Economy Cars: Reviews

Updated April 2011

"Economy" used to mean "cheap" and "stripped-down" but that's no longer the case, as the best economy cars today are not only priced attractively, they can be outfitted in a way once unthinkable for low-priced vehicles. State of the art comfort and infotainment features are now commonplace, and high-efficiency powertrains deliver excellent fuel economy. We name the best economy cars based on an analysis of credible professional reviews and 3rd-party resources.

FONT
PRINT

May 25th:
All cars, all day at IMPA "Spring Brake"
From: ConsumerSearch

Compare All

Best economy car, hatchback

2011 Honda Fit

Base MSRP: $15,100 to $16,860 Learn More

The Honda Fit is tiny but versatile, hiding a remarkable amount of passenger room within its subcompact, four-door hatchback frame. Its easy-to-fold rear seat opens up 57 cubic feet of cargo space -- as much as some small… expandSUVs. 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 117-horsepower Honda Fit gets excellent fuel mileage for a nonhybrid car, averaging 28 to 35 mpg in real-world mixed driving. However, despite the Fit's good crash-test results -- for a subcompact -- the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says cars this small aren't as safe as bigger economy cars like the 2011 Honda Civic sedan (Base MSRP: $15,605 to $25,490), sporty 2011 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback (Base MSRP: $15,800 to $23,010), and 2011 Volkswagen Golf (Base MSRP: $17,995 to $19,755). collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: While in the past the editors of Edmunds.com considered the Honda Fit to be in a league of its own, they now recognize that it has some real competitors.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org, well-known for its reliability rankings, compares many new models against one another in a concise and easily digestible format.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The new Honda Fit performs admirably in IIHS crash-protection tests, garnering the highest Good rating for protecting occupants in front, rear and side collisions.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: In this article, the IIHS discusses its findings when crashing minicars into midsize cars.

SaferCar.gov: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration only has test results for the 2011 Honda Fit's rollover resistance for which the Fit receives a 4-star rating out of a possible 5.

FuelEconomy.gov: This web portal, from the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, provides ratings for nearly all new cars sold in the U.S. The 2011 Honda Fit is quite efficient, with the EPA estimating it will deliver 30 to 31 mpg in combined city and highway driving, depending on which of the three available transmissions is mated to the engine.

ConsumerSearch.com: Since the Honda Fit carries forward essentially unchanged for 2011 aside from a few extra pieces of standard equipment, this full report on the 2009 model year will give an accurate view of why reviewers are smitten with the vehicle.

Free Price Quote for 2011 Honda Fit

Best economy car, sedan

2011 Hyundai Elantra

Base MSRP: $14,830 to $19,980 Learn More

Reviewers say the 2011 Hyundai Elantra has redefined what an economy sedan can and should be. Not only is the Elantra stylish inside and out, but it also delivers some of the best fuel-economy figures of any compact car,… expandachieving 29 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway in all configurations. Performance and driving experience are as good as or better than the competition, say reviewers. The icing on the cake is the Elantra's cheap price; it bests nearly all competing economy cars when similarly equipped. The all-new 2012 Ford Focus (Base MSRP: $16,270 to $22,765) is as highly praised by reviewers as the Elantra, but it is more expensive. Expect the upcoming 2012 Honda Civic and a host of already available competitors like the 2011 Mazda3 (Base MSRP: $15,800 to $23,010) to be excellent alternatives. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com describes the new 2011 Elantra as having "head-turning new styling," and editors say its combination of style, utility, practicality and fuel efficiency may make it "the belle of the ball" in a space crowded with capable competitors.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra and provides a detailed overview based on driving impressions and other experiences.

FuelEconomy.gov: The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is at the top of its class when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Automobile Magazine: Like other experts, this reviewer finds the Elantra's styling to be modern, pleasing and noticeably better than the competition.

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com gives high praise to the new Elantra for all aspects of the car, including its intuitive and high-quality interior, stellar fuel efficiency and stylish exterior.

