Small, more dynamic but still beautiful

I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta

Many people nod or turn shake their head when watching luxurious, large cars passing by. However, the trend is changing and smaller cars might become the center of the attention over the next few years.

Many of the world's mass-market auto players have manufactured small cars. Some of the car names such as Suzuki Karimun, Daewoo Matiz, Hyandai Atoz, KIA Visto and Daihatsu Ceria have been sold in Indonesia.

There are many more small-car names in the world, including Mercedes A140, Renault Clio and Scenic, Honda City, Peugeot 306 and 206, Volkswagen Beetle, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Toyota Echo, Holden Astra and Barina, Subaru Impreza, Audi A3, Nissan Pulsar, Vauxhall Corsa, and Fiat Punto. There are also Citron Saxo, Lancia Yasilon, Rover 25, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris.

Small cars have become popular in recent years. Studies have found such vehicles have been a popular and inexpensive option for Japanese buyers, such that small cars account for one-third of all new mobiles sold in Japan.

Small cars are also favorites in Europe. Some 35 percent of all car sales on the continent are of small cars. They have been a way in life in Europe for decades. In the U.S., though, small cars are still regarded as oddities, and more people have bought smaller sports utility vehicles (SUV).

Many people regard small cars as a great second car, others see them as the only car. Related studies have revealed that most buyers were from the younger generation who were beginning to buy cars in larger numbers, but have smaller budgets and no need for a family vehicle. Others revealed small cars were popular with women, young drivers, and families looking for a second car.

Several car manufacturers have now focused on producing mini sports-utility vehicles, which increase comfort and utility without sacrificing maneuverability or economy.

The only drawbacks of small cars may be the lack of space and refinement, in addition to the design and capacity. A small car will be able to carry a maximum of four passengers, while the others only two.

Autogiants the Chrysler Group and Japan's Mitsubishi, both members of the DaimlerChrysler family, recently announced they would develop and share platforms for small and mid-size cars. The first vehicle from the shared venture will be a Mitsubishi small car, to reach the Japanese market in 2003 or 2004.

In Indonesia, people are getting more familiar with Suzuki Karimun, Hyundai ATOZ, KIA Visto and soon the Daihatsu Ceria.

Bebin Djuana of PT Indomobil Niaga International, the marketing arm of Suzuki in Indonesia, said the Karimun had won the local market for the small car segment due to its performance and name.

"Suzuki has a good name for spare parts, after-sales service and maintenance. Since its launch in 1999, the Karimun has become more popular in Indonesia," he said.

Total Karimun sales in 2001, however, reached only 3,500 units, a fall of some 25 percent compared with the previous year, he added.

"This is due to some materials being dispatched late. Assembly in Indonesia, therefore, was affected," he said.

He said the Karimun had set the trend of reasonable price and simple maintenance in the local automotive industry.

Suzuki claimed Karimun as the innovative "new world" vehicle designed to be parked easily. Compact and fuel efficient, it is environmentally friendly and highly practical, to match people's lifestyles in which they go on little errands.

The unique styling of the Suzuki Karimun is the result of state-of-the-art mini-car design, intended to produce the largest interior space within this compact body size. It fits people's needs beautifully, as you'll never have imagined before.

Though its design reminds people of an unusual "big box", such an appearance has attracted attention. The car has a gross weight of just 1,325 kg and a displacement of 970 cc.

Meanwhile, Diah Cahyorini of PT KIA Mobil Indonesia said the KIA Visto was a cute small car aimed at young, image- conscious buyers living in the city.

"It's suitable for women, young executives and young people. So far the Visto's sales have been good," she said, adding the Visto was first introduced to Indonesia in July last year.

"From the launch to the end of 2000 we sold 1,330 units, and increased that to 3,069 units in 2001," she said.

Many people bought the Visto for its good performance, which was impressive, given that the four-cylinder engine displaced a meager 798 cubic centimeters and used fuel so sparingly that the vehicle required only a 35-liter fuel tank, she added.

"Just like the reason why the city car was created initially, the Visto is suitable for big cities, including Jakarta, where the roads are getting congested. More people love city cars," she said.

She added KIA offered comprehensively stocked spare parts and service centers, allowing owners to maintain their Visto easily.

The Visto is available in manual and automatic versions, and prices range from Rp 94.5 million to Rp 105.5 million (old types) and Rp 96 million to Rp 107 million (new types).

In addition to the Karimun and Visto, Hyundai's Atoz is also popular in Indonesia. The Atoz has a generous amount of cargo space and can handle large cargo loads of up to 1084 liters, with the back seats folded down. It is also available with either manual or automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, Daihatsu has introduced the Ceria, a small car with a gross weight of 1,040 kg and a displacement of 847 cc.

Designed as a small car for the new millennium, many automakers are offering a creation of attractive design that brings a fresh look to the segment and communicates the car's dynamics. The small car is not really small in every respect, as it offers a level of passenger comfort and even spacious legroom in both the front and rear.

In addition, many reviews have reported that small cars are now becoming safer. The latest tables of car safety results, comparing the performance of small or city cars, suggest there has been a dramatic improvement in small-car safety over recent years.

Popularity has indeed encouraged small-car manufacturers to make certain safety features standard and improve them.

With a good market potential in Indonesia, small cars will gain their own market segment. However, competition will remain fierce.