Many European vehicles maintain icon standing world wide, and whereas Australia is undeniably a ute and SUV market, there are nonetheless individuals who need one thing smaller and extra premium.
Regardless of that, we’ve reported a number of instances in latest months that some European manufacturers are ending manufacturing of their smallest vehicles. This consists of information the Mercedes-Benz A-Class can be discontinued just like the B-Class was beforehand, and affirmation the Audi A1 received’t be renewed past its present era.
There are nonetheless some key gamers within the compact Euro market, although most have German roots. It is because the Volkswagen Group owns a minimum of 4 manufacturers that fall into this area in Australia (VW, Skoda, Cupra and Audi), whereas the BMW Group controls two (BMW and Mini).
The outlier is Peugeot, which is the one remaining model to promote small French vehicles in Australia after Renault discontinued its Clio and Megane, and Citroen departed the native market solely in 2024.
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Skoda Fabia -
Cupra Leon -
BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe -
Mini Cooper
To indicate our appreciation for the perfect European small vehicles (not SUVs) nonetheless on sale in Australia, we requested the CarExpert staff which one they might purchase given the chance.
For simplicity, we’ve nominated fashions from the sunshine and small passenger automotive segments, as outlined by VFACTS, and excluded the area of interest Fiat and Abarth fashions within the micro-car section.
With that in thoughts, the choices have been:
Tell us which automotive you’d decide within the feedback beneath.
James Wong: Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Type
It will be very straightforward to spend an unimaginable quantity of dream money on a number of the higher-end choices right here, however I imagine the true essence of compact European motoring is greatest represented by the present Volkswagen Polo Type.
$37,990 drive-away is getting up there for a lightweight automobile, however lately what isn’t costly? And the newest Polo is as massive as a Mk5 or Mk6 Golf, with loads of rear seat and boot area for the odd event it’s essential to transport extra than simply your self.
The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is a superb steadiness of torque and effectivity, and in Type guise you get the identical digitised cabin and high-end driver help techniques seen in way more costly VW fashions – together with the wonderful Journey Help semi-autonomous freeway driving perform in addition to trick Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high-beam, that are nonetheless pretty uncommon at this finish of the market.
My youthful sister drives a base Polo with the lesser engine tune, and I totally get pleasure from driving that round when she lets me.
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Sean Lander: Skoda Scala
I’m not likely an enormous fan of any of those autos; the scale of them places me off and, to be trustworthy, most include a hefty price ticket for such small vehicles.
That’s why I just like the Skoda Scala. It’s the dual to the Volkswagen Golf however with out the inflated worth and the necessity to continuously discuss to James about being a Golf proprietor – did you of us at house know that James owns a Golf…?
It’s a sharp-looking little automotive and begins at simply over $32,000 drive-away, which is a relative cut price lately. It’s full of tech, however little or no in the best way of annoying security aids.
Skoda autos simply appear to quietly do their job. The ergonomics are good, they’re actually gasoline environment friendly, I just like the infotainment system and, although these are fairly German these days, my Czech grandfather would nonetheless approve.
If solely the Fiesta was nonetheless round…
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Josh Nevett: Audi RS3
I really feel a bit soiled selecting probably the most costly vehicles on this section, however that received’t cease me.
Audi has finetuned the RS3 recipe over greater than a decade, and that long-term improvement shines by means of within the newest iteration. The RS3 is nothing in need of a junior supercar, packing a characterful 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 294kW and 500Nm. It’ll do 0-100km/h in simply 3.8 seconds.
On the identical time, it’s sensible sufficient to deal with each day duties and stay snug over lengthy journeys. So are a number of the rivals – the BMW M135 xDrive and Volkswagen Golf R, to call a pair – however neither possess the appeal and functionality of the RS3, which appears like a child R8 and goes like one too.
You’ll need to pay circa-$100k for the up to date RS3 when it arrives Down Underneath later this 12 months, so it’s removed from low-cost. Nevertheless, when you think about Mercedes-AMG is killing the A45 S and BMW needs virtually as a lot cash for the 233kW four-cylinder M135, it may simply be price it…
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William Stopford: Skoda Scala
I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I’ll say it once more: it’s a rattling disgrace the Skoda Scala doesn’t promote higher in Australia.
Handsomely styled, nicely packaged and nice to drive, the Scala is an interesting various to rival small vehicles from Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Astonishingly, Skoda has delivered simply 43 examples of its small hatch this 12 months, lower than half as many deliveries as for the smaller Fabia.
