Any "neighborhood" car in the U.S. needs decent acceleration and a top speed of 45 mph to work in traffic. Even when the speed limit is 30 mph you'll need to speed up to pass a turning vehicle or to avoid a pedestrian. Anything less just isn't safe for everyone involved.

I'm OK with small size, limited range and even the lack of safety features in my sedate neighborhood where I know the streets, potholes and driving patterns. Perfect for an hour of neighborhood errands with five stops, driving to the gym or the library. That's really all we need in a second car.