Base model versions of Compact Cars Ranked

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman) 09/17/2015 at 12:01 • Filed to: None

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10: Honda Civic.

+roomy, decent to drive.

-boring, expensive for what you get, not the best facelift integration.

9: Mitsubishi Lancer

+roomy, good value, quite pleasant to drive.

-dated interior and exterior, large central hump

8: Ford Focus

+ very nice to drive, good looking

-serious reliability issues, cramped rear seat.

7: Subaru Impreza

+reliable, standard AWD, nice to drive

-expensive, not the roomiest, a bit bland.

6: Nissan Sentra

+massively roomy, great mileage, great value

-looks are a bit forced, not especially nice to drive.

5: Volkswagen Jetta

+nice to drive, plenty of room, nice to look at

-wheezy 2.0l motor

4: Hyundai Elantra

+reliable, roomy, fairly good powertrain, exceptional warranty.

-looks are an acquired taste

3: Kia Forte

+all the same as the Elantra, just with a better warranty

-weird steering, looks a bit average

2: Toyota Corolla

+roomy, great value, reliable, versatile, good looking, great resale value.

-slow.

1: Mazda 3

+looks amazing, has best interior, drives the best, gets great gas mileage

-tight backseat, not as many features per dollar as the Corolla

MonkeePuzzle > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:08

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this list is irrelevant without model years. you talkin’ about 2015 models?

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > MonkeePuzzle 09/17/2015 at 12:11

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Indeed I am.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:17

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Serious reliability issues on the current gen Focus?

I don;t see it.

Wacko > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:20

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Corolla good looking!

For a toyota it so-so in the looks department, but compared to other makes. No

and you forgot not nice to drive like you stated for the sentra.

William Byrd > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:20

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Good list.

I guess rear seat room is relative, but my Focus had quite a bit of room in the back. I am around 6’ and could sit behind my own driving position with room to spare. Heck that is true of the Fiesta as well. Not sure what reliability issues you are referring to either.

spanfucker retire bitch > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 09/17/2015 at 12:21

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Yeah, I haven’t heard of any major reliability issues either. Is it just more of this “turbo = unreliable” crap that gets thrown around?

Vicente Esteve > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:22

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The Golf is a great candidate as well. 180hp, interior with Audi-Quality, spacious, fun to drive, handsome.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 09/17/2015 at 12:26

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Google “Ford Focus DCT problems”

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > William Byrd 09/17/2015 at 12:26

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Mainly DCT issues.

jariten1781 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 09/17/2015 at 12:27

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Powershift supposedly has some serious issues. Large number of complaints to the NHTSA at least.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Wacko 09/17/2015 at 12:27

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It looks actually quite decent for a cheap car. It’s not especially good to drive, but it isn’t bad either.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Vicente Esteve 09/17/2015 at 12:27

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The Jetta is the entry level Compact Volkswagen, so it got in on this list.

Cash Rewards > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:31

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Didn’t Subaru separate the sti/wrx from the imprezza looking altogether?

wiffleballtony > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:31

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You’re ranking the Sentra above the Focus and Imprezza? GTFO.

Captain of the Enterprise > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:41

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I forgot Mitsubishi existed until I read about the lancer on this list.

Wacko > wiffleballtony 09/17/2015 at 12:43

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he also ranked the Corolla 2nd, and he calls himself a jalop.. :)

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > wiffleballtony 09/17/2015 at 12:43

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The Sentra is a better car for normal people than the Focus or Impreza.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Captain of the Enterprise 09/17/2015 at 12:43

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You should see their new Outlander!

Captain of the Enterprise > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:52

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I like the old one better and I like this for some reason.

It has a nice face and I’m attracted to cars that are honest about what they are, for example base model pickups, basic cars etc.

wiffleballtony > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 12:54

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Nowhere did you say this list was for “normal” people and it’s posted to Oppositelock not Consumer Reports.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Captain of the Enterprise 09/17/2015 at 12:54

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They’re in the process of upgrading the powertrain and suspension of it for the 2017 model year.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Wacko 09/17/2015 at 13:03

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I ranked the Corolla second for a reason. It does 90% of the stuff that 90% of people do, and it’s my second pick because of that. Plus, I genuinely like what Toyota has done to the car.

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 09/17/2015 at 13:04

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I bought a 13’ Focus in November of 12, it’s got around 74k. I went with the manual and have had very few issues, so far, a window regulator for $78 and a control arm/ ball joint for $120. I did the labor myself. As far as wearable idems, front pads and rotors and sway bar links. I've really enjoyed the car but miss the power of the VR6 I had previously. I'm just so glad I opted out of the stupid dual clutch, that's been a disaster

Wacko > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 13:10

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dude no needs to defend you point, i’m just messing with you. I have mad hate for the beigolla and all the other blandness made buy Toyota. I actually like to drive(should say liked, I now drive a 2014 pathfinder pathfounder*)

list of Paths found.

Mall, daycare, school, work, movies, hardware store.....

Jayhawk Jake > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 13:12

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You forgot the Sonic, though I guess it’s a subcompact.

+Looks good, tons of room in the hatchback, best gauge cluster of all time, is named after video game character

-A bit dated by now, 1.8L base engine is really meh and turbo pushes price to like $18k

There’s also the Cruze, but the new one isn’t out yet.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > jariten1781 09/17/2015 at 13:41

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2012 was a bad year for Powershifts. Most of the early ones had transmission seal leaks that ruined the clutches, though if my car is any indication, that was solved by the end of 2012 production. There’s also TSBs out for the TCM failing, though I don’t know the cause. I think that covers all Powershifts up until very recent production. Both are covered by extended warranties, so it’s not too big a deal if buying new or buying used if there is a history of maintenance.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 14:26

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I must say, I disagree with your list somewhat. The 3 is probably the best car of the bunch, I’ll give you that. But I don’t think the Civic should be 10th. It’s really a pretty competent vehicle. And while it might be more expensive than the Koreans, it’s not by much. I'd put it on par with the Corolla. Maybe a 2a and 2b. The Civic won for me because it's roomier than the Corolla. The Sentra just isn't a good car. Especially with Nissans dogshit CVT.

Vicente Esteve > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/17/2015 at 15:29

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Ah, gotcha.