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Midgets around the world can rejoice.
I would go with the civic personally.
Ford Fiesta
2011 Ford Fiesta, Courtesy Ford Motor CompanyPrice: $13,320 - $17,120
Mileage: 28 City / 37 Hwy
Surprise! The most fuel efficient, fun-to-drive inexpensive subcompact sold in America is the Ford Fiesta.
Seriously, it's true.
And it gets even crazier because the most fun to drive Ford Fiesta -- ironically the one with the automatic transmission -- is also the most fuel efficient.
No, it's not backwards day at CNNMoney.com. The Fiesta's twin-clutch automatic transmission sends power almost continuously to the wheels, the gear switches happening almost instantaneously. And that nicely complements the Fiesta's quick, responsive handling.
MORE AT CNNMONEY.COM
ยป Cars: Top 10 best resale value
Chevrolet Cruze
2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Courtesy General MotorsPrice: $16,275 - $21,975
Mileage: 24 City / 36 Hwy
And here's another surprise! General Motors makes a really nice small car.
The best thing about the Chevy Cruze is that it looks, feels and drives like a real car. It's not one of those "be happy you even have a car" tin cans on wheels. The interior is made from better-than-you-paid-for stuff while the ride quality and performance are, likewise, a notch above.
Most small car buyers are after practicality and comfort, not kicks, and the Cruze delivers with an airy-feeling interior and large, easy-to-pack trunk.
Things might have turned out differently for GM had it made a car like this ten years ago. Better late than never.
Honda Fit
2010 Honda Fit, Courtesy Hondo Motor Co.Price: $14,900 - $16,410
Mileage: 27 City / 33 Hwy
Finally, something you'd expect. The Honda Fit is a perennial in these sorts of lists and for good reason. While it's known for being small and fun, the thing that really sets the Fit apart is its flexibility and practicality.
The Fit almost makes you wonder why we need small crossover SUVs. While not looking like one of those trendy box-on-wheels compacts, the sporty Fit really crams about as much storage space as you could ever imagine into its little body.
Kia Soul
2010 Kia Soul, Courtesy Hyundai Kia Automotive GroupPrice: $13,300 - $18,495
Mileage: 26 City / 31 Hwy
When it comes to cool, box-like little vans, the Soul is probably the coolest. Its techno-chic look outside is matched by an available two-tone interior inside and a optional lighted stereo speakers that blink to the beat.
Around town, the Soul is a kick to drive, but it feels a bit skittish at highway speeds. As you'd expect, the biggest benefit is its ample interior storage.
Volkswagen Golf
2010 Volkswagen Golf, Courtesy VolkswagenPrice: $17,965 - $23,435
Mileage: 22 City / 30 Hwy
The Golf provides around-town fun and with a surprisingly sophisticated feel at higher speeds, where other small cars tend to be noisy and nervous.
Whenever you bring up VW, though, the conversation immediately turns to dependability, a traditional chink in the automaker's "German engineered" armor. Consumer Reports' most recent reliability report puts VW right smack in the middle of the pack. It's exactly average.
Honda Civic
2011 Honda Civic, Courtesy Honda Motor Co.Price: $15,605 - $25,490
Mileage: 26 City / 34 Hwy
Whenever you're looking at any compact car, you have to ask yourself "Is it better than a Civic?" Most aren't.
Fortunately for those other automakers there's enough strangeness in the Civic to turn off at least some buyers from this otherwise fine and dependable little car. For instance, if you don't like feeling like your car just popped out of the shuttle bay on the U.S.S. Enterprise, the Civic's high tech instrument panel might not be your thing. On the other hand, if you're into that sort of thing, you'll also enjoy the Civic's dependability and, when properly equipped, sportiness.
Mazda3
2011 Mazda3, Courtesy MazdaPrice: $15,800 - $23,010
Mileage: 25 City / 33 Hwy
The Mazda3 three is big enough to be practical, but still small and light enough to take advantage of its dart-quick Mazda driving dynamics.
Inside you'll find a surprisingly comfortable interior and nice touches like an available navigation screen and a host of other items you usually find in luxury car option lists.
Suzuki SX4
2011 Suzuki SX4, Courtesy SuzukiPrice: $16,499 - $16,999
Mileage: 23 City / 32 Hwy
The SX4 comes in two particularly tasty flavors, each of which has its own distinct charms. First, there's the all-wheel-drive "Crossover" version, which is a handy little machine to have when the snow comes down.
The other is the "Sportback" version which sports a big rubber-lipped rear wing. It's a rowdy, bouncy bundle of fun that handles nicely in the turns. No, it doesn't have all-wheel-drive but what it lacks in practicality it makes up for in giggles.
Nissan Versa
2011 Nissan Versa, Courtesy Nissan Motor Co.Price: $9,990 - $16,900
Mileage: 26 City / 34 Hwy
In terms of exterior size, the Versa fits in somewhere between a subcompact, like the Honda Fit, and a compact car, like the Honda Civic.
Inside, there's only one size: surprisingly roomy. While it's not a particularly fun car to drive, the Versa is a comfortable highway cruiser -- not something many small cars can say -- and the front seat ride, at least, is smooth and settled. Basically, it feels like a mid-sized car that's easier on gas and easier to park.
Scion xB
2011 Scion xB, Courtesy Toyota Motor CompanyPrice: $16,000
Mileage: 22 City / 28 Hwy
The best and biggest of the compact box vehicles, the xB is amazingly functional. With so many storage spaces hidden throughout, you should probably put radio tags on anything you plan to leave in the car. You might not be able to remember where you put them.
