Economy Cars: Reviews

Updated April 2009

August 26th:
Officially Official: Happy 50th - it's the MINI Coupé Concept!
From: Autoblog.com

Compare All

Best economy car, hatchback

2009 Honda Fit

*Est. $14,750 to $16,260 Compare Prices

The Honda Fit, completely redesigned for 2009, is the most highly regarded small car in reviews. Furthermore, this subcompact four-door hatchback has a remarkable amount of interior room. Its easy-to-fold rear seat opens… up 57 cubic feet of cargo space. Reviewers universally praise the Fit for its great handling and fun-to-drive nature, and many say it feels like a more expensive car. The 2009 model gets additional safety equipment, such as optional electronic stability control, and improves its crash-test results. The 117-horsepower Honda Fit gets excellent fuel mileage for a non-hybrid car, averaging 28 to 35 mpg in real-world mixed driving. If buyers want something sportier, the Mini Cooper (*est. $18,550 to $23,900) costs more but is also stylish with good fuel economy.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com reports on Consumer Reports' latest small-car comparison test from the March 2009 print issue, revealing the Honda ...

Cars.com: Cars.com's detailed test drive notes that the Honda Fit's "interior size belies its exterior dimensions." While writer Joe ...

Edmunds Inside Line: This unusual comparison test, subtitled "Family Feud," pits the Honda Civic Hybrid against the Honda Fit. The winner is the Fit, ...

Motor Trend: In a lengthy, highly descriptive review, Motor Trend editor Mark Williams says, "For something this small and inexpensive, it's ...

Car and Driver: A repeat winner of Car and Driver's 10Best Cars honor, the Honda Fit is described in detail in this road-test evaluation. Editor ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of Consumer Reports have a good summary review of the Honda Fit with a road-test evaluation and reliability history as ...

USA Today Magazine: In this well-balanced review, auto critic James Healey praises the Honda Fit's roominess, exemplary fuel economy and its "lively ...

Automobile Magazine: This review gives brief, insightful impressions from four staffers on the Honda Fit, a 2009 Automobile Magazine All-Star. Remarks ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors say they are "very impressed" with the Honda Fit, naming it one of their Top Recommended Sedans Under ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com names the Honda Fit a Best Buy among small cars. Editors say it is pricey for a subcompact, "this is one in ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a Top Safety Pick award. Each of ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Free Price Quote from Autobytel

Best economy car, sedan

2009 Honda Civic

*Est. $15,305 to $25,190 Compare Prices

The Honda Civic gets consistently excellent reviews for interior comfort, ride quality, fuel economy, standard safety features, overall long-term reliability and owner satisfaction. The Civic is available as a coupe,… sedan, natural-gas-powered or gas-electric hybrid car (see our separate report on hybrid cars). All Civics come standard with six airbags and antilock brakes. The more powerful (but more expensive), sport-tuned Honda Civic Si is especially admired among reviewers; many sources affectionately label it a budget sports car. Real-world fuel economy for the Honda Civic EX is about 26 mpg in mixed driving. A roomy yet still economical alternative within this class can be found in the Nissan Versa (*est. $9,990 to $16,330).

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Motor Trend: Motor Trend's comparison measures the Honda Civic EX against three similarly equipped competitors: the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and ...

About.com: About.com's cars guide, Aaron Gold, test drives a Honda Civic LX-S sedan and says it is "simple, reliable and economical, and ...

Cars.com: Cars.com's well-balanced review of the Honda Civic EX-L sedan gives an excellent summary of how the car is to drive, along with ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors say the Honda Civic "sets the bar for the small-car segment," and name it among their Top Recommended Sedans ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of Consumer Reports have a good summary review of the Honda Civic with a road-test evaluation and reliability history as ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com names the Honda Civic a Best Buy among small cars and test drives several versions including LX and EX sedans, ...

Edmunds Inside Line: Inside Line invites six "regular consumers" to evaluate three popular economy cars: a 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE, 2008 Mazda Mazda3 ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a Top Safety Pick award. Each of ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Free Price Quote from Autobytel

Sporty compact car

2009 Mini Cooper

*Est. $18,550 to $23,900 Compare Prices

The Mini Cooper, which comes as a three-door or five-door hatchback, is priced at the upper end of the economy-car range, and many reviewers classify it as a sporty car thanks to its sharp handling and lively performance.… Gas mileage is still outstanding, however, with real-world numbers ranging from 28 mpg to more than 33 mpg. Reviewers are nearly unanimous in their enthusiasm for its fun-to-drive appeal and distinctive styling. Critics warn, however, that while the long list of options is great for personalizing the little hatchback, it's easy to inflate the price to a point where it's not such a great value. For similar fun-to-drive qualities, fuel economy, and a more versatile interior, the Honda Fit (*est. $14,750 to $16,260) is a good choice, even it its not quite as cute.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: In a comprehensive summary review, Edmunds.com editors say the Mini "manages to please a wide variety of drivers" with its blend ...

