With the mangling state of our public transport system, of which the top dog in-charge claims is blown out of proportions by the media, one wonders if the move towards a car-lite society is truly possible in Singapore.

A few years ago, I might've answered that question saying yes, a car is more of a want, considering the sky-high prices we pay to put them on the road. Unfortunately, today, I cringe at the thought of the day I am unable to own one.


No thanks to COE premiums, loan restrictions, upcoming VES rulings, a new ERP system and so on, even senior corporate executives might have trouble pumping out enough Vitamin M for a car. The most viable option in this case, then, for new car owners would be a subcompact or supermini that's cheaper to buy, economical to run and easy to drive.

And if European is what you aim for, we're glad to say you're in luck thanks to models like the Seat Ibiza, the Volkswagen Polo and the segment's latest contender, the Renault Clio. Question is… which one will you put your money on?

If you're a sucker for aesthetics...

At face value, the Clio's spunky design is an instant eye-catcher. Parked next to the Ibiza and the Polo, the Clio's typical French mien, contrasting trims and coupe-esque body are a fresh pop of colour in an otherwise dry division.


In this Mr. Subcompact beauty pageant, the Ibiza comes in second, thanks to sportier bumpers and sharper fascia that make it more youthful and cheekier than its Volkswagen cousin.

This brings us to the Polo - a car that looks every bit the way a Volkswagen should. The exterior is smart, with clean lines and a reassuringly familiar feel, but it's nowhere near as dynamic-looking as its French and Spanish rivals.

Inside job

We wish we could continue singing the same praises about the Clio's cabin, but materials and fit and finish in the Ibiza's and Polo's is notably superior.


The cabins of the Ibiza and the Polo are very similar, but in FR trim, the former's sporty red stitching and flat-bottomed steering wheel give it a racier edge.

Otherwise, both cars offer very user-friendly experiences, thanks in part to highly intuitive infotainment systems and multi-function displays. While the Clio's cabin design is geared towards form, these two seem to be focused more on function.


The Clio's saving grace, however, is the amount of passenger and boot space it offers, which trumps the other two cars in terms of leg and headroom by miles. Plus, its 300-litre boot space supercedes the Ibiza's 292 litres and the Polo's lesser 280 litres when their rear benches stay up.