Options
Economy Sedans (~$16k-$20k)
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Agreed. You could also add "high revving" if you consider the Toyota Corolla XRS.
Driving from Japan: Japanese cars in America by Wanda James (Jefferson, NC ; London : McFarland, 2005) unearths some amazing details in the history of Japanese vehicles since the 1850s. The Corolla has been a huge success for Toyota since the beginning. It started out in 1968 as a 1100 cc, 60 hp, 61.5 ft. lb. torque, 1640 lb. car selling for U$1660; within a year Toyota morphed it into 5 versions including the Toyota Corolla 1600 which made 102 hp, 101 ft. lb. torque, 0-60 in 11.4 sec; ¼ mile 18.2 sec. @ 75mph. Toyota was searching for a popular car along the lines of the VW bug and the Corolla satisfied that need. Its popularity says as much about consumers as it does about Toyota.
:P
Meade
Surprisingly, this is almost word for word what a Toyota salesman said to me and my wife. Except he was talking about the Scions ("if all you want is a cheap reliable car to get from Point A to Point B, the Scion xA or XB are perfect").
Current mileage: 13,500
Transmission: 4-speed Auto
Most recent MPG: 31.5 combined city/hwy, little or no A/C being used.
Best MPG: 34.5 hwy (spring driving, no passengers, no A/C, lots of cruise control use, odo: 8,000 miles)
Worst MPG: 21 (winter driving, lots of warm up and idling, city/rural driving, odo: 6,000 miles)
Warranty trips to dealer: 1, for replacement of the rear 3rd LED brake light.
Verdict: My family and I love this car so far. Most defect-free new car we've ever owned.
Pics of my car:
Exterior/Interior
Interior/WheelSkins Steering Wheel Cover
-SM
I can't tell you how I really feel about the Corolla. They would delete the post and send me a nasty email almost immediately. LOL
Meade
So far I have been very happy with my purchase, the dealership was fair but did not seem very to know very much about the specs of the car.
I have put 1900 miles on the car in two months and the engine seems to be breaking in. The fuel economy has not blown me away yet, as i have only acheived between 27-29 miles per gallon in city driving.
Compared to other manuals that I have driven or test driven, the trans shifts
smoothly and the engine accelerates well between 3000 and 6000 rpms.
As far as looks, I feel that the kia is the best looking small car, especially the sx version which has a standard front and rear spoiler and foglamps. But of course thats subjective and just my opinion.
Anyways I never thought I would own a korean car, but the overall look, sportiness and unbeatable warranty made it too strong a value proposition to turn down. Kia has also completely revamped its model line to include cars that are very well built and look great on the inside and out.
Just my two cents, let me know what you think.
Joe
NEW WINNER!
YMMV,
MiidCow
Old Honda model still does well.
Pretty old and cheap Hyundai/Kia does well.
Old Focus finishes mid pack
New, spanking fresh, redesigned Cobalt finishes near bottom. So-called much nicer interior is cheaped out again. 24/32 MPG for an economy car? How many times does GM have to set the seats too low?
Yessss, you too can join the herd and drive a Civic! If you like it, by all means buy it!
Meade
The price range of cars - and what options they have is normally the issue.
Can you really compare two cars (fairly) when one costs almost 25% more? OR compare one company's top of the line model with the others base model?
Most people feel good when the car they own gets ranked #1 in a "shoot out" - it validates the choice we made. But these are the same people who will slam the comparison as "not worth anything" if their ride gets rated low.
I have seen some comparisons where they have a mix of manual and auto trannys. Then they slam the automatics - because they are automatics - and praise the manual tranny cars - because they are manual. Just plain dumb.
I like to read the car mags - see what they have to say in their reviews and comparisons - but only a fool would actually run out and buy a car just because _____ (fill in the blank) rated it high.
Frankly I am surprised at the low rating of the Cobalt by Edmunds, since reviews from other sources that gave good or even glowing reviews of the interior. I will second the comments of others that Edmunds did the Cobalt a disservice by comparing a stripped model to upcontent vehicles from the other mfgs. Had it been an LS with Sport package and manual transmission the results may have been different.
Hopefully I will be able to rent a Mazda3 and Cobalt in the near future and see how they feel after a few hundred miles (dealer test drives don't do cars justice). I may even check out the new Honda, although as a present owner of a Honda Prelude (problem child) I am a bit wary.
The current Corolla ranked 3rd of 10 models in Car and Drivers Nov 2002 comparison test of '03 compacts. Thats low? The article cited excellent fuel efficiency, best in test interior materials, large back seat, and best in test acceleration.
The Elantra placed slightly higher due to an unbeatable portfolio of performance and features.
The Protege won b/c handling-wise, it was the Bimmer of the group.
~alpha
Well, right now the Corolla is selling extremely well. It overtook the Civic in sales and is still climbing.
Mazda 3 seems to not be selling well in the U.S. but in Canada thats a different story.
The new Civic is probably the only sedan out of the 4 you listed that may bring down the Corolla's sales. (IMO)
http://automobiles.honda.com/civics/index.aspx
At the least it will stir up strong feelings of love it or hate it -
I just took the Civic off my short list of cars to consider - so you know my opinion.
