How to Choose a Compact Car

Compact cars are not as popular in the United States as thy are in Europe or Asia, but there is still a wide variety of compact cars to choose from. It is merely a question what is more important to the the buyer; reliability, price, speed, style and luxury are all factors that need to be considered in a any car purchase. Many compact cars offer a mixture of these attributes, with some being in the front pack in two or more but none of them satisfying all possible requirements.

Instructions

1

Choose a Honda Civic if reliability is paramount to you. Any trim level with a manual transmission should easily make it to 200k miles with regular maintenance. A Toyota Corolla will deliver similar levels of reliability; however, the Corolla has had some issues with unintended acceleration, so it cannot claim the top spot. Another option is the Kia Forte, which is only two years old but has demonstrated good short-term reliability so far. In addition, Kia offers a ten-year drive train warranty that minimizes the possible risk.

2

Choose a Kia Forte if you want a cheap car. The Kia is priced below all the other compact cars except the Ford Focus. The Focus has bad fuel economy and bad reliability, so is priced accordingly. The 2012 model of the Focus will be worth it, as it is the European-spec Focus and has decades of reliable service under its belt in foreign markets. If, however, you want a domestic model, then the Ford Fiesta is an option, as it is another European-spec car that has years of reliable service and a great price. The Chevy Cruze is an unknown right now, and is not as cheap as the other models, so it cannot yet be recommended.

3

Choose the VW GTI if you prefer a fast car. The Volkswagen GTI is arguably the best all-around option; it has the most upscale interior in the compact market, and it has a 2.0L turbocharged and supercharged engine. The MazdaSpeed 3 is the highest-horsepower compact car, with 263 hp as opposed to the 200 hp in the GTI and SI. However, the MazdaSpeed 3 has what some charitable people call "unique" looks. The Honda Civic SI is another good alternative, as it may not be the fastest or have the best interior, but it maintains the reliability of the lower-trim Civic and has the best manual transmission outside of a Porsche.

4

Choose the VW GTI if you want a stylish car. Style is in the eye of the beholder, but there are some generally accepted "stylish" cars out there. The Corolla and Civic are common cars, so they do not really stand out from the crowd. The Volkswagen GTI and the Ford Fiesta claim to be good-looking cars, both inside and out, though the GTI has the best interior due to help from Audi (which is a division of VW now). The Kia Soul is another option for those wanting to look hip and young, as its design is targeted specifically at the young-20s demographic. The Volvo C30 is a good choice for those who want a subdued style. It has the styling of an entry luxury European hatchback with an interior that seems to have been designed by Ikea -- with actual wood panels and metal switches. It is also deceptively powerful, with one of the few 5-cylinder engines offered in the United States, though it is not built for handling like the GTI or SI are.

5

Choose the VW GTI if you are looking for a luxurious car. In the United States' car market, luxury is associated with size, and compact cars are typically seen as economy cars and nothing else. The VW GTI , however, is European spec, which means it is okay with mixing luxury and compactness. As previously mentioned, Audi assisted its parent company, VW, with the design of the interior. The steering wheel is comfortable and easy to grasp, and the interior surfaces are soft and well designed. Another option is the Volvo C30, which has a more Scandinavian approach to luxury, as it contains wood paneling and metal switches. It is the most expensive of the all the cars mentioned here, but it is also the rarest.