Top 10s: New cars for hipsters
By John LeBlanc
If you were born sometime during the mid ‘80s and mid ‘90s, live in a city, come from a middle-class upbringing, jeer at Coldplay fans, and have a wardrobe that consists mainly of plaid shirts, skinny jeans, and fedoras, you very well may be considered a hipster. Automakers are struggling to connect with this demographic, whose transportation needs are more often than not met via public transit, a fixie bicycle, or the mom ‘n dad’s ride.
But not every hipster is content with this. Many need their own set of wheels. So, as a primer, I’ve outlined 10 of the best new cars for hipsters – cars that are affordable, fun, and meet the needs of this growing group of non-automotive fans. With a bit of time, they might even come to enjoy car ownership.
Honda CR-Z Hybrid
With seating for two, the Honda CR-Z Hybrid is for hipsters who haven’t taken the plunge into parenthood, and are looking for a fun-to-drive car that’s relatively affordable and easy on the fuel budget. Scarcely more expensive than a Civic at $22,590, the savings continue with outstanding fuel economy figures (5.6 L/100 km city, 5.0 highway). Unlike other hybrids — even ones claiming to be sporty to drive — the Honda’s Zed-car actually is, with crisp and eager handling. It’s also the only hybrid vehicle on sale today that can be bought with a manual gearbox. A new lithium-ion battery pack and larger 1.5-litre gas engine for 2013 now combine for 130 horsepower (up seven from last year) and 140 lb.-ft. of torque, up from 128.
Honda Fit
The Swiss Army knife of small cars, the Honda Fit hatchback continues to be one of the most versatile subcompacts for hipsters who don’t want to pay much for their wheels, but need a bit more space. Pricing starts at just $14,580, and all Fits are powered by a frugal (7.1 L/100 km city; 5.7 highway with the manual gearbox) yet peppy (117 horsepower and 106 lb.-ft. of torque) 1.5-litre four-cylinder gas engine. Inside, the little Honda really feels like a much larger car. The Fit’s unique 60/40 split rear seats can fold down or have their seat bottoms flip up to provide space for a pair of mountain bikes. Yet underneath, the Honda has the heart of a hot hatch. For all its hipster functionality, the Fit hatch is actually a lot of fun to drive.
Jeep Wrangler
Who says hipsters have to limit their driving adventures to the urban jungle? That’s where the Jeep Wrangler Sport S comes in (Rubicon pictured). For only $23,195, the two-door, four-wheel-drive, Jeep offers top-down motoring for four passengers on or off road. A recently added 3.6-litre six-cylinder gas engine makes a healthy 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and delivers better fuel economy (12.7 L/100 km city; 9.3 highway) than older versions. In the same way the hipster movement can trace its roots back to the 1940s, so can the retro Wrangler, a direct descendant of the Willys U.S. Army jeep. For hipsters looking to sleep in a tent instead of staying in more expensive hotels, the Wrangler is your ride. Like sleeping under the stars and cooking over an open fire, driving the Jeep is a retro experience worth appreciating.
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul seems to have been designed with hipsters in mind. Instead of turning out another anonymous blob on wheels, Kia made the Soul, with its excellent visibility, fantastic features-versus-pricing ratio, roomy interior, easy-to-manoeuvre size and distinct styling. It's a huge step up from borrowing your mom’s eight-year-old Toyota Corolla. For $16,795, the starter Soul gets a 1.6-litre four-cylinder gas engine with 138 horsepower. If you’re a hipster looking for more driving oomph, for an additional $2,400 you can step up to a 164-hp 2.0 L unit. The Kia’s square-back profile and thick wheel arches give it a quasi-SUV look. Yet the Soul is longer and wider than the Cube, delivering more shoulder, hip and rear legroom. The next-generation Soul will be on the market starting this fall.
