CarThrottle Asks: What's Your Favorite Supermini?

One thing I'd like to see more of here at CarThrottle is reader participation. It's great that we sit here at our laptops and pour our car-nerd minds into the articles we post up here, but a car site these days is nothing without two-way interaction.  I figure the best way to increase this is to ask you, dear reader, a question.  Hopefully, lively commentary and discussion will ensue.  Let's see how this goes, shall we?

The first question that popped into my mind for this relates to the newly-debuted Audi A1 Supermini, which was revealed ahead of the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.  It's based on VAG's small-car architecture (which underpins the Polo and Skoda Fabia) but is retooled and glitzed up for a premium driving experience, look, and feel.  It's an enticing concept: all the luxuries of a big, honkin' Audi but with 60+ MPG from a small diesel.  For people living in the city, a 3.0L supercharged V6 is about the last thing they need for going 10mph from stoplight to stoplight.  A long wheelbase is great for people who do a lot of highway travel, but it's a pain in the ass if you're trying to parallel park.  The world is becoming more eco-focused and less worried about maximum horsepower, so it's a vehicle that makes a lot of sense at a time like this.

It's a whole lot of style and nice stuff in a small package.  High-resolution LCD display with satnav, beautiful Audi interior design, high-tech engines and transmissions, that sort of thing.  But the A1 is hardly the only supermini on the market that offers something besides a low price tag and some nice toys.  In fact, these days the market's getting crowded.

There's the Alfa Romeo MiTo, a tiny 3-door hatchback with all the verve and flair of Alfa's big models like the 159 and 8C Competitzione and high-tech MultiAir turbocharged engines pulling big power out of small displacement.  The perenially popular Mini Cooper is deep into it's second generation, with chic interior detailing, lovable styling, go-kart handling and a wide range of engines from "snore, diesel" to the nasty 212bhp JCW Cooper S package.  Citroen's upcoming DS3 harkens back to the days of the Deesee, when the brand still had some Gallic flair - all in a conveniently tiny package, but trimmed to the nines.

There's also the Seat Ibiza Bocanegra, with it's "I'm going to eat you" front end, nimble suspension tuning and nifty twin-charged TSI engine/DSG transmission combination.  The goofy Smart car has an appeal of it's own (how can you not love a car with a rear-mounted 3-banger and a sequential transmission?) It's a shame they killed the Roadster-Coupe, but we can cry about that another day.

If you're looking for less glitz and more go, there are plenty of choices.  Renault's Twingo RS 133 is 10 pounds of fun in a 5 pound bag.  The Suzuki Swift Sport and Fiat Panda 100HP are similar, if a little less hardcore.

So, what nifty supermini pushes your buttons?  I personally am a huge sucker for the Alfa Romeo Mito Quadrifoglio Verde, with it's sport-tuned suspension and 1.4L 170bhp MultiAir turbo motor.  It's not quite the full-monty 240bhp GTA we were all hoping for, but it still fills my heart full of "want."  Until Saab-Spyker builds a 9-1, that's what I'm going with.  How about you?  Leave us a comment below with your feedback!