Think small

Seems folks always want to drive something bigger these days, flocking in droves toward pickups, sport-utes, minivans, and those crossover things instead of the common car – particularly small cars. Everybody wants to have the biggest thing on the road, never mind the fact these vehicles may actually be bigger than the roads it must roll on. A condo-sized sport-ute isn’t exactly handy to drive in Metro Manila streets, is it? Now try parallel-parking it.

Pretty soon, though, urban Pinoys tired of lugging four-wheeled behemoths in hellish traffic-choked streets will have several small car options to consider. Not only are these cars the perfect city rides, in some cases it may well be the perfect urban fashion wear too.

The Peugeot 206, for instance.

Smacking of French chic, the 206 is soon to find its way to the country, as recently announced by official local Peugeot outfit AutoFrance Philippines. This diminutive vehicle is actually Europe’s best-selling car, achieving record sales volume for Peugeot. All its stylish variants included, more than 800,000 206s were sold in 2002 alone.

That record-breaking popularity, by the way, is true to tradition as far as small cars are concerned. The best-selling cars in automotive history are big only in reputation and not the least in size. Only Hobbit’s House waiters can call the Austin Mini and Volkswagen Beetle oversized, after all.

Of course, that is not to say the 206 is that small. The 206 is a modern car, and thus designed and sized to meet the demands of modern times. The car’s seats can truly sit adults in comfort, all the power-operated stuff can be fitted in it, there is a trunk that can actually hold luggage, an airconditioning system is not an afterthought, and the 206 has that ultimate must-have feature the Mini and Beetle can only aspire to get during its day: Cupholders.

As fashion statement, the 206 is a definite stand out where small cars are concerned. No econobox it is, the 206’s shape is distinctly French. Its lines are spherical and flowing, punctuated by some odd pieces of aggressive shapes – the car’s headlamps and tail lights, for example. The 206 may deftly paint a thoroughly upscale image, evoking everything good in life the French are famous for, yet also retaining a sinful, topless fun-in-the-sun quality. The 206 CC variant, in fact, can really go topless, its roof folding flat inside the trunk.

No mere fashionista, the 206 has remarkable achievements to back up its swagger. This car has been dominating the World Rally Championship for three years in a row now, slugging it out with venerated WRC names like the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evos. This year the 206, with hotshoe Richard Burns at the wheel, is a strong contender in this grueling race series again. Big achievements for a little car indeed.

With a proven rally track record of durability and toughness, the 206 is truly perfect for Metro Manila’s moonscape-with-water streets. Its styling, quite apt for the fashionable urbanite. More important, its sized just right too. Good things do come in small packages.