2003 Economy Sedan Comparo

[Macky]

CONCLUSION

You really can get a lot for a little when it comes to economy or small sedans these days. What surprised us most after driving all the various competitors was how refined, fun to drive and well-appointed economy four-doors have become these days.

At the top of the heap rests the Honda Civic. Between its impeccable build quality, unmatched refinement and generous interior space, there's little reason to go looking much further — unless price is your overriding factor. If that's your situation, then we would encourage you to head for the Hyundai dealer without hesitation. The Elantra is one of the best deals on the market today thanks to a rock-bottom price that still manages to include solid build quality, plenty of features and an enjoyable driving experience. If you're still not convinced, check out our long-term test of a 2001 Hyundai Elantra.

You wouldn't think that sedans in this price range could be fun to drive but the Protegé and the Sentra dispel that notion. The Protegé's well-trimmed interior, ultraprecise handling and ample interior space earned it the nod in this test, but if you want the most speed for the least amount of the money, you can't do much better than the Sentra 2.5 Limited Edition.

While the Corolla and the Lancer placed a bit further down the list, don't immediately cross either sedan off your list. The Corolla has a top-notch interior that uses high-quality materials and offers excellent rear passenger space. Mitsubishi's Lancer also offers a cleanly styled interior that will make you feel like you spent more than you really did. It may not have the speed and handling to keep up with the big boys, but for those who want nothing more than an urban runabout, the Lancer would rarely disappoint.

Coming in seventh out of eight might not be much of an endorsement, but the Aerio still has a few things going for it. As the only vehicle in the test with available all-wheel drive, it would make for an inexpensive winter car and its slightly taller stance allows easy entry for those who might have trouble stooping to get in some of the more compact sedans. It's also covered by a lengthy 7-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

Saturn's latest entry may have fallen a bit short in this crowd, but its low sticker price might be enough to justify a look if you're considering less expensive models.


OVERALL
8. Saturn ion 2 - 56%
7. Suzuki Aerio - 56.9%
6. Mitsubishi Lancer - 61.2%
5. Toyota Corolla - 67.3%
4. Nissan Sentra - 69.6%
3. Mazda Protege - 72.1%
2. Hyundai Elantra - 73.4%
1. Honda Civic - 74%

Rest of story in http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa.....reviews..4.*

[mbt]

interesting results...

[Macky]

interesting results...

Yup, I expected the Protege to be on top but I guess the wimpy engine pulled it down.

[empy]

I'm surprised the Sentra placed so low...on paper it looks like it should run away with the contest from a price - performance/features perspective....I wonder how it would have fared if they tested the SE-R Spec-V :?: