How to Choose the Right Compact Car
There are lots of choices within the compact car category. Low prices and competition among the manufacturers have made compact cars a great bargain. It's also made choosing one a tough decision. Here are some helpful tips for choosing the right compact car for your needs:
Prices: Although compact cars are known for being the most affordable type of car, the prices can range anywhere from $10,890 for the new Kia Rio, to $103,600 for the new Mercedes-Benz CL-Class. This provides a great range of choice to fit any budget.
Engines: The majority of compact cars come with a 4-cylinder engine, which usually provides the best fuel economy. The engine should operate smoothly and quietly. When idling, there should be minimal noise or vibration.
FWD, RWD or AWD: Most compact cars are FWD. Some models have high performance turbocharged engines, one offers hybrid and natural-gas-fueled variants, four are available with AWD, and one has a diesel-engine option.
Access: When comparing cars, try entering and exiting from all doors. A well-designed compact car should provide wide enough doors and enough head room so that all passengers can enter and exit easily without hitting their heads.
Styles: The compact car class offers a variety of styles, budget cars, hybrids, sporty models and practical wagons. Four-door sedans dominate the class, but many models offer a wagon, and one offers a four-door hatchback. Three two-door convertibles, a two-door coupe, and a two-door hatchback are in the mix as well.
Seating: Since most compact cars have compact interiors, the amount of passenger room needed might be the first thing to consider. Most of these cars can seat four average sized adults. But some models offer more leg and head room both front and rear passengers than others, so taller people want to try out a few different models to find one that will be adequate.
Cargo Space: Cargo space also varies quite a bit between models, although generally compact cars are known for having only modest cargo space. If you have any larger items that you need to carry on a regular basis, you may want to bring them with you when you to shop to make sure they can fit.
Fuel Economy: The compact car class includes the highest mileage hybrid and diesel engine cars available. If fuel economy is important to you, then a compact car is a good choice.
Options: Think about what equipment you'd like. You may be surprised at what's now offered in the compact class. Leather upholstery, navigation systems, satellite radio, heated front seats, antiskid systems, and additional airbags are all available on cars starting under $20,000.
Warranties: Most compact cars carry a 3 year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and some offer even longer coverage. Anything over the 5/60 bumper-to-bumper warranty usually isn't transferable to a second owner, so only the original purchaser can make use of the powertrain warranty extending beyond that.
Safety: Since all of these cars are fairly small, safety features and crash ratings are often high priorities. The safety of compact cars has greatly improved over the years. All new vehicles now have standard dual front air bags, three-point safety belts in the outboard seating positions, and top-tether and LATCH child-seat attachments in the rear seats if available. Antilock brakes are either standard or optional. Most cars are available with front side and/or curtain side airbags, and a few offer an antiskid system. Other desirable safety features to look for include electronic stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitors, safety-belt pretensioners, occupant-sensing air-bag systems, and daytime running lights.
Published on Friday, March 20, 2009 - Email to a friend
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