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The interior in the HR-V is similarly chic and upscale for a subcompact crossover.

Drop the rear seats in the Impreza and you’ll have 56 cubic feet of storage space to work with, which is about what a typical subcompact SUV offers.

Likewise, Toyota and Honda later halted U.S. sales of their subcompacts.

Honda, which makes the Fit subcompact, Honda e electric car and Gold Wing motorcycle, said its profitability improved, especially in North America, where production recovered.

A midsize car or sport utility vehicle would have enough room for a far larger sodium battery than the low-cost subcompacts that Chinese manufacturers are initially building.