A whole herd of intriguing small cars is on the horizon.

2012 Chevy Aveo

On sale: Sometime in 2011

When the Chevy Aveo was first introduced in the early '00s, it was one of the few subcompacts available, and in a way ruled the roost. That is, until Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and others showed the world that "subcompact" didn't have to mean "penalty box." The Aveo is now a back marker, but if the Aveo RS concept that was shown at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show is any indication, the next generation could move to the head of the class. We love the styling, and the interior benefits from being stylish and looking production-ready (well, aside from the leather trim). It's just in time, as the subcompact market is heating up with Ford's new Fiesta. Expect prices to stay about the same as the current model.