People who want to buy compact cars are mostly interested in driving them in the city. Since it’s pretty hard to get a car, like it and make it help you save money for gas, we’ve decided to put together a list of the top 10 compact cars money can buy.
Before going to actually present the models we’ve picked, we’ll talk about the choices other car reviewers have made.
Top Rated Compact Cars
AutoExpress claims that the top compact cars of 2014 are the following automobiles: Mini, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Citroen DS3, Audi A1, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio and Nissan Note. While Mini is, evidently, a pretty small compact car where things might get crowded, the Nissan Note is a little more spacious alternative.
For ConsumerReports.org, there are only four models that win the title of overall best compact cars. And those vehicles are as follows:
- Subaru Impreza is, unfortunately, among the priciest alternatives, coming at a base price of approximately $21,500. It’s got a pretty reasonable fuel economy, but it could do better: 27 mpg for the sedan and 26 for the hatchback.
- Hyundai Elantra can now be bought for less than $20,000, so, for some people, it’s closer to turning from a dream into reality. The model comes in two variants: one is equipped with a 1.8-liter engine and the other with a 2.0 one. The car’s a step forward for fuel economy, thanks to its average mpg of 29.
- Here’s a hybrid that deserves all the credit in the world: Toyota Prius. This automobile makes any owner proud because it’s not among the usual hybrids that do well in fuel economy only inside of a city. It’s also got an amazing economy on the highway (55 mpg). The Toyota has an average efficiency of 43 mpg.
- Mazda3 comes as a sedan or a hatchback and it’s up to you to pick the one you like most. Although Mazda is known for manufacturing top luxury vehicles that end up costing a bucketload of money, this one is different. It’s a fortunate combination of style and practicality. It’s fun to drive and comes with a decent fuel economy of 33.6 mpg.
The source also has some recommendations concerning the models an eager buyer should avoid. Scion tC, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Dodge Dart are apparently poor choices when it comes to fuel economy.
Best Compact Cars In Our Opinion
Our own ranking was inspired by the one that Honest John created in the summer of 2014. Beware, the following models will badly make you want to buy them. If you want to make a compact car comparison, choose between the following:
- Hyundai i10 is a cool automobile that comes in 2 variants: one with a 1.0-liter engine, and another one with a 1.2-liter motor. The model is said to offer among the highest fuel economies of all: 65.7 mpg.
- Toyota Aygo is the reason heads turn in the street. It’s small and classy and comes with a 1.0-liter engine that ensures your CO2 emissions are as low as possible.
- Yet another noteworthy alternative is the Volkswagen Up, equipped with its 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine and an automated manual gearbox. It looks a little rough around the edges, but it’s doing well in power and in the economy.
- FIat 500 has been a popular city car for decades now. And, thanks to its two-cylinder engine, it’s a friend of the environment and of your ears. It’s as quiet as possible and it offers an acclaimed fuel efficiency.
- Peugeot 108 is an illustrious example of what a compact car ends up looking like when you combine top quality with simple finesse. It comes with a 1.0-liter engine and offers an overall economy of 74 mpg.
- If you’re keen on Skodas, choose the Citigo. It’s got an outstanding economy of 68 mpg and it produces only 95g/km of CO2.
- Kia Picanto is the very definition of agility when it comes to compact cars. Its 1.0-liter engine is responsible for producing only 99g/km of CO2.
- And for people who don’t want to feel like sardines, a valid choice is the Citroen C1. Although it does look small on the outside, this car has an amazing interior.
- Fiat Panda is for individuals who go for practical and comfortable cars. Users can choose between the classic gas-powered engine and the diesel one. This one’s also a vehicle for people who are focused on fuel economy.
- The 1.2 liter Ford Ka is a model that’s been around for some years now, but in spite of its age, it will never lose its popularity. The Ford Ka is also rather cheap to service, which is, evidently, a great plus for people who don’t want to spend too much money on fixing their cars. A similar model in the US is known as Ford Fiesta.
Our Favorite Pick is the Honda Civic
Our personal favorite and the best compact car in our opinion is the Honda Civic. It is available in both coupe, and sedan models according to your needs.It’s also very fuel efficient offering 30 mpg in the city and 39 mpg in hwy for the 2014 models automatic version.
The reason why we love this car is that it looks very cool performs great, gives great gas mileage, plus it’s reliable and affordable. So basically it has everything that you are looking for in a compact car.
Hope you liked our list of compact cars, which will help to choose the right vehicle for you. Please comment to provide your feedback and share this article with others.