U.S. Automakers Rush to Build Small, Good Cars

Berj Alexanian’s first car was a hand-me-down Honda Accord from his parents. But when it came time last year to buy his first new car, the 25-year-old test-drove only American models. He settled on a Chevy Cruze compact, because he liked its “peppiness, fuel economy, and classy styling.” Plus, he wanted something his mom and dad didn’t drive. “There’s no one my age saying, ‘Oh, wow, look at that Accord, that’s very stylish,’ ” says Alexanian, who works in public relations in Royal Oak, Mich. “The new Ford Fusion, the new Chevy Impala—those are the cars that are speaking more to people my age.”