Digital speedometer!
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
I thought Buick tried all that digital crap years ago and it turned out that analog gauges were better (i.e. more informative peripherally, for one thing)? Why do econo-car owners need one huge tach to look at anyway?
I can see this maybe in a Prelude, but not in the entry-level car the Civic is. If you're gonna give a college kid one instrument, give 'em a freakin' speedometer -- duplicate it digitally if you hafta, but give 'em a real speedometer! Heck, just a few years ago you couldn't find a tach in an economy car!
Meade
Oh well. It's a Honda. The herd will flock to buy the car in droves without considering other, better cars anyway.
Meade
P.S. One other thing. Look at the eighth pic from the left -- the one of the interior looking at the dash from the right-hand side of the back seat. Note that hee-yuge vent just to the right of the instrument cluster -- which, by the way, is not symmetrical with the vent on the other side, which is farther away from the instrument cluster. That vent, if I'm looking at it correctly, is not only HUGE -- it's also positioned right in front of the place where most drivers will place their right hand on the steering wheel. And it's so close to the steering wheel, I doubt changing its direction will have much effect on the driver's right hand constantly being bombarded with cold a/c air! So this car might actually give you a white-knuckled driving experience, but only on your right hand! :P
The real issue with the system back then was if you had a problem with it the whole dash would go dark - and the cost to fix them was sky high.
I predict Honda will drop this within 2 model years - because the dealerships will complain about people throwing up during test drives - but knowing Honda's great engineering ability maybe they will keep the digital dash & install an automatic "air sickness bag" system!
First impressions...exterior, still looks very much like the current gen Civic. Interior seems okay, at best, certainly not very ergonomic looking in the pics and the gauge placement and design are just ghastly.
Am also very curious as to whether Honda will continue the recent trend on the Civic of making it more sedentary on the handling side. I used to love Honda, the old Civics and especially the CRX were a blast to drive, but the last 5 years have seen Honda build cars that are less sporty and more comparable (i.e. boring) in the vein of the Corolla. They severely de-tuned the suspension and the Civic's handling characteristics by removing the double-wishbone and placing MacPherson's in the latest gen Civic. I would likely predict that this trend continues and that the Civic will be blended even closer to a Corolla clone.
It is interesting to see how things have changed among some of the Japanese manufacturers and the approach of their automobiles. At one point, Honda outright dominated the "sporty" econo car segment with the Civic and CRX. Mazda was languishing in some sort of identity crises with a well built old gen Protege/Escort that was really neither very sporty, nor totally boring. Toyota, well...they churned out what they always have, a well-built, but exceptionally boring and dull Corolla. As for Nissan, well, they continue on their quest of trying to find an identity for the Sentra.
These days, Mazda has redefined themselves and is clearly the leader in the econo segment of cars that are sporty and a total blast to drive. They have greatly succeeded in becoming the BMW of Japan when driving characteristics of their automobiles are taken into account. With Mazda, you feel the road and become a part of the road and driving experience. Honda used to be that way, but has now taken a middle of the road path and have moved more to the concept of isolating drivers from the driving experience. This is the path that Toyota has chosen many years ago to great financial success, but uninspiring vehicles. Then there is Nissan. They are still trying to find the road...... and well, identify it....LOL
I'll make a couple of other predictions. First, the new Civic will be the most expensive vehicle in its segment when it is released when you factor in similarly equipped vehicles. For instance, a Mazda 3 GT with a Civic EX. Second, regardless of how expensive, boring, ugly or uninspiring the new Civic will be, people will still flock in droves and buy these cars, often without a single test drive. Meade has it pretty accurate that the "herd" will follow. Tiss a shame really, as there are lots of vehicles out there in this segment that merit greater attention and aplomb.
Lastly, before anyone comes on here trying to extole how the Civic Si blows the competition apart, please don't. First, the Civic Si will be significantly more expensive than any of the other Civic's and will not be priced anywhere near the other cars in this class segment, including the Mazda 3 GT Sport. This is based simply on how Honda priced out all other gens of Civic's vs. their Si's and what is known as the SiR here in Canada. Econo shoppers are not going to be buying the Civic Si or SiR, plain and simple. This therefore, does not make it an equitable comparison point. If you like, compare apples to apples. For instance, the Civic Si with the Mazdaspeed3, Neon SRT or the Corolla XRS, or something or other.
All that said, even though I hate the way it looks, I do very much like the specs of the Civic Si from an engine/tranny and suspension set-up. This seems to follow more along the lines of Honda having at least one Civic that returns to it's sporty roots. However, I'll hold my final judegment until I see the sticker price for this puppy. In Canada, I'm thinking the Si(R) will be priced pretty comparable to the WRX and without the financing deals. If so, I already know which car I would take and it ain't the Si(R).
Be well.
Tim
Possibly, but I actually like it much LESS than the current Civics. I know that some people will like the way the new Civic looks...I mean, somebody must have liked it, or else they wouldn't have designed it that way.
But, as for me, I absolutely hate it. Mostly the front grille design is what turns me off, but I also think that they ruined the back end compared to earlier models. No way I'd even test drive a 2006 Civic unless it looks much better in person than it does in the pictures.