Kicking Tires blog: Mike Hanley finds the Elantra surprisingly spacious, smooth and fuel efficient.

Motor Trend: This review spends ample space discussing the new Elantra's fuel efficiency relative to its competitors, pointing out that it has excellent mileage and only more expensive competitors deliver the same fuel efficiency.

AutoWeek.com: This AutoWeek.com first-drive review gives a positive impression of the Elantra, calling it "a solid option to consider in the class." Consumers seeking a sporty economy car may be better served elsewhere though, according to this reviewer.

The Detroit News: This expert at The Detroit News is impressed by the features offered on the Elantra and notes that equivalently equipped cars would be far more expensive.

TheTruthAboutCars.com: Again, styling is highlighted as a plus for the 2011 Elantra.

Wall Street Journal: Throughout this piece, Dan Neil draws direct comparisons with the 2012 Ford Focus, which he feels is the only other contender for best economy car.

About.com: Shoppers would be doing themselves "a great disservice by not test-driving the Elantra," according to Aaron Gold at About.com.

Free Price Quote for 2011 Hyundai Elantra

Best sporty compact car

2011 Volkswagen GTI

Base MSRP: $23,695 to $29,825 Learn More

The Volkswagen GTI, based on the Golf, is the original "hot-hatch" that carries on the tradition of delivering the most fun per dollar. Available as either a two-door or four-door hatchback, the GTI packs a 2-liter,… expandturbocharged four-cylinder that delivers a smooth 200 horsepower. While competitors like the Mazda3-based MazdaSpeed3 and 2011 Honda Civic Si can be quicker, experts often prefer the GTI over those compact cars for its sophisticated ride, impressive comfort and unmatched interior quality. The GTI's Achilles heel is its high base price, $23,695 at its cheapest, which pushes the boundaries for what can be considered an economy car. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors are quick to point out that the 2011 GTI is not the fastest sporty hatchback available but that it is still one of their favorites because of its refinement and everyday drivability.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the GTI and offers details on the drive, practicality and expected reliability, among other measures.

FuelEconomy.gov: Considering the 2011 Volkswagen GTI is the best-reviewed sporty economy car, it gets impressive fuel economy.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The 2011 GTI, like its stablemate, the Volkswagen Golf, gets the IIHS's Top Safety Pick designation, as it receives the highest rating of Good for all crash-test scenarios, from front, side and rear protection to roof-strength testing.

Automobile Magazine: Editors at Automobile Magazine compare a wide variety of contenders to decide what the best car of the year is, based on many factors.

Car and Driver: The Volkswagen GTI and Golf are together named to Car and Driver's 10Best list for 2011.

PopularMechanics.com: This short-take review of the GTI corroborates what many other reviewers are saying.

TheTruthAboutCars.com: The GTI is all good in Don Gammill's eyes, as he says that "when you get behind the wheel, your life will almost assuredly suck less." More to the point, he loves the combination of interior quality, overall refinement and impressive torque delivery from the turbocharged engine.

AOL Autos: Reilly Brennan likes the GTI very much, but he says it doesn't quite recreate the formula of the original version of his youth, which he calls "the greatest car ever made." He says that he wants more engine/road noise for the visceral thrill, and that the steering is lacking feedback in some instances.

Bloomberg.com: This reviewer puts his adoration of the 2010 Volkswagen GTI in the framework of value -- he considers it the cheapest German sports car one can buy.

Cars.com: Cars.com names the GTI a Best Bet for 2011, and this review of the 2010 GTI explains why.

Car and Driver: This comparison of the GTI with its most direct competition, the Mazdaspeed3, results in a win for the GTI. Smooth clutch operation, higher levels of sophistication, better interior quality and a smooth yet athletic ride are all cited as the GTI's advantages over the Mazda.

Road & Track: Again, when compared directly to the Mazdaspeed3, the GTI is chosen as the favorite.

