Not too many years ago, drivers of most subcompact cars accepted a hard ride, noisiness and sluggardly engine performance for the sake of low price and excellent fuel economy. The best of today's subcompacts ride better than those of old, are quieter and quite peppy, and are still relatively inexpensive to buy and sparing of fuel. CU has reported on 11 subcompacts this year and last. For this issue, we've added five more to the list: the Fiat 124B, the Toyota Corolla 1200, the Datsun 1200, the Volkswagen 111 (the basic Beetle) and the Plymouth Cricket.

Any prospective buyer of a subcompact must first consider the safety implications of very small cars. The cars in this month's test group range in weight from about 1600 pounds to a little over 2000 pounds. That's less than half the weight of a full-sized car. According to accident studies conducted by New York State and the University of North Carolina, among others, the smaller and lighter the car, the more likely its occupants are to be injured of killed in a crash. Also, because most small cars are about as high as large cars but not nearly as wide, they have a greater tendency to turn over. Although small-car fanciers often cite their car's maneuverability and small size as factors that help keep them out of accidents in the first place, the available statistics don't show any significant difference in the accident rates for small and large vehicles.

Statistically, a compact such as a Dodge Dart or a Chevrolet Nova would offer more protection in a crash than a subcompact. But again statistically, an intermediate would be even safer, and a full-sized car safer still. Followed to its logical conclusion, that sort of reasoning would put everyone behind the wheel of the biggest, heaviest vehicles Detroit produces. That's neither economically feasible nor ecologically desirable. We believe every buyer must draw up his own balance sheet, weighing the advantages of smallness (low price, low fuel costs, maneuverability, ease of parking) against the disadvantages, which include sacrifices in carrying capacity and comfort as well as greater risk of injury in a collision.

Summing up the Subcompacts

This year and last, CU has tested well over half the subcompact cars -- imported and domestic -- available in this country. In January we reported on the Datsun 510, the Chevrolet Vega, the Toyota Corona, the Ford Pinto, the Volkswagen Super Beetle Model 113, and the American Motors Gremlin. And in July we reported on the Opel 1900 and the Peugeot 304.

Which of the subcompacts is best overall? Our vote goes to one reported on in June 1970: the Toyota Corona Mark II. The Mark II remains essentially unchanged this year. We suggest that anyone scouting the subcompact market look up that report and the January report on the Datsun 510. We would rank that Datsun a notch below the Mark II.

The Fiat 124B in our current test group comes in a close third. The Fiat rode about as well as the Datsun 510, and its noise level was lower. Good handling and braking were other important pluses. But the Fiat's treacherous headlight control is a serious drawback, CU believes.

Essentially tied for fourth place are the Chevrolet Vega (with three- or four-speed manual transmission), the Opel 1900 and the Toyota Corona. Of the six cars mentioned so far, all but the Vega have desirable three-speed automatic transmissions as options, and all have sufficient power to handle an automatic, in our opinion. The Vega has an inefficient two-speed automatic, which we consider less desirable. The Toyota Corolla 1200 ranks a touch lower, but it's priced lower too. The Corolla 1200 is certainly worth considering as cheap, in-town transportation, but it's probably too uncomfortable for much touring. The Plymouth Cricket just isn't worth considering without useful safety belts, in CU's view. If you can find one with belts you can live with, and if you've duly considered Chrysler's failure to support its past imports, the Cricket isn't a bad car.

We would rate the other cars tested these past two years lower in overall quality. They include the Ford Pinto, the Peugeot 304, the Datsun 1200, the two VW Beetles, the 111 and 113) and the AMC Gremlin. Of these, only the Pinto and the Gremlin would be desirable with an automatic transmission; the others either don't offer one or (because of their low-powered engines) shouldn't.

For next year, CU plans to test some subcompacts with automatic transmissions as well as more manual transmission versions. In the meantime, we expect few changes in next year's subcompacts except for recalibration of their engines to conform to stricter emission regulations. Cars go on sale with those changes -- especially the imports -- probably won't go on sale until next spring, so our present Ratings should remain applicable well into the 1972 model year.