140 hp @ 6300 rpm
128 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm
2006 Mazda3s:
160 hp @ 6500 rpm
150 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Meade
So, basically, the new Civic kind of fits in nicely in the middle of the road segment in terms of grunt with most of its competitors. It certainly is nothing outstanding and will likely be largely decontented unless one chooses to pay the Honda premium for the EX. So be it...prepare to be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
backy- I guess we differ, but a 3rd place finish out of 10 doesnt and didnt strike me badly- simply because a car is new doesnt mean its the best, and the 'Rolla still be out the 10 Best Focus and posted some of the best performance numbers. Note however, that issue was prior to Car and Drivers moving to a tally point system in the comparison tests... its about time for a rematch anyway......
not for anything, i really think edmunds.com comparos kinda suck, with the only exception being the recent Sonata v. Camcord.
~alpha
Tim said it best ...
Resistance is Futile, LOL!
Meade
You're right Honda, by offering reliable, fuel-efficient, safe and not unattractive cars, is aiming for the middle because they, like Toyota and many other manufacturers, see the profits there. Since both Honda and Toyota also offer racing versions of their econo-boxes and have prestige brands (Acura and Lexus) they cover a wide spectrum of the market. So, where does that leave Mazda? They have no racing version available yet (Mazdaspeed3 is due in 2006 or later) and have no prestige brand. My sense is that Mazda would love to have Honda/Toyota's problems; their situation is trickier, being owned by Ford and having to fit into a global strategy not of their making. In this reading, Ford is offering the car for the masses, the Focus, and Mazda is offering a niche vehicle. Auto manufacturers do not work in a vacuum; depending on where the competition, fuel prices and national pressures go, they survive or not. Mazda has faced the brink several times since the 1970s. Being a happy Mazda vehicle owner, I hope they make the right decisions. Driving in the middle of the road is usually the safest course.
BTW, the '06 Civic LX is a nice piece of work, and will win over its share of small-car buyers. But for about the same money I'll take the Mazda3i Touring with the Safety package, please. Or maybe I'll just wait for the Honda Fit and get even better economy and utility than the Civic, for much less money.
I not saying the Hyundai is a better car. Just a better deal.
If money was no concern, I would have picked the Mazda.
Why not pick an LX 430 or a MB S class? Or go for the Porsche 911?
My point is for 99.9% of buyers - money is always a major part of the equation.
I know a few people who have more money than they can spend - but they still drive "normal" cars - they still care about value for their money. One very well off guy refuses to buy a new car - he says that the best deal is a 1-2 year old car that still has a few years left on the warranty. Most people that end up with piles of cash did not get there by spending loads on new cars.
That is one reason I went with the Mazdsa3 - it is 1/2 the price of some of the cars I looked at but still has 95% of the features & performance.
The civic sedan always struck me as really small and bland, despite its engine and build quaility, although I do really like the updated gauges in the Special Edition.
My Kia seemed to be roomier, quicker and at least as well built as the current civic. Im sure this will change with the release of the 06 civic, but I have my car in the driveway today and love it.
The pricing incentives and warranty made it a no brainer when I compared all factors with the competition. Unlike the model tested in this comparo, I purchased the spectra sx manual with every option. This model is undoubtedly more fun to drive than an auto that has substantially less content. For another interesting read check out Motor trend from June's 'City Lites' comparo of small cars that picked the Kia over both american competitors, but also picked the 3 as the top in its class.
To sum up this ramble, the new Spectra is a competent, fun and very well built sedan, and a strong competitor to the 05 civic.
Anway, its good that Honda is taking notice of the Spectra since I think it is definitetly a formidable competitor. It was for my girlfriend who bought a Spectra instead of a Civic.
Happy motoring
Cobalt: 4/5/3/4/4
Corolla: 5/5/4/4/4
Elantra (SAB): 5/4/5/4/4
Focus: 5/4/3/4/4
Forenza (SAB): 4/4/N/N/4
Mazda3: 4/4/3/3/4
Spectra (SAB): 4/4/4/3/4
Note that the Corolla and Elantra have the highest overall scores, even though the Corolla was tested without SABs. Note also there is a "safety concern" flagged for the Focus 2-door (ratings above are for the 4-door).
http://www.safercar.gov/
On IIHS tests (for 2005 models only), the Cobalt came out best overall on front, side, and rear impacts (when equipped with SABs). The Corolla was 2nd, again with SABs. No other small cars have received better than "Poor" on the IIHS side impact test. All cars listed above except the Forenza and Spectra received a "Good" score on the IIHS frontal offset crash test.
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=40
It will be interesting to see what the new Civic gets on crash tests, since it's the only car in its class to offer standard SABs, SACs, and active front head restraints.
You hit the nail on the head; reliability is still the outstanding question for Korean cars. Most people that I know would not buy a 5 to 7 year old Hyundai today; but, in a few years the situation may have changed and buying a used Sonata won't be pathetique.
If it is the 10 year 100K miles powertrain coverage should help resale - give a person that is buying a 5-7 year old car some comfort.
Good point, Bill.