Best Economy Sedans

Honda Civic and VW Jetta TDI sedans offer exceptional economy

The Honda Civic (*Est. $15,305 to $25,190) is a perennial top pick in professional reviews, and the 2009 model is no exception. The 2009 Honda Civic is available as either a coupe or sedan, with hybrid (covered in our report on hybrid cars) and natural-gas-powered versions of the latter adding even more variety to the lineup. Standard trim levels for the Honda Civic are powered by a 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Many reviewers favor the Honda Civic Si (*Est. $21,905 to $24,305), a sport-tuned model with a high-revving 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine matched exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. EPA fuel economy estimates for the base-engine 2009 Honda Civics are 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with an automatic transmission. The Civic Si, with its high-strung four-cylinder, manages 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

ConsumerGuide.com's editors name the 2009 Honda Civic one of three Best Buy winners among compact cars, and Edmunds.com lists the Civic as both a Top Recommended sedan and coupe under $20,000. An Edmunds.com comparison test of the 2008 Civic LX against the 2009 Toyota Corolla and 2008 Mazda3 went overwhelmingly in favor of the Civic, with five of the six testers rating the Honda best. One called the Civic "a sophisticated tourer with sporty overtones." Another commented, "this car makes you feel like you paid a lot more for it than you actually did."

Fuel economy will likely be an important consideration for the foreseeable future, and the best fuel economy for a non-hybrid compact sedan or wagon comes from the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (*Est. $22,270). With a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, its EPA fuel economy ratings are an eye-popping 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The TDI's low-emissions engine utilizes VW's clean diesel technology, making it emissions-compliant in all 50 states. The Jetta TDI is the first diesel car to win Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year award. Popular Mechanics gives the Jetta TDI its Automotive Excellence Award for fuel efficiency. Editors there pitted it against the Toyota Prius hybrid (*Est. $22,000 to $24,270) in a mileage battle, and surprisingly, the Jetta TDI's 45.4 mpg beat the Prius' 44.8 mpg average on a highway test route.

Many critics note that the Jetta TDI is fun to drive, too. Credit much of that to the diesel Jetta's 236 pound-feet of torque, which supply it with abundant off-the-line, low-end punch. Another important advantage: the Jetta TDI is eligible for a $1,300 federal tax credit, unlike the Prius. Keep in mind that although the Jetta TDI uses less fossil fuel per mile, diesel fuel historically costs 8 or 9 percent more than standard unleaded, so your fuel-cost savings aren't huge (depending on your driving habits, of course).

While the new Jetta TDI is the headline grabber and scores multiple awards by itself, the lower-priced, gas-powered VW Jetta sedan (*Est. $17,515 to $21,345) is also highly regarded by many reviewers. It's an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety pick for its excellent crash-test scores and is routinely lauded for its upscale European-car look and feel.

Although recommended by many sources, the redesigned 2009 Toyota Corolla (*Est. $15,350 to $20,050) gets a number of lukewarm reviews as well. Reviewers are quick to say the Corolla is a fine choice thanks to a strong reputation for reliability, good fuel economy and competent performance, but the Corolla's problem is that it's kind of boring. Edmunds.com says the new car "does little to engage its driver," and is especially dull when compared with "genuinely entertaining alternatives" like the Honda Civic (*Est. $15,305 to $25,190), Mazda3 (*Est. $14,690 to $21,845) and Mitsubishi Lancer (*Est. $14,340 to $19,340).

One of the best aspects of the Mitsubishi Lancer (*Est. $14,340 to $19,340) is that it feels sporty and enjoyable to drive, according to reviewers, especially in the GTS trim level. That said, reviewers say it doesn't live up to the standard set by the Honda Civic. The all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza (*Est. $17,495 to $22,995) is priced higher than many competitors, and its fuel economy numbers aren't particularly noteworthy compared to others in this class. Both Subaru and Mitsubishi complement their standard ranges with more expensive, turbocharged variants that we cover in our report on sports sedans.

The Mazda3 is another reviewer favorite, but it's also a lame-duck model for 2009; an all-new version will arrive for the 2010 model year. The Hyundai Elantra (*Est. $14,120 to $17,820) and Ford Focus (*Est. $14,995 to $18,265) also pop on the radar, but neither is a standout in reviewers' eyes. The Nissan Sentra (*Est. $16,730 to $21,160) is roomy, but critics say you can do better for the money. The same goes for the long-in-the tooth Chevy Cobalt (*Est. $15,660 to $23,425).