Auto Package: Buyers of economical cars can choose from a rich crop

A young relative recently asked my advice on buying a new car in the economy price bracket. It had to have adequate passenger room for friends, offer enough cargo space for weekend camping trips and not boast a daunting sticker price.

A few years back, the "bog standard" entry-level car class was neglected by automakers looking for more rewards from higher-priced products, but recently the situation has changed. High fuel prices, a return by consumers to less complex vehicles and a wish by many to make some kind of "green" contribution has brought a rich crop of affordable, economical models from several manufacturers.

The Chevrolet Aveo comes in sedan and hatchback versions and offers lots of space for a small car, along with a nice 1.6-litre twin cam engine. For young buyers, the hatchback is probably the best choice since all kinds of gear can be stowed on the load floor when the rear seat backs are folded down. For a car that lists for less than $13,000 in basic form, the Aveo handles very well. There's also a Pontiac version of this car called the Wave with similar specifications.
The Dodge Caliber costs under $15,000 in basic guise and comes with a 1.8-litre engine that's peppier than many in this class. The Caliber only comes as a four-door hatchback, which will probably suit most young buyers just fine. It's a trendy-looking little rig that doesn't borrow styling cues from any automaker, which gives it lots of individuality.

A basic Ford Focus hatchback is worth a look for people fitting our buyer profile and the two-door hatch is a nice, simple design that offers build quality and excellent economy. Even though it has quite a large engine for its class - a 2.0-litre - it still costs less than $15,000 if you don't exploit the options list too enthusiastically (a great temptation with these Fords).

Honda's recent entry into this product bracket was very welcome and the (oddly named) Fit certainly upholds the reputation enjoyed by this automaker. There seems to have been no skimping anywhere, even though you can buy one for under $15,000. I tested a Fit on a closed circuit against several competitors in back-to-back handling trials and found the Fit was the most agile of the bunch. The engine is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder. The Fit has been widely praised for its packaging and it certainly seems a much larger vehicle inside when you start folding seats away. It's almost like a little van.

Hyundai's Accent comes in hatchback and sedan form and the two-door hatch costs under $13,500, quite an achievement in these days of high manufacturing costs. The car comes with a 1.6-litre engine that's surprisingly refined and responsive. You can even accessorize your Accent and come up with something that looks like a touring car racer if you want to spend some extra money.

Kia's equivalent is the Rio, which again comes in hatchback and sedan configurations. Under $13,600 in base sedan form, the Rio uses a 1.6-litre four similar to the one in the Accent, so performance is very similar. The four-door hatchback costs little more than the sedan, but offers better practicality.
Nissan's Versa hatchback is another affordable model that impressed me with its handling capabilities and general air of solidity and quality, despite a sticker starting at $14,498. A 1.8-litre four-cylinder gets this car smartly off the mark and like its near-equivalent the Honda Fit, it's a clever piece of packaging when you start loading the cargo area. There's also a Versa sedan for the same price.

Suzuki's Swift hatchback should be on any shortlist with its 1.6-litre four-cylinder powerplant and very capable performance under any driving conditions. The Swift is related to GM's Aveo and Wave and has Korean origins. Side impact air bags are standard, so this a safe little car. "European suspension tuning" was added for 2007 at no extra price.

Toyota's new Yaris has earned a surprisingly large stake in the economy car market in a fairly short space of time. This is a very cute-looking car in either hatchback or sedan form, though the hatchback probably has the styling edge. Power comes from a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder and the basic price is $13,925, making this the least expensive way to get into a new Toyota.
Volkswagen is continuing production of its old Golf model in Mexico and selling it for $14,900 as the "City Golf." As such, it's a real bargain and very close to the new Rabbit, which costs quite a bit more. VW's 1.8-litre engine has long been considered one of the better "fours" in the business.

source : www.canada.com