Small cars with a list price below 10.000 euros are now rare. Exhaust and CO-2 regulations make the mini-mobiles increasingly unattractive for manufacturers and customers. The best chance of survival is called e-mobility.
For many years they formed the basis of German auto mobility: the small cars. Recently, supply and demand in this class have fallen sharply. The once generous selection is now limited to half a dozen model families. But they definitely still have something to offer. An overview.
Almost 145.000 vehicles in the smallest class were newly registered in 2020 - almost 90.000 fewer than in the previous year. The weak demand also has something to do with the corona pandemic, but the real causes lie deeper: the low-yield mini models are becoming increasingly unattractive for manufacturers. The already low revenue has recently come under pressure again, mainly due to the tightening of the emissions standard. This makes additional technology necessary, for which, however, the willingness to pay is lacking among price-sensitive customers.
Paradoxically, the political pressure to reduce CO2 is also putting a strain on the actually resource-saving miniature cars. Because in purely mathematical terms they have to achieve relatively ambitious EU target values. Also in comparison to SUVs, for example, which are allowed to emit significantly more greenhouse gases thanks to a weight bonus. Fuel-saving technology, as it is now standard from the small car class, is too expensive for the small cars below. As a result, the minis threaten to screw up their manufacturers' good carbon footprint. Some brands have therefore switched their entry-level models completely to electric drive - this is included in the CO2 balance with a value of zero.
The electric strategy was primarily chosen by the VW group, which offers the trio VW Up, Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo with electric drive. The engine installed in the trio has 61 kW / 82 PS and 210 Nm, the 32,2 kWh battery enables ranges of up to 260 kilometers. The portfolio differs in detail, however: while the Citigo is only available electrically, but cannot currently be ordered, the electric Mii is available, but only in a version with almost full equipment (from 24.650 euros). The VW Up is the only one of the three that is not only available with an electric drive but also with a 48 kW / 65 hp 1,0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine. A natural gas variant with 50 kW / 68 PS is also available. The price list starts at 13.374 euros, the E version is available from 21.980 euros - a difference that is offset by the environmental bonus. Last year, every fourth customer therefore chose the Stromer - with shorter delivery times or better availability it would have been even more. It remains to be seen how the order and delivery situation will look this year.
Smart also consistently relies on electrification. The Daimler subsidiary canceled the combustion engine in 2019 and now offers both the two-seater Fortwo and the four-seater Forfour only electrically. A 60 kW / 82 PS electric motor acts as the drive, the range of 153 kilometers is rather tight even for a pure city car. In return, the price of 21.940 euros for the two-seater is comparatively lush.
The costs are somewhat lower in relation to the size of the vehicle for the four-seater Forfour, which is available for at least 22.600 euros. Its biggest competition, however, is the largely identical Renault Twingo Electric, which with a starting price of 21.790 euros is not only cheaper, but also offers the larger battery and thus the better range (190 kilometers). The little French is also available with conventional drive, with output values between 48 kW / 65 PS and 68 kW / 93 PS and prices from 11.490 euros.
Fiat drives a special small car strategy. The Italians are splitting their 500 series: parallel to the conventional model that has been built since 2007 (from around 14.000 euros), the retro mini has also been available this year as a technically and visually independent e-car, but with the usual cute design . In addition to the classic three-door model, there is also a model with an additional single rear door and in addition to the 70 kW / 95 PS basic version with a range of 180 kilometers, the 87 kW / 118 PS standard model with a range of up to 480 kilometers is available as an alternative. The price range is correspondingly large - it ranges from at least 23.560 euros for the weaker variant to at least 27.560 euros for the stronger.
The customer benefits from the manufacturers' electrification strategies. Because the new drives noticeably raise the small cars to a new level of comfort. Above all, the quiet and low-vibration running is in pleasant contrast to the typically rough and poorly insulated three-cylinder in this class. In addition, there is the concept-based automatic transmission and the immense speed of the small cars. On the other hand, there are the costs: Despite the environmental bonus, the purchase prices in the four-digit range, which were not unusual for a long time in the mini segment, are no longer feasible.
However, this also applies to the model series that have not (yet) been electrified. The youngest representative of this endangered class is the Hyundai i10, which costs at least 11.000 euros even in the inexpensive lock version. If you want air conditioning and radio, you already pay 13.400 euros for 49 kW / 67 PS. That is almost the level of a small car - which the Korean has almost reached in terms of space in the interior. This also applies in a somewhat reduced form to the distantly related Kia Picanto, which also comes with identical drives and is currently one of the cheapest models on the German market with a starting price of 10.750 euros. Even the poorly equipped Picanto base does not come below the once magical 10.000 euro limit.
The Mitsubishi Space Star is currently driving elegantly under the hurdle - but only because the importer is going down € 2.000 from the € 11.990 list price as part of a special promotion that is ongoing until further notice. Since the equipment is neat even at this low price, the Japanese is one of the last real savings tips in this class.
For the Franco-Japanese trio Toyota Aygo (from 11.200 euros), Peugeot 108 (from 10.950 euros) and Citroen C1 (from 9.990 euros) this only applies to a limited extent. Among them, only one reaches a four-digit figure, and that only with extreme willingness to forego the equipment. In addition: how long the trio, which has been built in its current form since 2014, is unclear. A new edition in the Dreierbund currently seems rather unlikely; at least the Toyota could have a future beyond 2022, possibly as a cooperation project with Daihatsu and Suzuki.
The future of the Fiat Panda, which has been built since 2011 and the practical and cheap technology brother of the Fiat 500, seems similarly open. Unlike this, the high-roof mini does not initially have a fashionable electric drive, but has recently had a 51 kW / 70 hp Mild hybrid petrol and gas engines - and the only one in the segment with all-wheel drive. The Italians also skilfully conceal the advanced age of the model with lifestyle chic in crossover style. However, the style and modernization program also leads to higher prices: the five-door, which a few years ago was fighting for the title of cheapest car in Germany, is no longer available for less than 11.700 euros.
If you are looking for a really cheap mini car, you shouldn't spend too much time buying it. The price level is likely to go up rather than down in the future. Attractive models at a level of around 10.000 euros are increasingly rare.