Adil Jal Darukhanawala      Graphic: Shivaji Mane and Manoj Nair   23 Mar 2009

View : Nano Europa Vs. Foreign Rivals

This is pure conjecture at the moment but the opportunity was too good to let pass. Our editorial team had a glimpse at the Nano Europa and saw which cars could be its class rivals in Europe and came up with four big name machines.

The first of these is of course the Smart ForTwo Coupe. This high tech two-seat city car is also the most powerful in its class with 85PS on tap and 120Nm of torque to thrust it disdainfully in the nip and tuck of city traffic. Being a two-seater and a rear-engined one at that, the overall footprint it occupies on the road is the smallest of this 5 car bunch at 4.201 sq.ft. 

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Next up is Toyota's refreshingly different iQ, said to be the world's smallest production four-seater city car. It is ingenious this description because even though there is a clever cut away for the front passenger to slide his seat further forward without impinging knee or leg room, there is space for one adult at the rear but only if he or she has to sit sideways! Two kids could theoretically make up the four person terminology to hold good here. Of course the strength of this car is that it is a Toyota and drives not like a small car but feels as if it is a big car with dynamics to match. However on overall design, space and packaging the Nano Europa creams it mightily and that is a big big statement.

The next probable rival to the Nano Europa is the Mitsubishi i which also has a mono-volume format with its four wheels kicked out at the outer edges to gain space efficiency. It has the longest wheelbase in this 5-pack and the smallest turning circle of this bunch which is an essential character trait for city application.

Next: Toyota Aygo and points of comparison

View : Tata Nano Special Coverage!

View : Nano Europa Vs. Foreign Rivals