The xB is also enjoyable to drive around town and a pleasant companion on long highway drives, as well.
2011 Ford Fiesta, Courtesy Ford Motor CompanyPrice: $13,320 - $17,120
Mileage: 28 City / 37 Hwy
Surprise! The most fuel efficient, fun-to-drive inexpensive subcompact sold in America is the Ford Fiesta.
Seriously, it's true.
And it gets even crazier because the most fun to drive Ford Fiesta -- ironically the one with the automatic transmission -- is also the most fuel efficient.
No, it's not backwards day at CNNMoney.com. The Fiesta's twin-clutch automatic transmission sends power almost continuously to the wheels, the gear switches happening almost instantaneously. And that nicely complements the Fiesta's quick, responsive handling.
MORE AT CNNMONEY.COM
ยป Cars: Top 10 best resale value
Chevrolet Cruze
2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Courtesy General MotorsPrice: $16,275 - $21,975
Mileage: 24 City / 36 Hwy
And here's another surprise! General Motors makes a really nice small car.
The best thing about the Chevy Cruze is that it looks, feels and drives like a real car. It's not one of those "be happy you even have a car" tin cans on wheels. The interior is made from better-than-you-paid-for stuff while the ride quality and performance are, likewise, a notch above.
Most small car buyers are after practicality and comfort, not kicks, and the Cruze delivers with an airy-feeling interior and large, easy-to-pack trunk.
Things might have turned out differently for GM had it made a car like this ten years ago. Better late than never.
Honda Fit
2010 Honda Fit, Courtesy Hondo Motor Co.Price: $14,900 - $16,410
Mileage: 27 City / 33 Hwy
Finally, something you'd expect. The Honda Fit is a perennial in these sorts of lists and for good reason. While it's known for being small and fun, the thing that really sets the Fit apart is its flexibility and practicality.
The Fit almost makes you wonder why we need small crossover SUVs. While not looking like one of those trendy box-on-wheels compacts, the sporty Fit really crams about as much storage space as you could ever imagine into its little body.
Kia Soul
2010 Kia Soul, Courtesy Hyundai Kia Automotive GroupPrice: $13,300 - $18,495
Mileage: 26 City / 31 Hwy
When it comes to cool, box-like little vans, the Soul is probably the coolest. Its techno-chic look outside is matched by an available two-tone interior inside and a optional lighted stereo speakers that blink to the beat.
Around town, the Soul is a kick to drive, but it feels a bit skittish at highway speeds. As you'd expect, the biggest benefit is its ample interior storage.
Volkswagen Golf
2010 Volkswagen Golf, Courtesy VolkswagenPrice: $17,965 - $23,435
Mileage: 22 City / 30 Hwy
The Golf provides around-town fun and with a surprisingly sophisticated feel at higher speeds, where other small cars tend to be noisy and nervous.
Whenever you bring up VW, though, the conversation immediately turns to dependability, a traditional chink in the automaker's "German engineered" armor. Consumer Reports' most recent reliability report puts VW right smack in the middle of the pack. It's exactly average.
Honda Civic
2011 Honda Civic, Courtesy Honda Motor Co.Price: $15,605 - $25,490
Mileage: 26 City / 34 Hwy
Whenever you're looking at any compact car, you have to ask yourself "Is it better than a Civic?" Most aren't.
Fortunately for those other automakers there's enough strangeness in the Civic to turn off at least some buyers from this otherwise fine and dependable little car. For instance, if you don't like feeling like your car just popped out of the shuttle bay on the U.S.S. Enterprise, the Civic's high tech instrument panel might not be your thing. On the other hand, if you're into that sort of thing, you'll also enjoy the Civic's dependability and, when properly equipped, sportiness.
Mazda3
2011 Mazda3, Courtesy MazdaPrice: $15,800 - $23,010
Mileage: 25 City / 33 Hwy
The Mazda3 three is big enough to be practical, but still small and light enough to take advantage of its dart-quick Mazda driving dynamics.
Inside you'll find a surprisingly comfortable interior and nice touches like an available navigation screen and a host of other items you usually find in luxury car option lists.
Suzuki SX4
2011 Suzuki SX4, Courtesy SuzukiPrice: $16,499 - $16,999
Mileage: 23 City / 32 Hwy
The SX4 comes in two particularly tasty flavors, each of which has its own distinct charms. First, there's the all-wheel-drive "Crossover" version, which is a handy little machine to have when the snow comes down.
The other is the "Sportback" version which sports a big rubber-lipped rear wing. It's a rowdy, bouncy bundle of fun that handles nicely in the turns. No, it doesn't have all-wheel-drive but what it lacks in practicality it makes up for in giggles.
Nissan Versa
2011 Nissan Versa, Courtesy Nissan Motor Co.Price: $9,990 - $16,900
Mileage: 26 City / 34 Hwy
In terms of exterior size, the Versa fits in somewhere between a subcompact, like the Honda Fit, and a compact car, like the Honda Civic.
Inside, there's only one size: surprisingly roomy. While it's not a particularly fun car to drive, the Versa is a comfortable highway cruiser -- not something many small cars can say -- and the front seat ride, at least, is smooth and settled. Basically, it feels like a mid-sized car that's easier on gas and easier to park.
Scion xB
2011 Scion xB, Courtesy Toyota Motor CompanyPrice: $16,000
Mileage: 22 City / 28 Hwy
The best and biggest of the compact box vehicles, the xB is amazingly functional. With so many storage spaces hidden throughout, you should probably put radio tags on anything you plan to leave in the car. You might not be able to remember where you put them.
The xB is also enjoyable to drive around town and a pleasant companion on long highway drives, as well.
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