Thrifty Agenda: Subcompacts Ranked from Worst to Best
There's never been a better time to shop for a subcompact.
The traditional subcompact recipe is a simple one: Combine a low price of entry with the promise of low ownership costs, and add just enough comfort and utility to keep buyers interested. It’s not very glamorous, but, with a few notable exceptions, the bland, value-based equation ruled the segment for decades. Thankfully, a new era is upon us, where style, refinement, and genuine driving pleasure coexist peacefully with a thrifty agenda, presenting the marketplace with an unprecedented bumper crop of quality subcompact offerings. Click through to see how the current group ranks.
This article is updated whenever a new model merits inclusion or an existing model’s rank from Car and Driver changes. It was originally published in September 2015.
10. Mitsubishi Mirage G4
What the Mirage G4 offers over a used car is a great warranty and the peace of mind that comes with owning a new car. As the four-door version of the Mirage hatchback, the G4 has the same anemic 78-hp inline-three engine teamed up with a five-speed manual; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) costs extra. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are optional on the ES and standard on the SE. The powertrain has a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty; the corrosion warranty is seven years/100,000 miles; and roadside assist is five years/unlimited miles. Review, Pricing, Specs
9. Nissan Versa
The Versa is built to be America’s cheapest car, so if you want a cheap new car, here it is—if you like to drive, keep shopping. (We’re reporting here on the sedan; the Versa Note is its slightly more desirable hatchback twin.) The Versa is filled with insultingly flimsy materials. Its wimpy 109-hp inline-four makes for slow acceleration but is quite fuel efficient. Models equipped with the CVT are rated for 39 mpg on the highway, but the five-speed manual is a bit more fun to drive. Review, Pricing, Specs
8. Nissan Versa Note
Handsome styling, a roomy back seat, and the promise of astronomical fuel economy are not enough to make the Versa Note an appealing car. Its weak 1.6-liter four-cylinder makes 109 horsepower and pairs with either a sloppy five-speed manual or a drone-inducing CVT. We could forgive the Versa Note its faults if it were fun to drive, but alas, its road behavior is bland thanks to a soft suspension and grip-challenged tires. Pick a competitor or even a used car before dropping your cash on this lifeless Nissan. Review, Pricing, Specs
7. Toyota Yaris
A budget car that feels every bit of its low sticker price, the Yaris is an afterthought in a competitive segment. Its anemic engine provides pokey acceleration, and in our highway test it fell 2 mpg short of its EPA-highway estimate of 36 mpg. For the best performance, choose the manual transmission over the automatic. The ride is compliant and the brakes are effective, but its steering is numb. Good visibility and the Toyota Entune infotainment system are some of the Yaris’s best features. Review, Pricing, Specs
6. Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet’s handsome Sonic offers practicality, efficiency, and agility in a compact package. The standard 1.8-liter inline-four teams with a five- or six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The 1.4-liter turbo four is the one to get; it comes with a six-speed manual or automatic. Available as a sedan or a hatchback, the Sonic sets out to have broad appeal. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system has 4G LTE internet connectivity with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and onboard Wi-Fi. Review, Pricing, Specs
5. Ford Fiesta
Although the Fiesta is small, it is still mighty fierce. An engaging five-speed manual comes standard; an optional six-speed automatic sacrifices little driving fun. Steering is crisp and well weighted, and the car is playful in the corners. The rear seat is tight in both sedan and hatchback form, but its size and scant standard equipment shouldn’t be deal breakers. A 120-hp 1.6-liter inline-four is standard. Touchscreen infotainment, navigation, and a sunroof cost extra. Review, Pricing, Specs
4. Honda Fit
An amazingly flexible interior, an efficient powertrain, and agreeable pricing make the Fit an easy recommendation. The 1.5-liter inline-four makes 130 horsepower when equipped with the standard six-speed manual but 128 horsepower when paired with the optional continuously variable automatic transmission. Automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control are optional. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on all but the base LX. Review, Pricing, Specs
3. Kia Rio
Cheap and cheerful is the Rio’s ambition, and it does so with a style all its own. In both the sedan and the hatchback, a 130-hp 1.6-liter inline-four engine drives the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic. The base LX trim is the definition of basic transportation, making do without power windows, Bluetooth connectivity, or cruise control. Goodies such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and automated emergency braking require stepping all the way up to the top-spec EX trim. Review, Pricing, Specs
2. Hyundai Accent
No need for excuses here: The Accent, with its distinctive design and fuel-sipping engine, is a fine choice for an economical car. The interior feels more upscale than that of the competition, but the Accent is available only as a sedan. Its 130-hp 1.6-liter inline-four pairs with either a standard perky six-speed manual or an optional sluggish six-speed automatic. The manual rates at 37 mpg EPA highway; the automatic gets 38 mpg. The Accent has a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Review, Pricing, Specs
1. Toyota Yaris iA
The car formerly known as the Scion iA gained a few Toyota badges and transformed into the Yaris iA for 2017. Don’t let its name fool you, though; it’s actually a Mazda 2 in disguise. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 106 horsepower and is paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The monospec Yaris iA offers a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, low-speed automated emergency braking, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard; navigation is a dealer-installed option. Review, Pricing, Specs
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