Economy Cars Reviews

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Economy Cars Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Economy Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Sensible Shoes Patrick Bedard Dec. 2006		Car and Driver gathers up seven cars priced under $25,000 to go head-to-head. Models are rated for value, on-track performance and comfort. The first place award goes to the Volkswagen Rabbit. Though a bit overpriced, the Rabbit is fun to drive and comfortable, with a "punchy" quality. The styling of the VW Rabbit is praised, as is the drive quality and the dash design. Unfortunately for passengers, the low point of the Rabbit, according to the review, is the "inhospitable" rear seat. The Mazda 3s Touring comes in second. Bringing up the rear is the 2007 Nissan Sentra, which is is quiet and comfortable, but not very fun to drive.
2. Edmunds.com	Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007 Editors of Edmunds.com Not Dated		Every year the editors of Edmunds.com extensively test the current models and choose their personal favorites. While there is no specific category for compact or economy cars, a large number of candidates fall into the category of sedans. The winners for 2007 are the Mazda 6, the Honda Civic and the Kia Rio/Hyundai Accent. The reviews at Edmunds are very extensive and well written, but cars are not compared head-to-head.
3. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	2007 10 Best Cars Csaba Csere and Tony Swan Jan. 2007		The article is the culmination of Car and Driver's annual test of new 2007 vehicles along with retesting of last year's best-car winners. The Honda Fit and Volkswagen GTI are chosen as two of this year's "10 Best Cars." The Fit "raises the bar for small-car expectations." Editors say its "dynamics rival the responses of cars with much fancier pedigrees." The Volkswagen GTI, a performance version of the Volkswagen Rabbit, is also said to be a good value. It's "less fun" than previous incarnations of the GTI and Rabbit, but the '07 GTI has a roomy, well-finished interior, "lavish" cargo room and a smooth turbocharged engine.
4. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Motor Trend names redesigned Toyota Camry as 2007 Car of the Year Editors of Motor Trend Nov. 22, 2007		The 2007 Toyota Camry series, including the Camry Hybrid, beat 27 new or redesigned-for-2007 competitors to win the title of Motor Trend Car of the Year. Writes Editor in Chief Angus MacKenzie, "The Camry is the one car rival automakers all wish they could build. It offers something for nearly everyone -- performance, efficiency, and roominess -- at a price point most Americans can afford."
5. KBB.com	Recommended Shopping Lists: Compact Cars Editors of KBB.com Not Dated		KBB.com, the website of Kelley Blue Book, has much more than the values of vehicles. There is an extensive review section that includes this listing of recommended compact cars. The number-one choice under $15,000 is the Honda Civic, followed closely by the Toyota Corolla. In the over-$15,000 range, the top cars are the Mini Cooper and the Chevrolet HHR. The article offers a short review of each car listed, as well as the Kelley Blue Book value.
6. Money Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Most Reliable New Cars Named by Consumer Reports Editors of Money Magazine Nov. 2006		Money Magazine delivers a true scoop for automotive consumers without a subscription to Consumer Reports, delivering a rundown of the most and least reliable vehicles according to the Consumer Reports staff. In terms of small cars, the title of most reliable goes to the Honda Fit, with honorable mentions going to the Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Corolla. The least reliable vehicle, according to the article, is the Chevrolet Cobalt; the Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra and the Chevrolet Aveo round out the least reliable vehicles.
7. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Best Vehicles for $25,000 or less Editors of Consumer Reports Apr. 2006		Consumer Reports bases its picks primarily on safety, value and fuel economy. Consumer Reports doesn't really choose a "car of the year" or make any big picks. They do recommend models, but the current model year isn't always tested. This makes Consumer Reports a good destination if you have your choice narrowed down a bit. Consumer Reports also has a great analysis of predicted reliability, as well as good information on used cars.

Economy Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Economy Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

8. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Small Cars Trail in Crash Tests: The Auto Daily Insider Editors of Car and Driver Dec. 2006		Recent crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that drivers of subcompact cars at a disadvantage when it comes to safety. In test of seven economy cars, only the Nissan Versa received the highest ratings of "good" in all three crash types -- front, side and rear. IIHS directors say this is due in part to the Versa's larger size compared to other subcompact cars. The Honda Fit gets "good" scores for front and side impacts, but a poor rear-impact rating. The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio fare worst, with poor scores for side and rear impacts, and a rating of "adequate" for frontal crashes.
9. Kiplinger.com >> Details/Subscribe	Subcompacts Come Back Mark Solheim Nov. 2006		In an attempt to help people better invest their money, Kiplinger's Personal Finance offers advice on various investments such as vehicles. This article detailing the resurgence of subcompact vehicles focuses on three cars: the Honda Fit, the Toyota Yaris and the Nissan Versa. Out of the three, the reviewer most enjoys the Fit. Options, build quality and spaciousness of the Fit help it beat the competition.
10. Consumer Guide.com >> Details/Subscribe	Consumer Guide's Real World Fuel Economy Champions Tom Appel Aug. 23, 2006		This interesting article covers real-world fuel economy versus government estimates. In the course of their testing, Consumer Guide measures actual fuel economy. This article lists the best and worst performers compared to their EPA estimates. The Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Scion xB are best among subcompacts, with the VW Jetta TDI, Toyota Corolla and Kia Spectra do well among compacts -- with actual fuel economy that's in line with government estimates. The Chrysler PT Cruise, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer get actual mileage that's significantly lower than their EPA estimates.

Economy Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Economy Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. About: Cars	Top 10 Small Cars You Can Live With Aaron Gold Not Dated		About.com offers a number of articles written by a variety of market experts. This listing of the top ten cars "you can live with," includes vehicles that offer a mixture of everything: features, spaciousness, fuel efficiency, etc. The vehicle in the top slot, according to the article, is the Honda Fit. The two features of the Fit that really shine compared to the competition are the fuel efficiency and interior roominess.
12. CNet.com	Sedan Reviews Editors of CNet.com As of Dec. 2006		Technology website CNet.com is better known for reviews of MP3 players and digital cameras, but it's been quietly amassing a decent section of auto reviews with a technology focus. High-tech isn't really a hallmark of compact cars, so not many get coverage here, but editors have reviewed the 2007 Honda Fit and the 2007 Nissan Sentra SL. The Fit gets a low rating of 6.1 (out of 10). Editors appreciate its zippy in-town performance, but the "puny" engine "chokes uphill and when trying to pass on the freeway." Interior space and flexibility are high points. The 2007 Nissan Sentra SL costs more, but gets a better overall rating (though the two are not directly compared). No other 2007 compacts have yet been tested.
13. National Motorists Association/The Car Family >> Details/Subscribe	Toyota Yaris Liftback versus Honda Fit Hatchback The Car Family May 5, 2006		Although only two cars are compared here, they are two of the most buzzy cars of 2007. The Fit is fun to drive, with a more responsive transmission and perky engine. The Yaris feels softer and less "touchy." Several members of "The Car Family" comment on the Yaris's seat fabric, which sticks to everything "like Velcro" and is hard to clean. In the end, the Family recommends skipping both cars and stepping up to the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic.
14. Cars Direct	New Compact Car Buying Guide Editors of Cars Direct Not Dated		The editors of Cars Direct offer a very extensive buying guide for anyone interested in purchasing a compact car. This guide gives some suggestions on what to look for, as well as examples of some representative vehicles. In addition, there are various stats and ratings for the vehicles, including 0 to 60 acceleration, passenger space, safety features, comfort and convenience, mpg and MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price). This is a helpful guide for experienced buyers and could be a great primer for new car buyers. Review data is sparse and recommendations are not made.
15. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety	Crash tests of small cars & minivans Editors of IIHS Apr. 2006		The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety tested a number of small cars for safety features, reporting the results in the form of a graph, listing the cars in order of importance. The big winners are the Honda Civic and the Subaru Impreza, which both receive excellent scores in front, side and rear crash testing. The actual graph is not overly informative, yet links on the page thoroughly explain the testing process and the results.

Economy Cars Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Economy Cars Ratings Comments on Reviews

16. FuelEconomy.gov	Most and Least Fuel Efficient Vehicles (ranked by city MPG) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency As of Dec. 2006		It seems that the price of fuel is rising almost daily, which makes this comparison chart of fuel efficiency an increasingly important piece of information for prospective car buyers. Conveniently, there is a section for compact cars. The rating of most fuel-efficient vehicles in this category goes to the Civic Hybrid, which is ranked at 49 mpg city and 51 mpg/hwy, and the Toyota Corolla, which receives 32 mpg/city and 41 mpg/hwy. The least efficient compact is the Bentley Continental GT, which gets 12 mpg/city and 19 mpg/hwy.
17. Cars.com	Small Car Rebirth, Midsize Showdown Mike Hanley May 2006		This article from Cars.com offers a glimpse into the direction of small and midsize market for the 2007 model year and beyond. In addition, the article offers a listing of small and midsize vehicles of 2007, as well as their status (redesign, introduction, etc.), price and links to full car reviews of each individual vehicle. Reviews are not comparative, however, and no winners or losers are ultimately chosen.