Till just lately, Skoda had these two autos priced fairly intently to one another, however the Fabia has now obtained a worth reduce. Maybe it was the Scala that wanted one, or a minimum of some extra promoting, as a result of no one appears to understand it bloody exists!
If I used to be spending more cash on a small European automotive, there are many choices inside the Volkswagen Group. A Volkswagen Golf GTI is a basic alternative, although the Cupra Leon is prettier and there’s an replace coming this 12 months bringing a longer-range plug-in hybrid choice.
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Marton Pettendy: BMW M135 xDrive
As Will and Sean say, the Skoda Scala is massively underrated and provides nice worth even in comparison with its Fabia and VW Polo and Golf sister fashions, so it will be my decide if I used to be out there for an reasonably priced small European automotive.
But when cash have been no object, I’d go for the BMW M135 xDrive because it’s the closest the Bavarian model will get to providing an precise ‘M1’ sizzling hatch, and it packs a giant punch with a 233kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo 4 driving all 4 wheels, mixed with the perfect entrance/all-wheel drive chassis BMW has ever produced.
It’s not low-cost at $83,600 plus on-roads, however it appears much more particular than the upcoming Audi RS3 facelift, which may also be a lot pricier, and it’s hundreds extra enjoyable to drive than the understeery Mercedes-AMG A45, which prices $120k and is destined to turn out to be an orphan.
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Damion Smy: Volkswagen Golf R
Getting all the way down to the ultimate automotive here’s a technique of elimination.
I like BMW product, however let’s simply say I choose the look of just about all its rivals – even going backwards. That features the not-quite-pretty Peugeot 308 – however with regards to the crunch, would I really do it? No, regardless of proudly owning a Pug with 410,000km on it.
The Mini is a contender, however I’m not as offered on its appears as its age-defying predecessors – you possibly can see I’m a believer in loving the sight of the automotive you stroll as much as on a regular basis.
That leaves the Cupras, however I’d choose the Skodas if I’m to have a VW Group product – Cupra nonetheless appears like an odd start-up to me and I’m not prepared for that. With cash no object, an RS3 could be extra alluring, however I actually appreciated the now-dropped sedan…
Then once more, I like understatement, and a Polo is a tad too small for me (though greater than sufficient in actuality), so I’d choose an A-Class– or Golf-sized automobile.
This leads me to a Golf R, which I initially thought could be a bland, straightforward alternative – however that may additionally imply it’s a tad unassuming because it’s misplaced in a sea of hatchbacks on the market and isn’t as awkward wanting as its German rivals.
A hi-po Golf could be my ‘worth’ decide (even at $71k), however it’d need to make method for a well-specced A45 AMG – with its unrivalled mix of appears, firepower and sense of event – if I used to be loopy sufficient to spend $122k on a C-segment hatch.
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Max Davies: BMW M135 xDrive
After a good few hours behind the wheel together with a number of spirited drives, I can say the M135 is up there with the perfect you should purchase in not solely the small Euro automotive section, but additionally the recent hatch market as a complete.
Aesthetics apart, there aren’t many different small vehicles that may deal with fairly in addition to the M135 can. To me, that’s its greatest promoting level.
It advantages from adaptive suspension, and there’s fairly a distinction in the best way it rides, steers and places its energy to the bottom in consolation and sport modes.
Within the latter, it appears like you possibly can take each bend at twice the velocity as a result of it’s simply so nicely planted, providing you with that additional little bit of one thing that reminds you the automotive is alive.
It’s fast too, and that all-wheel drive system means you’ll battle to run into bother on the tarmac.
The present M135 might not be what the (rear-drive) 1 Collection as soon as was, which in all probability hurts perceptions just a little given how BMW followers yearn for these earlier variations.
At $83,600 earlier than on-roads it’s pretty costly too, however that’s not as troublesome to digest because it was when the automotive was first launched. Even the Toyota GR Corolla is now a lot nearer in worth, and the M135 was by no means that rather more costly than a Honda Civic Sort R – which makes BMW’s inside and tech benefit definitely worth the premium.
It has the benefit over its European rivals on worth too, but retains some basic BMW character that continues to be distinctive amongst its friends.
In fact, it’s a comparatively area of interest efficiency automotive, so if I needed to go for one thing extra reasonably priced it’d in all probability be the Skoda Fabia – a totally pleasurable small hatch.
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