SmartCars and Other Microcars

The growing popularity of microcars like the Smart ForTwo is mostly due to the skyrocketing prices at the gas pump. Another factor is the probable raising of the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFÉ) to 35 mpg by 2020.

Even though almost all microcars that are currently selling abroad aren't street-legal in the US, they've played a part in American automobile industry history since at least 1910. The 1930 American Austin was one of the most notable US-made microcars. In the 1960s, street-legal microcars had a short lived resurgence of popularity as street-legal American vehicles. One of the most popular of these microcars at that time was the BMW Isetta.

With the establishment of US Highway Safety Act in 1970 came the beginnings of American automobile safety standards. In the 1970s, microcars were no longer allowed to be sold in the US.

Microcars in Japan

Japanese car companies, however, have been the primary sellers of microcars since the end of World War II when their economy was rebuilding and most of the population couldn't afford full-sized cars. Japanese versions of the microcar are also known as "kei cars" They are very popular in Japan and most of the major Japanese auto manufacturers sell microcars.

Japanese law limits kei cars to have no more than 64 horsepower; equivalent to many motorcycles.

Microcars from Major Japanese Auto Manufacturers

As of 2007, the Suzuki Wagon R (sold by Nissan) was the bestselling kei car in Japan. See the New York Times review for more details.

See the review for the Nissan Otti microcar at Edmunds.com.

The Toyota iQ kei car will be available for sale throughout Europe in 2009.

The Subaru R1e is the electric version of Subaru's microcar. It was road-tested on the streets of New York City in early 2008.

Microcars in the US

With the exception of the Smart ForTwo, most microcars (or K-cars) aren't currently sold in the US. Only Smart ForTwo can pass the requisite US side impact crash tests.

And, despite what some American consumers might think, most microcar models have more than sufficient leg-room for the average American adult.

At the beginning of 2008, the first Smart ForTwo dealership opened in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It's not an American car company. The Smart ForTwo is French-built and a part of the Mercedes-Benz division of Daimler.

Classic Microcars for Sale

The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum of Madison, Georgia boasts the world's largest collection of classic microcars, many of which were once sold in the US. You can even buy your own classic microcar from the Museum.