Gas prices aren’t spurring small cars

Gas prices are becoming a bigger issue in the U.S. auto market, but consumers are not necessarily flocking in droves to tiny, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Through November, the small-car segment, which includes the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Chevy Cobalt, rose just 0.4%, compared with the same period in 2006, according to Autodata Corp.

The biggest gainer for the year has been crossovers, rising 15.6%. Crossovers offer the space of traditional SUVs, but they're built on car frames, providing a smoother ride and slightly better fuel efficiency. SUVs, down 6.2% for the year, are typically built on heavier truck frames.

The Honda CR-V is the top-selling crossover with sales through November of 200,501, up 31.3%. The Toyota RAV4 is second at 158,936, up 15%, and the Ford Escape is third at 152,294, up 6.7%.