SPECIFIC VEHICLE RECOMMENDATIONS - Small All Purpose Cars:
This type of car is recommended for starters, around town cars, and singles or young families. Carries four average size people around town, but is a little crowded for trips. Carrying large people in these cars will be uncomfortable. All are front wheel drive and 4 cyl engines. Regular gas except for very high performance versions.
Toyota Corolla - This larger version has more space than others in this category, but resale value is not quite as good as competing Honda Civic. Corolla sits more upright with easier entry and exit, but less sport feel.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Honda Civic - You cannot go wrong here. Style, reliability, gas mileage, interior volume, smooth engine, easy to live with, and great resale value. Very sporty ride. The new Civics are larger inside than early Accords. Natural gas version is available but not recommended unless this car will spend it's life in town.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Honda Civic Coupe - Two door version of the Civic Sedan. Rear seat headroom is a little limited due to stylish roofline, but the style is incredible and the drive is a blast.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Toyota Prius - 4 cylinder gas/electric hybrid. Advertized as a midsize car, but it's just not that large. Most owners report 50 - 60 mpg. Gas prices have a huge effect on the price of this car. High gas prices allow dealers to ask several thousand over list price. You must do the math to see if the gas mileage is worth the price for you. Don't forget that the battery is very expensivs and has limited life. Toyota is saying that a new battery is on the horizon that allows even better gas mileage.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Honda Insight - 4 cylinder gas/electric hybrid. It's a small car, but only a little smaller than a Civic. Road tests say that 45 mpg is not hard to achieve. This car is somewhat smaller than the Toyota Prius, and it gets lower gas mileage, but it's also, cheaper by a couple thousand dollars. Gas prices have a huge effect on the price of this car. High gas prices allow dealers to ask several thousand over list price. You must do the math to see if the gas mileage is worth the price for you. Don't forget that the battery is very expensivs and has limited life.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Mazda Mazda3 4 door - Surprising car altogether. Quite stylish. Good size interior and trunk, though smaller than Civic and Corolla. S version is a particularly competent car with upgraded suspension and tires, and larger engine than competitors. Both versions get 4 disc brakes.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 4 - Very good vehicle 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Nissan Sentra - This new Sentra is a far better and more stylish car than the 2006 version. Resale value should be far better as well. Very good reliability. Gas mileage is somewhat lower than Corolla and Civic.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Subaru Impreza - This is a very reliable vehicle, but only comes in 4 wheel drive, so gas mileage is not as high as others in this category, and price is higher. On the other hand, it has 173 horsepower. Best selected for use is in snow areas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Ford Focus - Cheaper to get than above cars, and resells for less. Reliability is lower than above cars. Surprisingly nice, roomy, and good driving car for the money. Better choice for situations where less money is available for purchase, and lower driving miles are anticipated.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 2 - Good for low initial price/short term ownership/low miles 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Nissan Versa - Smaller than above cars, but not a microcar. Ideal for young families just getting started. Decent reliability and driveability. Enough room for all of baby's stuff as well as normal luggage. Real people can sit in back seat. 4 cyl front wheel drive.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 2 - Good for low initial price/short term ownership/low miles 4 - Swallows large household items 1 - Don't do it 2 - Hauls large boxes, but you have to fit them into the trunk 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Toyota Yaris - This car is a very small car, though not as small as the peanut sized Honda Fit. There is room for four, and it is very reliable, which is unusual for the micro market niche. Even fun to drive. Also, available as an even smaller hatchback, but the sedan is recommended over the hatchback. Good first car. 4 cyl, front wheel drive.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 4 - Very good vehicle 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Honda Fit - A very small car, but well put together. Room for four and very reliable. Refined ride relative to most microsize cars. Small size is scary in traffic but it does make good first transportation. Hatchback design opens up carge area to decent size. 4 cyl front wheel drive.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 4 - Very good vehicle 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Scion xD - A very small car, but well put together. Room for four and very reliable. Refined ride relative to most microsize cars. Small size is scary in traffic but it does make good first transportation. Hatchback design opens up carge area to decent size. 4 cyl front wheel drive.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 5 - Over 30 mpg on regular or over 33 mpg on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 4 - Very good vehicle 2 - Can do a trip for two 1 - Don't do it 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
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