A engineer at work purchased a Mazda MX 5 about 6 months ago. I drove it a little and he ripped in it a bit. That is a pretty nice car for something small and light.
I think the original car you mentioned is just for commuting, 1.4L turbo 4 cylinder. It is like an older model honda civic in the USA.
The compact SUV in the US is popular, 1 because it usually has a 4 cylinder and is good on gas. 2, easy to park and get around the city, 3 low insurance, 4 easy to load groceries in the back, 5 seats 4 people fairly comfortable, 6 affordable to those that cannot afford the Porsche SUV...lol.
RE: DV Experiences: The Car Lottery (Again)