Small Car Rebirth, Midsize Showdown

Toyota joins the ranks of automakers making big news in small cars with its Yaris.

Shoppers in the market for a compact car just got a lot more to choose from. New small cars include the Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Yaris. Joining these models are redesigned versions of the Chevrolet Aveo and Nissan Sentra.

Performance compacts aren't new, but the Dodge Caliber SRT4 is a significant new entry in the segment, hitting dealerships this spring with a supercharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine good for 300 horsepower. Dodge says the Caliber SRT4 can scoot from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

Meanwhile, the crowded midsize segment only gets more competitive with redesigned versions of perennial favorites like the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima. Saturn reenters the segment with its new Aura sedan, which shares styling cues with General Motors' European Opel brand and is powered by a choice of two V-6 engines.