i had and an old s reg saxo and it was solid as was my dads old p reg 106, but my mate has a 02 plate saxo and it seemed really fragile. if you brus past the body panel it deflects, i bird couldn't even land on the bonnet without it bowing ( it bounced back but come on).
i think its all this alloy business, they dont use metals any more they use alloy which is blended metal. whic i think is lighter great but its alot softer i think the paint has more regidity than the metal these days.
my dad used to have a kia, you literally get the bodywork on a roll from morrisons for 99p it dinged when you opened its door it had no strengh at all, light though, so light in fact, if you swing the door shut the drag it has, over comes the weight and the door doesnt close, you needed to physically close the door all the way until the locked clicked. but i suppose its a good thing, if you slammed it you's probably buckle it. and the chassis.