Is The Small Car Dead?

by Tim Healey

Published: November 7th, 2025

Hey hey, it's the weekend. Well, almost. But it is time for the TTAC podcast.

This week we chat with David Thomas from CDK Global about whether small, inexpensive cars are dying or not. TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and I discuss air dusters for cars, as well.

Mr. Guy and I also dive deep into the NASCAR championship race -- Denny Hamlin's heartbreak, exploding tires, and the move back to Homestead for next year's final race. Plus more.

You can find us wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking here. If you like what you hear, please leave a review!

We thank David Thomas and Matthew Guy for their time, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!

We'll see you next time!

[Image: Kia/VerticalScope/TTAC.com]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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2 of 17 comments

Normie on Nov 09, 2025

More and more, the industry is being oxymoronic and shrinking their crossover UVs, (now termed "compact utility vehicles") into their cheapest offerings and eliding the reality that old, high-greenhoused hatchbacks actually offered more "utility".

I agree with Jeff that these are the new "small cars". But given regs, aero and "features", they'll only be sightless and miserable, not affordable.
So make more money and buy something big or you and your family will be but blind mice among elephants.

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3SpeedAutomatic on Nov 11, 2025

As an example, not sure how to classify Hyundai Venue. I see it more as a hatchback; other say CUV; while others say sedan. Same situation with the Kia Soul.
However, a used one would be great for a young person, or new one for an elderly person for it fits into the garage with ease. 🚗🚗🚗

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Normie I like Corey's posts because his earnest effort makes for a civilized comment space.And I get more information and curiosity from his lavish coverage of a car that was never "me" than from any articles I've seen about my cherished tall & boxies.
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Biff Finally the chickens have come home to roost. I have been saying this for three years: just wait until the EV’ers have to pay the road tax. Lets not forget that it’s California we are talking about and they have never met a tax they didn’t like. Plus it’s “the rich” buying new cars so its a double “lets tax’em!” The solution is simple enough. Have EV’s go into emissions stations as part of license plate renewal. Except here record the milage and get a bill for the cost. The rate should be around 1.5X the comparable gas size vehicle due to added weight. Lets watch the progessive politics swallow this one!