Edmunds Inside Line: Edmunds Inside Line has a special section in which it tests certain cars over a longer period of time.

Autoblog.com: The title says it all. This Autoblog.com review reports that the slick handling, powerful engine and smart packaging are all present in the redesign of the GTI. This review covers the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, which is nearly identical to the 2011 model year.

About.com: This review's subtitle is amusingly direct, demanding readers to "just buy it." Aaron Gold says the GTI is hands-down the best front-wheel drive, sporty hatchback available.

Free Price Quote for 2011 Volkswagen GTI

Best nonhybrid fuel economy

2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Base MSRP: $23,225 to $23,885 Learn More

Of all standard-sized, nonhybrid economy cars, the fuel-economy champion for 2011 is the Volkswagen Golf TDI hatchback. Its 140-horsepower, clean diesel, four-cylinder engine achieves 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway --… expandalmost as good as many hybrid cars -- while it out-muscles other economy cars with 236 pound-feet of torque. Critics also admire the Golf TDI's solid, refined feel. New well-reviewed gasoline-powered competitors, such as the 2011 Ford Fiesta (Base MSRP: $13,320 to $17,120), 2011 Hyundai Elantra (Base MSRP: $14,830 to $19,980) and 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (Base MSRP: $16,275 to $22,225), achieve impressive mileage that is almost as good as the Golf TDI's, giving the consumer more options than ever for maximizing fuel efficiency. The Golf TDI's sedan counterpart, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (Base MSRP: $22,095 to $22,995), has the same fuel efficiency but lacks the Golf's 46 cubic feet of maximum cargo space and has interior materials that experts deem to be of lower quality than those found in the Golf. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: The 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI is tested by the editors of Edmunds.com along with the gasoline-powered Golf.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests a four-cylinder TDI with a manual transmission.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI and other Golf variants do very well in IIHS crash testing.

SaferCar.gov: The 2011 Golf has only been given a rating for rollover resistance as of this writing.

FuelEconomy.gov: The Golf TDI's diesel engine produces one of the most fuel-efficient, nonhybrid vehicles available.

ConsumerSearch.com: This full report on the 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI assembles expert opinions and pertinent facts to produce a comprehensive analysis.

Free Price Quote for 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Best cheap compact car

2011 Nissan Versa

Base MSRP: $9,990 to $17,190 Learn More

The base 2011 Nissan Versa comes in with a sticker just under $10,000, making it one of the lowest-priced compact cars in the U.S. However, that base sedan is sparsely equipped, with a small engine and few extras -- not… expandeven air conditioning, power windows or a stereo. The step-up Versa sedan or five-door hatchback, with a 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine, is more nicely equipped, and it represents an excellent value according to reviewers. Although it's the size of a compact car outside, the Nissan Versa impresses testers by offering more backseat legroom than a midsize Honda Accord. Still, among economy cars, the time-tested 2011 Honda Civic (Base MSRP: $15,605 to $25,490) and sporty 2011 Mazda3 (Base MSRP: $15,800 to $23,010) earn higher safety and reliability ratings -- and more recommendations from experts. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com says the Versa is a competent subcompact at a low price.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org ranks the Versa and many other cars on different attributes, including reliability based on data from reader surveys.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The Nissan Versa performs well in IIHS crash tests, receiving the highest rating of Good for front-, rear- and side-crash protection.

SaferCar.gov: The Nissan Versa earns a disappointing 2-star rating for overall crash protection from the government-run National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

FuelEconomy.gov: The Nissan Versa delivers an estimated 27 to 30 mpg in combined driving, depending on trim level, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

ConsumerSearch.com: The Nissan Versa has been essentially unchanged over the last few years.

ConsumerSearch.com: ConsumerSearch.com automotive editor Alex Nunez covers some of the new economy-car models scheduled to make their debuts at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

Free Price Quote for 2011 Nissan Versa