A lot of Japanese Kei cars fit that description, and they are available in every big market except the United States. I like to daydream about an alternative universe in which Suzuki was still operating in the US.

I doubt there’s a market for that, or just an extremely niche ine. Whenever I see someone with a brand new car they’re usually boasting about the car features.

Maybe if the price was competitive with used cars. The people such a car would be attractive to probably has a large intersection with people who usually buy used cars.

I know, the cars that I would like to see appear again (EG Civic, Tercels, etc) were all built at a time when there was an incentive to get people cars to reinvigorate the economy, so cheap gas sippers were a good call, and that's not the case today.

It would just be bought by cheap car enthusiasts and people that are presently in the used market - although I can see people being interested to stop leasing and buying their own car. Anyway!

> Whenever I see someone with a brand new car they’re usually boasting about the car features

You’ll notice people boast using similar words to what the marketing team uses. Ask any Catheram user what they like about their car and they’ll go on and on about how analog and barebones it is – a pure driving machine.

I believe US requires you to have a backup camera, so probably won't be void of one (and its screen). But I would love to see a relatively small hatchback with manual, reliable and bare bones.

Don’t forget the TPMS too.

Oh really? Since when? I have a 2017 in canada without TPMS (tire presure sensor for anyone passing by) and it is the most obnoxious piece of tech I can omagine having in a car. Crazy to think it's mandatory.

That's basically a smart car, except for the impossible price. They don't sell well.

> people would like a new car, feels more reliable

You are basically describing Tesla Model 2 - dirt cheap, pays itself in fuel savings in few years, super mass produced so parts are cheap as, millions of them on road so everyone knows how to fix them. And if you are complete luddite you can smash the screen, cameras and it will still run. Digital key card will be your only problem.

They start at 30 k so they are out of the running instantly, and you can't work on your own car, and repairs cost a fortune. Can't even change your own tires if you get a flat!

And living up north I'm uninterested in full evs, hybrids at best!

In NZ every 100kkm saves $15,400 NZD in fuel alone. Car pays itself thru it's lifetime. Likely twice if you calculate maintenance.

(7L/100km2.5$/L=17.5 - 15kwh/100km0.14$/kwh=$2.1/100km = 15.4)