Mini Cooper Countryman
With a starting price of $25,500, the Mini Cooper Countryman is no dollar-store bargain. But the most voluminous Mini to date is targeted at affluent hipsters looking for a small, fun-to-drive, hatchback with the infinite customizability, brand cachet, good residual values and luxury features that are part and parcel with the Mini badge. Although its minimal overhangs means it’s still shorter than a typical compact five-door hatchback, the Mini Countryman is bigger than any other Mini, with a cabin that is noticeably wider. The first Mini ever to offer five doors, available all-wheel-drive and seats for up to five passengers, the Countryman is powered by Mini’s familiar 1.6-litre four-cylinder gas engine, with power ranging from 121 to 181 to 208, depending on the model.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR
For hipsters who also happen to be adrenaline junkies, we’re suggesting the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR, a street-legal rally weapon for the road. OK, it’s not the most affordable car on this list with a starting price of just under $42K, but with ten generations having passed under its wheels, you could argue that Mitsubishi has been doing turbocharged and all-wheel drive thing long before it was cool. As for the GS-R, it’s powered by a 2.0-litre inline-four that makes 291 hp and 300 lb.-ft. – the roadgoing equivalent of a double red-eye from your local coffee hang-out. Beyond stellar acceleration (expect 0 to 100 km/h in the mid-five-second range) the Evo will bowl you over with the way it voraciously bites into corners. We credit Mitsu's torque-vectoring AWD system that applies power to the appropriate outside rear wheel to obediently aid the car through tight corners. Buy an Evo in white, and all you’ll need are some sponsor decals to go racing. Not that you’d sell out to the man, or anything …
Nissan Cube
For hipsters choosing a downtown condo lifestyle over a three-bedroom house in the ‘burbs, we present the unique Nissan Cube. It’s a tall wagon, yes, but it’s usefully smaller than the Scion xB. Starting at $17,788, the Cube uses an economical (7.5 L/100 km city; 6.3 highway, with the optional CVT) 1.8-litre four-cylinder gas engine that makes a reasonable 122 horsepower and 127 lb.-ft. of torque. However, it’s the Cube’s urban driving smarts that make it a hipster pick. A class-leading 10.1 metre-turning circle makes city parking a snap. Its less-than-sporting ride soaks up the bumps nicely. And visibility is helped by a tall seating position, near vertical pillars, plenty of glass and minimal overhangs. And like opening a craft beer fridge, the Cube’s back door is hinged on the side, rather than from the top.
Scion FR-S
While sporty coupes like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang were created for nostalgic Baby Boomers, the Scion FR-S ($26,300) is targeted at youngsters that grew up with posters of 1990s Japanese sports cars on their walls. True, the Scion’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder gas engine has only 200 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque, but the sports car’s minimalist design means there’s not much FR-S to move in the first place. The FR-S delivers a genuine sports car feel. Relative to most modern cars, your backside kisses the ground. And while most of the Scion’s interior bits (such as the climate controls nicked from a Toyota Yaris) are economy-car grade, the parts the driver engages with on a regular basis — the seats, steering wheel and gear shifter — are driver-oriented bits of kit.
Subaru Impreza Hatchback
While most car buyers turn a blind eye to the humble hatchback, hipsters love ‘em. Now imagine a hatch that offers plenty of practicality, plus great fuel economy, a stellar reputation for reliability and all-wheel-drive. That’s the 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0i hatchback, a do-it-all vehicle for young buyers on a budget. Despite its crossover-challenging abilities, the Impreza is still frugal when it comes time to fill up. When matched to an optional CVT, the Impreza’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder gas engine scores 7.5 L/100 km in the city and 5.5 on the highway, allowing Subaru to claim it as the most fuel-efficient AWD car in North America – until the hybrid version of the Impreza-based Crosstrek rolls onto the scene next year. Compared with the last Impreza, overall interior space for the five-door is way up. Outward visibility is excellent. The steering has a modicum of feel. And the Subaru’s balance between a comfortable ride and sporty handling is near perfect.
Volkswagen Golf Wagon TD
If one were to design the perfect hipster car from scratch, one’d probably still end up with the Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI. Its compact wagon bodystyle is über-practical, offering just as much – if not more – practicality than comparably sized crossovers. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine is über-frugal (6.7 L/100 km in the city and 4.6 on the highway). And its German heritage means its über-fun to drive. With a nicely screwed-together interior made from quality materials and German luxury car road manners, perhaps the Golf Wagon TDI’s best quality is that you’ll never feel you’re on a budget. And with most buyers opting for crossovers, the Golf’s station wagon body style is about as far away as you can get from your parents’ Honda CR-V and almost as rare as a Lamborghini Aventador on Canadian streets.
10.09.13 | 2013, Features, Honda, Jeep, Kia, lists, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Scion, Subaru, top 10's, Volkswagen | Comments Off on Top 10s: New cars for hipsters