BUYING GUIDE to New Compact Cars

Overview

Compact cars are hot. Spiking gas prices and marked improvements in features have more shoppers opting more than ever for these "econo-boxes". Today, compact cars not only deliver excellent fuel economy but add sophisticated styling and everyday practicality at prices that won?t break the bank. With more features offered as standard equipment, cars in this class offer excellent value.

Because of their smaller dimensions, they are more fuel efficient than mid-size cars, averaging anywhere from 20 to 50+ miles per gallon.

Model Price Range: $9,500 - $22,500

The Minimalist Approach

The Chevy Aveo in a no-frills base trim can be had for around $10,000. That means no power windows, no CD player, and no cruise control. Hey, nobody said life was fair. The good news is that these cars are built to be efficient, reliable, and cheaper to operate.

The Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris are carryovers from 2008., have gone through minor updates for 2008. The Versa has drawn praise for its styling, the Fit for its interior space and the Yaris for its overall package. The Fit is only available in a hatchback whereas the Versa and Yaris are available in hatchback and sedan body styles. Historically, all three models will have higher-than-average reliability.

Edmunds.com says that ?The 2007 Honda Fit is a triumph of creativity, proof that good ideas don't have to be expensive. It seats four comfortably (five in a pinch), offers great fuel economy (above 33 mpg), and is as easy to live with as your best friend.?

Motor Trend goes on to say ?Like all Hondas, it comes better equipped than Heidi Klum, with ABS, six airbags, a 160-watt CD audio system, A/C, five cupholders, and power windows, mirrors, and door locks.?

A Little More Room

If you are looking for something with a few more technical gizmos in addition to a roomier interior, give the Nissan Sentra a look. The Sentra now sports technological appointments previously found only in higher-priced models. Features like intelligent keyless entry, keyless ignition, Bluetooth?, in-dash 6-CD changer with MP3 capability and satellite radio. Prices for the Sentra range from $15,000 for the base model to $21,000 to the souped-up 200-horsepower SE-R Spec V.

Car and Driver says ?The SE-R Spec V edges the Honda Civic Si on turn-in, power, ride comfort, and overall livability.?

The Ford Focus continues to makes strides in this category, with a PZEV-trimmed version that averages 37 MPG highway, as do stalwart models like the Toyota Corolla with 41 MPG, the refined and fun-to-drive (not to mention aftermarket-parts-friendly) Honda Civic. And if you demand passing lane performance, the torquey Volkswagen Jetta TDI (diesel) is your ticket to merge comfortably, all while still offering fuel-sipping economy.

For More Performance

If it's flat-out performance you are looking for, you have a plethora of options in the Compact Car class, including the quick and nimble Mitsubishi Lancer, Subaru WRX, and the fifth generation Volkswagen Jetta Mk V (pronounced Mark Five). Another contender, the Mazdaspeed3, brings 263 horsepower to the party in a utilitarian package that boasts a snowboard-friendly cabin featuring fold down seats, which boosts interior room. And then there?s the cr?e de la cr?e: the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ?X?, which hits U.S. shores in about a month.

A refreshingly new angle on sport compacts comes from Volvo in the form of the new Volvo C30. Featuring a stout 2.5L turbocharged & intercooled inline-5 synonymous with the Swedish manufacturer, the C30 takes the Mazdaspeed3 a step further in terms of utility by offering a roomier cabin (notably for rear seat occupants).

Customizable Compacts

Though the iconic shape of the MINI cars remains the same, MINI will launch an eagerly awaited revamp of its current model lineup, consisting of a larger and more powerful MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S (in both hatchback and convertible trim). The turbocharged inline-4 engine of the MINI Cooper S delivers zippy acceleration, going 0-60 in just 6.7 seconds and reaching top speeds of 140 MPH. Impressive handling is a result of a rigid unibody. With a bevy of color schemes and interiors amenities to choose from, you can customize your MINI to fit your individual persona. The best part is that it?s all dealer installed for the perfect OEM-fit & finish, in addition to having the advantage of having the costs financed together with the base price of the vehicle.

Scion also offers a range of dealer-installed options for each of their three cars. The popular Scion tC remains unchanged for 2008, while both the Scion xB and xA receive complete redesigns. The xA has been replaced by the new xD. The xB gets its first redesign since its 2004 release, boasting a more room and power. How much? A lot more: try one foot longer and 55 more horsepower.

The new xD continues where the xA left off, offering more power, more room, and a more-appealing appearance. All for a bargain-basement price of around $15k.

Luxury Compacts

One new development in the Compact Car space is the arrival of luxury brands. Audi compressed its popular A4 into the A3, while the aforementioned Volvo C30 has also been released for the car buyer who wants a more upscale look and feel. One model that aims to impress in 2008 is the highly-anticipated BMW 1-Series. The car has yet to be released in North America, but according to BMW, their website has gathered 100,000+ email addresses from prospective buyers yearning for more in-depth information regarding the model. And if the preliminary reports from Munich are on point, the 135i model will be the stuff Legends of Autodom are made of. With the 335i?s twin turbo inline six wedged between the struts, it?s going to make the 135i one fun ride. The 1-series will also be available in 128i trim, sharing the same 3.0-liter 230-hp inline six as the 328i. Moreover, the 1-series will also share the same basic platform as the E46 (1998-2006 3-Series), which will help to keep costs at bay. Concrete prices are not yet available as of 10/07, but 128i models should start off at $25k-range with the 135i approaching $30k.

These models can also be found in CarsDirect's Luxury Class, but we mention them here in the event that you are willing to shell out for expensive things in small packages.

Hybrid Compacts

This segment of vehicles was the first to sport hybrid technology, in which gasoline engines are paired with battery-powered motors to conserve gas and reduce emissions. With the discontinuation of the Honda Insight, the Toyota Prius becomes the most fuel-efficient car available, with an EPA estimated 60 miles per gallon in the city. Highway economy dips to 51mpg due to the inability of the brakes to partake in battery regeneration technology.

Four years after its redesign, the wildly popular Prius remains synonymous with the "green" car. Honda hopes to take away market share with the revamped 2008 Civic Hybrid, which can now run on only the electric motor at low speeds -- not possible with the previous generation.

Not only are hybrids excellent, fuel efficient vehicles, they are spacious and comfortable as well. The Prius ranks third in Autos.com's initial rankings of overall comfort amongst popular compact cars and the Civic Hybrid ranks fifth.

Crossover Compacts

If you're in the market for a compact car, you may also want to consider more car-based crossover utility vehicles, or CUVs, which often deliver more durability and functionality.

Manufacturers are developing more and more of these "cute utes". The highly-anticipated Mazda CX-7 made its debut during 2006, as did the Jeep Compass and Suzuki SX4. Carryovers from previous years include the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Chevy Equinox.

Compact Car Safety Guide

Recent developments in automotive technology have made safety features as commonplace as the seatbelt. Such features include antilock brakes (ABS), side airbags, side curtain airbags and active head restraints. In some cases, advanced safety technology may only be available as costly options, if at all, so it's important to do your research if safety is important to you.