Economy Car Review

Identifying the best economy-car reviews

When it comes to coverage of economy and small cars, Consumer Reports excels in evaluating factors that most other publications gloss over, particularly long-term predicted reliability. Edmunds.com provides a wealth of current review coverage and offers an objective perspective on the vehicles it tests. Editors and consumers rate the small-car models that they feel offer the most for the money. Car and Driver is one of the most thorough reviewers we found, offering extensive, well-thought-out features and comparison tests on a variety of compact and economy cars. Cars are tested on categories from drive quality to fuel economy to cargo space. Motor Trend is another excellent resource for comparative reviews, particularly with respect to the comprehensive coverage surrounding the magazine's annual Car of the Year evaluations.

ConsumerGuide.com isn't the best source for narrative reviews, but the website has great information on specifications, fuel economy, features, options and pricing. KBB.com, the online home of Kelley Blue Book, goes far beyond estimating used-car values, offering an extensive review section and list of recommended models. Cars.com's staff also chooses a selection of Best Bet vehicles in a variety of categories, including compact and economy cars. Automobile Magazine's expert reviewers name their annual All-Stars, along with an Automobile of the Year. We looked at all of these sources and more, analyzing reviews of economy cars for credibility, and looking for common themes in reviewer opinion, both good and bad.

The economy car class is hard to pin down, but for the purposes of our report, we're considering a base-model sticker price of $20,000 or less as the cutoff. Most are compact four-doors, but there are a good number of midsize subcompacts and even smaller cars that get strong reviews. Hatchbacks are also covered here, though many newer, more upscale small cars are priced to start over the $20,000 mark. Inexpensive wagon-style vehicles, like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet HHR and Toyota Matrix, can be found in our separate report on station wagons.

Small and inexpensive does not necessarily equate to good value. A relatively new vehicle on the U.S. market is the smallest car available, the Smart ForTwo (*Est. $11,990 to $13,990). It has a low price and high fuel economy ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway, although premium fuel is required. Reviewers say that the agile two-seat Smart will fit into tiny parking spots that others must pass by, and it can be a good city car for congested urban driving. But its tiny size greatly limits its versatility, critics add. Two occupants is the maximum, and the rear cargo space is only big enough for a few grocery bags. Reviewers also point out that the driving experience is not pleasant because of slow acceleration from the 71-horsepower engine, and a "herky-jerky" automated manual transmission, according to editors at Edmunds.com. The ride is "stiff and choppy over all but glass-smooth roads," report testers at ConsumerGuide.com.

Most reviewers also say the Smart ForTwo feels out of its element when driven on the highway, where crosswinds or truck gusts can upset the car's stability. For the money, several critics say the larger Toyota Yaris (*Est. $12,205 to $15,880), Honda Fit (*Est. $14,750 to $16,260) or Nissan Versa (*Est. $9,990 to $16,330) are much more comfortable and practical.

Economy cars are generally best for first-time buyers, singles or couples. Because these cars don't have as much interior space as midsize sedans, they aren't as comfortable for families. ConsumerSearch has separate reports on family sedans and station wagons, many of which have starting prices not far from those of economy cars. If fuel efficiency and environmental impact are your primary concerns, you might also be interested in our report on hybrid cars.