We settled for the 1.3 Vios as a safe choice amongst all the other options. I don't consider myself a newbie, having owned a problematic 1995 AT Lancer (which we traded in for the Vios) but I wanted something I don't have to baby too much.
Our priorities:
- passenger space
- AT fuel economy (wife-friendly)
- relatively cheap maintenance
- durability
Low on the list were looks, power and performance since it's going to be a family city car with the occasional summer road trips.
We wrote off the following choices:
- City: wife tried riding one in the back with two other adults and she thought it was too cramped.
- Accent: high door sills in the back keeps the kids from looking out.
- Fiesta: too small but the hatch was one of the wife's top contenders.
- Mazda 2: my first love (I learned to drive on its granddaddy the Ford Laser) but the AT was out of our budget.
- Rio (new): wasn't out that time yet and the previous gen is notoriously thirsty for its size CMIIW.
- Lancer Cedia: Lancer na naman?!!!

- Sentra DX: looks too big for the engine.
Problema lang sa common car is because it's so common my wife has to look twice and make sure it's me when I pick her up especially at night :D