EVERY time Wan Qiang climbs out of his small-engine (1.1-litre) Citroen Freeman, he frowns. After all, he's usually standing in the midst of a bunch of larger, more expensive BMWs and Volkswagens. 

    "Whenever I'm in such a situation, I feel embarrassed and think that my company's image will be ruined," Wan said. 

    Wan, 29, started his own city planning and design company half a year ago after graduating from Tsinghua University. As his business expanded, he bought the used Fukang from his elder sister for only 30,000 yuan. 

    "Although the small car gives me no dignity at all, it does give me convenience," he said. 

    In fact, smaller cars are beginning to take a larger share of the market in China. According to the country's Automobile Manufacturers Association, nearly 1.14 million small-engine (less than 1.6 litres) cars were sold in the first half of 2006. They accounted for 63 per cent of all automobile sales in China. 

    According to Xinhua News Agency, small-engine cars grew from 10 per cent of total auto sales in Beijing in 2000 to 30 per cent in 2005. Some of the hottest were the Cherry QQ6 and Greatwall COOLBEAR. 

    There are several factors for the growing popularity of small cars. 

    In January, the Chinese Government asked local governments to do away with policies that discouraged people from buying small-engine cars. They use less fuel than larger automobiles, the government argued. 

    Other people have more practical reasons. For example, Wang Yang, 26, who bought her small car because it was the only one she could afford. 

    "Not only is the car cheap, but the parking and maintenance costs are much less than those of bigger cars." 

    Small-engine cars also require less room on the highway. After all, road construction has struggled to keep up with the estimated 20 per cent yearly growth of new automobiles, according to an October 30 Xinhua report. 

    Like Wan Qiang, however, some people find that small cars are not as satisfying as full-size automobiles. 

    Ge Fengtao, 48, bought a 0.8-litre compact car in 2004. But after only a year, he decided to change to a bigger one. 

    "I didn't like the small car's speed," said Ge. When he was going more than 80 kph on the highway, Ge complained, the car began to slide and the brakes seemed not to work properly. 

    "I felt that my life was threatened and finally could no longer bear it," he said. 

    According to a 2005 survey from the China Association for Quality, about 40 per cent of consumers who had small cars costing less than 50,000 yuan were not satisfied with the quality. 

    Ge, who is an engineer for a Chinese auto company's manufacturing department, said that many of the small-engine cars lack quality. "All their accessories are cheap so [production] cost is low and the manufacturer's profit is guaranteed." 

    Chen Quanshi, a professor at Tsinghua University's Key Automotive Safety and Energy Lab, agreed: "[Pollution] emissions regulations don't reflect a car's safety, quality and technology." 

    He explained that some manufacturers sacrifice quality and performance to create a small car that meets emission controls. 

    "This makes people think that small cars are all low-end item," he said. 

    As for Wan, he wants a bigger automobile. "Every time the green light comes on at an intersection, I feel ashamed to see cars around me rushing ahead while I'm still busy getting my engine started." 

    每次，王强从他小引擎排量（1.1升）的雪铁龙Freeman中下来的时候，他都会皱眉头。毕竟，他停车时，周围都是大而昂贵的宝马和大众。 

    王说：“只要我处于这种处境之中，我都会感到尴尬。觉得有损公司形象。” 

    王现年29岁，一年半以前毕业于清华大学，着手开创关于城市规划与设计的公司。当他的业务扩大后，他以3万人民币从她姐姐手里买了一部二手富康。 

    他说：“虽然这辆小车没有给我带来尊严，但是它确实给我提供了方便。” 

    事实上，小型车开始在中国市场上占有较大比例。中国汽车制造商协会透露，2006年上半年小引擎排量（不足1.6升）的轿车出售了将近114万辆，占总销售量的63％。 

    据新华社报道，北京小排量车的销售量从2000年的10％上升到2005年的30％。销售最热的是奇瑞QQ6和长城COOLBEAR. 

    小车逐渐受到大众欢迎的因素是多方面的。 

    在一月份，中国政府要求地方政府采取措施鼓励购买小排量车。因为与大排量车相比较，它们很省油。 

    其它人的理由更实际一些。比如26岁的王洋，她买小车，是因为这是她唯一负担的起的。 

    “小车在售价，停车费和维修费方面都比大车便宜的多。” 

    小型车在高速公路上占的空间也很小。新华社10月30号的报道称，道路建设正努力与每年20％的机动车增长率保持平衡。 

    然而与王强一样，很多人都发现小型车没有大型车那样能令人满足。 

    48岁的葛峰涛在2004年买了一辆0.8升的微型轿车。但是仅仅过了一年，他就决定换一个大点的车。 

    葛说：“我不喜欢它的速度。”他抱怨说，在高速公路上，当他以每小时80多公里的速度行驶时，车就开始打滑，刹车也似乎不太灵了。 

    他说：“我感到生命受到了威胁，最终无法忍受。” 

    2005年中国质量协会的一份调查显示，在购买4万多元的小车的客户中，有40％的人都不满意车的质量。 

    葛是一家中国汽车公司生产部的工程师，他说，很多小排量的车的质量都不过关。“车的所有附件都很廉价，所以生产成本低，生产商的利益才能得到保证。” 

    清华大学汽车安全与节能重点实验室的教授陈全实同意此看法，他说：“污染排放管制不反映车的质量，技术和安全性。” 

    他解释说，一些生产商牺牲质量和性能以生产出符合排放控制的小型车。 

    他说：“这使人们觉得小车都是低端项目。” 

    王说他想买一辆大型轿车。“每当交叉口的绿灯亮起，看着周围的车都已经飞驰而去，而我还在忙着发动引擎，我就羞愧难当。”