7. Scion iQ
Its U.S introduction has been delayed by Japan's earthquake, but the hedgehog-shaped iQ will create a sensation once it arrives. Toyota calls it the smallest four-seat vehicle in the world, so tiny and adorable that owners may want to tuck it in at night. But the iQ is much more versatile than the typical minicar. It is equipped with 10 airbags, including a unique rear-window air curtain, and it is so nimble that Aston Martin is adopting a version that it is calling the Cygnet to add to its line of $200,000 sports cars. Hybrid and battery-powered models may make the iQ indispensable in big cities.
NEXT: 8. Smart ForTwo
Last updated May 19 2011: 8:16 AM ET
