With gasoline prices hovering well above the $3 mark in most parts of the
country, it makes sense when choosing your next vehicle to consider not only
fuel efficiency but also the car's purpose, size and maintenance costs. That
said, have you considered buying a compact?
Don't be fooled by the word "compact." The new models are roomier and
quieter, and they handle more smoothly than you'd imagine. Some models have
almost as much interior space as a midsize, while weighing a lot less. That
allows fuel efficiency, a big benefit.
Let's talk about a few of these small sedans. Priced at well under $18,000,
their trunks average 12 cubic feet. That's just one cubic foot less than the
$46,000 mid-size Acura RL. Compacts seat four comfortably, get decent mileage
and cost thousands of dollars less than the next step up, midsize four-door
automobiles.
For instance, the Dodge Caliber compact costs $14,000. Its big brother, the
midsize Avenger, costs $18,220. Naturally, the Avenger's standard equipment is
better and the engine is more powerful. But how much power do you really need?
Most compacts get you up to speed reasonably fast.
Today's Compacts are Well-Equipped
And most compacts are surprisingly well-equipped. The sleek, best-selling
$15,010 Honda Civic has power windows, rear flip seats, a power outlet, side
curtain airbags, ABS, a theft-deterrent system and plenty of storage for cell
phones and other electric devices.
Toyota's Corolla is as functional and spacious as a small car can get, with
air conditioning, engine immobilizer against theft, tilt wheel, rear-fold seats,
two power outlets and a radio. It gets 27 city/35 highway mpg. It starts at
$14,405. Buyers might consider the top-of-the-line LE model at $1,200 more.
Other compacts worth considering include the Nissan Versa, new last year,
which offers an exceptionally comfortable ride and estimated mpg of 27 city/33
highway. It has a base price of $12,710, so you might move up to the SL version,
with a cruise control feature and options such as a Bluetooth hands-free phone
system, ABS and a moon-roof.
I'd opt out of the Intelligent Key system, which allows you to enter and
drive the car without a key. It's easy to forget where you put the key. The
cabin, which measures 6 feet front to back, affords plenty of elbow room. The
trunk is 13.8 cubic feet.
Kia's Spectra compact sedan is hot this year. It has an elegantly designed
exterior and a spacious interior. The car has won Best Bet and Most Wanted
recommendations from automotive analysts, plus a five-star frontal crash rating
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Spectra's engine is
larger, with more horsepower than most competitors' engines, including the Ford
Focus and Toyota Corolla. Standard equipment includes a tilt wheel, rear
defroster, two power outlets and six airbags.
If you're hankering for a sporty ride, check out the company famous for its
great little roadster, the Mazda Miata. Its bigger, four-door brother, the
Mazda3 compact, holds 11.5 cubic feet of cargo, jumping to 17 cubic feet if you
choose the hatchback. The Grand Touring model offers heated bucket seats. The
2.0-liter, 148-horsepower engine achieves 24 city/32 highway mpg.
If cargo space is still a concern, check out the five-door versions of these
compacts. They provide several more cubic feet than sedans. Take a few test
drives, read the specifications, do the math and compare with larger vehicles.
The results will surprise you.