Econobox

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An econobox is a slang term for any of a series of small, boxy, fuel efficient automobiles with few luxuries, usually with a three-door hatchback format and front wheel drive. The term may have been coined by Car and Driver magazine as an alternative to their usual term for such a car, "shitbox".

Possibly the first econobox was the Austin Mini, first built in England in 1959. The best known American econoboxes were the Chevrolet Chevette and the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon. Japanese econoboxes include the Honda Civic (in particular the first and second generations) and the Datsun B-210. The Fiat 127 and its Yugoslavian counterpart the Yugo are also famous econoboxes.

Other well known economy cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and the Citroën 2CV are sometimes referred to as econoboxes, but do not have the requisite square shape of a true econobox.

Other cars such as the Chevrolet Sprint, Geo Metro, as well as the Ford Fiesta, Ford Festiva, and Ford Aspire would be considered econoboxes.