ConsumerGuide.com: The Mini Cooper is named a ConsumerGuide.com Best Buy. Editors test four models and say they are "sporty driving machines that ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of Consumer Reports have a good summary review of the Mini Cooper with a road-test evaluation and reliability history as ...

About.com: This test-drive evaluation covers a 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman, providing valuable insight into the advantages of the ...

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com's Alex Nunez spends a week with the 2008 Mini Clubman (largely unchanged for 2009), calling it a "premium vehicle ...

Motor Trend: This review is more of a description and technical update than an evaluation, but it provides useful information on the Mini's ...

Cars.com: While many Cars.com reviews are quite extensive, the Mini Cooper review is only a summary of features along with a list of pros ...

Kelley Blue Book: The Mini Cooper is Kelley Blue Book's best compact car for resale value. KBB is an acknowledged source of used car pricing, and ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Free Price Quote from Autobytel

Top fuel economy with a diesel engine

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

*Est. $22,270 Compare Prices

Of all the non-hybrid small sedans and wagons, the fuel-economy champion for 2009 is the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, with its new turbodiesel engine. The 140-horsepower "clean diesel" four-cylinder achieves 30 mpg city and 41… mpg highway -- almost as good as many hybrid cars. Its low emissions allow it to be sold in all 50 states, and it's also eligible for a $1,300 federal tax credit, helping defray the higher initial cost. Also noteworthy is the Jetta TDI's 236 pound-feet of torque, which delivers a level of low-end power not usually found among traditional economy cars. Critics admire the Jetta's solid feel and refined character, calling it the last of the bargain-priced European sedans or wagons. Be aware of VW's shortened basic warranty coverage for 2009 -- now at three years or 36,000 miles.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds Inside Line: Inside Line compares the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI against a Toyota Prius hybrid. Sticker price on the smaller Prius ...

Cars.com: Cars.com features test drives of both the new Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen and the turbodiesel TDI, plus a general summary and ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of Consumer Reports review of the VW Jetta and give feedback based on in-car testing and the reliability data the ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com provides a thorough overview of the Volkswagen Jetta range in general. Regarding the TDI, it notes the car's ...

About.com: About.com's Aaron Gold test drives a VW Jetta TDI sedan and admits to being a fan of diesels. He says, "The Jetta TDI is quick, ...

PopularMechanics.com: Popular Mechanics editors drive a VW Jetta TDI and Toyota Prius hybrid over the same 238-mile city route, followed by a highway ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com doesn't give the Volkswagen Jetta a Recommended rating, but tests four variants, including at least one model ...

MotherProof.com: MotherProof.com often provides useful insight into the aspects of new cars as they relate to everyday family life with kids. ...

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com editor-in-chief John Neff drives a Volkswagen Jetta TDI from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, achieving a high average fuel ...

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a Top Safety Pick award. Each of ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Free Price Quote from Autobytel

Cheapest compact car

2009 Nissan Versa

*Est. $9,990 to $16,330 Compare Prices

The new base model Nissan Versa comes in with a sticker just under $10,000, making it one of the lowest-priced new cars in the U.S. However, that base sedan is pretty bare, with a smaller engine and few extras -- not even… air conditioning, power windows or a stereo. The standard Versa sedan or five-door hatchback, with a 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine, is more nicely equipped and an excellent value, reviewers say. Its roomy interior classifies it as a midsize car, although exterior dimensions are similar to a compact. Compared to smaller cars, the Versa offers more room, a smoother ride and more power, putting it on many auto writers' recommended lists.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors call the Nissan Versa "a cheap commuting appliance." While they praise its good fuel economy, roomy interior ...

Cars.com: Cars.com rates the 2009 Nissan Versa a Best Bet, and provides a road-test review by staff writer David Thomas, based on a 2008 ...

Car and Driver: In one of the few reviews of the lower priced Nissan Versa 1.6 sedan, Car and Driver writer Jon Yanca says, "It's hard to find a ...

About.com: About.com's Aaron Gold does a stint in the Nissan Versa 1.6 and points out that while some of the cost-cutting measures border on ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors of Consumer Reports deliver a good summary review of the 2009 Nissan Versa featuring a road-test evaluation and the usual ...

ConsumerGuide.com: A ConsumerGuide.com Best Buy, the Nissan Versa is called "nimble and fun to drive" for an economy car. The ride is mostly ...

New Car Test Drive: This lengthy road-test review calls the 2009 Nissan Versa "a big small car with comfort, performance and versatility." The report ...

MotherProof.com: MotherProof.com often gives some useful insight into the aspects of new cars as they relate to everyday family life with kids. ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Free Price Quote from Autobytel