Taken in the right spirit, the smart cabriolet is a delightful little vehicle. Don’t ever expect it to be normal, though.

In spite of the general trend toward bigger and beefier pickups and SUVs, there’s a segment of the marketplace that’s always going to go for the flyweights.  Proud Ford Festiva and Geo Metro drivers (I’ve met more than a few) haven’t been well served in recent years.  The Honda Insight isn’t very practical, and the Kia Rio, while related to the departed Ford Aspire under the skin, just doesn’t have the “small and proud of it” attitude of a Geo Metro.

Tiny-car fans rejoice!  The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo just might be …

Nissan has successfully packed space for five into a very compact package. Rear legroom is the best in class, and you won’t feel bad for stuffing your friends back there.

No, this is not the box that they ship MINI Coopers in, it’s a 2004 Scion xB.  If you shop at Wal-Mart, watched every episode of American Idol, and think a Disney cruise is the be-all, end-all of vacations, then you’ve probably already said to yourself, “That’s the ugliest car I’ve ever seen,” and moved on.  You’re probably not even reading the rest of this review.

And that’s just fine with Scion, Toyota’s new division.  When it comes to the 2004 xB, as this little mailbox of a car is known, …

Scion’s xA will probably have the unfortunate destiny of falling permanently in the shadow of its incredibly silly-looking yet endearing sibling the xB.  As Toyota’s newest division is introduced across the United States over the next twelve months, we think the xB is going to be the one everyone remembers.  The xB is outselling the xA by almost two to one, too.

Just because it isn’t the showman of the family doesn’t mean the xA has less to offer, though.  Once you get it out of the shadows, this happy little …

If you’re one of those people who wants to get from Point A to Point B with a minimum of fuss and without carrying more power amenities and frills than you absolutely need, the 2004 Hyundai Elantra may be just what you’re looking for.

It seems like we say this every time we drive a Hyundai, but we’ll say it again anyway: Don’t believe the stereotypes!  Hyundais are no longer the chintzy redheaded stepchildren of the automotive world.  The Elantra makes a good case for this point.  It’s Hyundai’s best-selling car …

I don’t mean this as uncharitably as it will no doubt sound, but the Toyota Echo is kind of the golf cart of the automotive world.  That position has been filled in the past by such stalwarts as the Ford Festiva, Geo Metro and Hyundai Accent, and for 2003 the Echo is it.  It’s not popular as a young first-time buyer’s car, as Toyota intended it to be, but its diminutive size, frugal nature and low price have made it a favorite among folks looking for a small auxiliary car.  …

This is not a car that’s going to stir the hearts of enthusiasts, but it’ll get you around town nicely enough. At speed, its feeling of connection to the road is not unlike being in a blimp, right down to the drone from the engine.

What’ll happen if your smart gets creamed by a Chevy Suburban? It’ll bounce off and go tumbling over and over like a die in a back-alley craps game. Fortunately, smart passengers stand a good chance of coming up with sevens.

I barely even notice PT Cruisers on the road any more; they’ve become a part of the automotive landscape.  A welcome part, of course.  The PT is one of the most stylish economy cars going, but its retro-modern looks have become somewhat commonplace.  But there’s a new one, even if you didn’t notice.  For drivers who feel that their PT Cruiser lacks the power to deliver on its hot-rod looks, Chrysler now offers a pair of turbos.

Under the PT Turbo’s familiar triangular hood, there’s now a choice of 180-horsepower and …