient and pretty to look at, too.
2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid: This Lexus is the most fuel efficient car sold by any premium brand in Canada.
2011 Nissan Juke: This Nissan?s love-it-or-hate-it styling grabs plenty of attention. The Juke is also a nimble little car/wagon.
2011 Toyota Prius
2011 Chevrolet Volt: General Motors calls the Volt an extended range electric car. It does run on battery power until the battery runs dry and an on-board gas motors kicks in to charge the battery pack and keep the car going for several hundred more kilometres.
2011 Nissan Leaf: The all-electric Leaf will arrive in Canada later this year. It has a battery range of up to 160 km.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze: The Cruze has steadily moved up the charts of Canada?s best-selling cars. Fuel economy is good and the interior is roomy.
2011 Kia Forte sedan: While not a ground-breaking design, the Forte is solid and highly affordable.
2011 Kia Soul: The boxy Soul is a very interesting design and quite functional ? and safe.
2011 Mazda3 (built after December 2010): Mazda?s best seller remains an entertaining compact car and coming this fall will be sold with a new, incredibly fuel efficient four-cylinder engine.
2011 Mini Cooper Countryman
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTSMitsubishi
2011 Nissan Cube: Another boxy design, the Cube has oceans of cabin room and delivers good fuel economy.
2011 Scion tC: A very sporty car, the tC is a rarity ? an affordable fast ride.
2011 Scion xB: Square is beautiful, at least in Scion?s way of thinking.
2011 Subaru Impreza (except WRX): Standard all-wheel drive is a big selling point for the Impreza.
2011 Toyota Corolla: A perennial best seller in Canada, the Corolla is the best-selling model in the history of the world.
2011 Volkswagen Golf and 2011 Golf GTI: Reinvented slightly more than a year ago, the Golf is a sophisticated small car and the GTI is a fast and reasonably affordable one.
Ford Fiesta