Against MPG-Mania, Part II: Three Ways To Sip Gas With A Smile -- Or A Frown
Earlier today I argued that MPGs aren't the only thing consumers should be thinking about when they go car-shopping these days. For many people, I suggested, it might be worth paying a little more at the pump for a more enjoyable car. In the spirit of this suggestion, here are two informal top-three lists -- one consisting of fun cars that are still pretty fuel-efficient, and one featuring fuel-efficient cars that are about as much fun to drive as a Zamboni.
The Fun and Frugal
1. Mini Cooper. The Mini is top-ranked because it's the only car we can think of that requires no compromises in either fun or frugality. If you're looking to keep your purchase price under $20k, the base Mini with its slick-shifting manual transmission yields 32 combined mpg (29 with the auto) while delivering sporty handling whenever the mood strikes. Got a couple extra grand to play with? At a base price of $21,200, the turbocharged Mini Cooper S accelerates like Sonic the Hedgehog and handles like the proverbial go-kart, yet it returns an unbelievable 29 combined mpg (27 with the auto). That's right -- a Cooper S boasts the same combined EPA rating as a Chevy Cobalt XFE (see list #2, below). All hail the mighty Mini.
2. Honda Fit. Okay, okay -- if a Fit drag-raced a Zamboni, it might be close. But this light-hearted Honda can outhandle even some purpose-built performance machines. The last Fit Sport we tested zipped through our slalom cones at 67.5 mph, which is 2.5 mph faster than the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart could manage. With 31 combined mpg (29-30 with the optional automatics) and a base price of about $14k, the Fit flaunts the enviable trifecta of fun, fuel-efficiency and affordability. Icing on the cake: it'll haul a bunch of cargo, too.
3. Saturn Astra. We don't see many Astras on the street, and we're not sure why. With a high-quality interior, a practical hatchback design, a peppy 140-horsepower engine and tight handling, this Saturn from der Vaterland has a lot to offer at a base price under $16k. As for fuel consumption, its combined EPA estimate of 27 mpg is pretty respectable. Yeah, that's a couple MPGs less than the class leaders -- but so what? At 12,000 miles per year, that means the Astra will require about 30 extra gallons of gas annually. We'd say that's a small price to pay for the Astra's all-around goodness.
The Frugal But Foul
1. smart fortwo. The good news is, the smart gets 36 combined mpg (albeit on premium fuel), and it's easy to park. The bad news? Absolutely everything else. It rides like a Lotus, accelerates like a lawnmower, and shifts like you did the first time you tried to drive a stick. It's foulness on four wheels.
2. Chevrolet Cobalt XFE. At 29 combined mpg, the Cobalt XFE is near the top of its class when it comes to fuel-efficiency. It's also near the top of its class when it comes to...oh, wait. Actually, that's the only way in which the Cobalt shines. Well, alright, that's not quite fair -- it also does a dead-on impression of an entry-level rental car.
3 (tie). Ford Focus. Clocking in at 28 combined mpg, the Focus is neck-and-neck with the Cobalt XFE. It also challenges said Chevy for the Crown of Crappiness, thanks to its wince-inducing styling, flaccid handling and gravelly engine. At a starting price of about $14,400, the Focus is more expensive than the Fit and within shouting distance of the Astra. If you enjoy driving in the least, you won't enjoy the Focus.
3 (tie). Toyota Corolla. First of all, we don't get why the new manual-shift Corolla actually lost 1 mpg compared with the previous model (30 mpg vs. 31). But really, we don't get the new Corolla at all. Interior materials quality is down, the engine's about as raucous as what you'd find in the Focus, and the handling is so sloppy that even non-enthusiasts may find it lacking. Segment-leading fuel economy notwithstanding, we couldn't imagine spending our hard-earned $15k-and-up on this toe-up Toyota.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com
- Posted by
- SadButTrue July 18, 2008, 2:45 PM
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- Buying New Cars, Buying Used Cars, Driving, Fuel Economy
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- Fuel Economy, Gas Prices
I'd actually like to see Zambonis race! And I think one would be fun to drive, too! I smell a comparison test!
With the Corolla....I think the old one is considerable lighter than the new one and that's why the latter is not as fuel efficient.
I know, as an enthusiast (well, semi-enthusiast), I agree with your assessment, but for most non-enthusiasts, well, I don't know..... A member of my family has the prev-gen (2006) Corolla and mediocre driving dynamics aside it's quite a nice car! It's quiet (if you don't rev it above 2800 rpm!), has a high quality interior and feels as spacious as a smaller mid-sized car. (My Portege5, in contrast, feels like a compact inside.) Add Toyota's legendary value retention and reliability and you understand why it's popular.
I've never driven the new/current Corolla but it seems it no longer has the high quality interior of the prev-gen. I have a friend who has the new Corolla and he love it!
While your list is interesting and certainly good advice, I think it would be nicer if gave issues like market value retention and practicality a bit more weight in yout article. The Mini scores high on the value scale but it's not a practical vehicle at all.....no wonder it sells in niche-like numbers. The Astra is plenty practical and an excellent car but with poor sales (I think I know a few reasons why) it's not going to retain a lot of value. I think you should have replaced the Astra with the Civic or Mazda 3: the Civic retains value better and the Mazda 3 I'm sure is considerably sportier/more enjoyable.
With the excellent sales of the Cobalt, Focus and Corolla, it seems as if most enthusiast would disagree with you. I've given up trying to convince them to look at other things like driver involvement and style!
Blackadder, I've seen reviews saying that the old Corolla was fine, in terms of dynamics and steering feel (for non-enthusiasts), but the new one is a big step backwards.
You can get one with an automatic and A/C for around $15,000 though, which isn't true of the Civic.
Gonna have to side with BA on this one.
I'm picturing a single mom, just trying to get through the day on her receptionist salary. She wants something inexpensive to purchase and own. Doesn't give a darn about how fun-to-drive it is.
Pick your own example.
People who buy little, high mileage, cars aren't interested in it's cornering abilities. They're looking for something practical and easy to drive. We might want them to have different priorities, but they don't.
phhf, the mini is a smart car done right. But not very pratical,that cobalt you rail on along with the corrolla are 1000x more usefull.
Speak for yourself Sadlier. Speaking for all Canadians, may I say that driving a Zamboni sounds awesome and most definitely fun.
Now, having driven both our long-term Mini and my girlfriend's dearly departed Mini quite a bit, I must say that it's more practical than people are saying. Is its back seat as spacious as a Cobalt or Focus? No. But for singles or for two-car households, its spacious front seats and hatchback body style are plenty practical. I guarantee that you can fit bulkier items in the Cooper (and Astra for that matter) that those crappo sedans simply couldn't.
As a final point, this list wasn't just about fun to drive -- it was about all-around quality as well. The Top 3 are quite simply better vehicles than the Bottom 4.
"With the excellent sales of the Cobalt, Focus and Corolla, it seems as if most enthusiast would disagree with you. "
Ooops! I mean to say "non-enthusiasts"!
"People who buy little, high mileage, cars aren't interested in it's cornering abilities."
Very true, but I hope any manufacturer's representatives aren't reading this. There are a few of us who like high mileage and sporting fun. That's the reason I chose a Protege5 instead of a Corolla, Lancer or Civic....
JRiz, I think I need to test-drive a Mini. You're not the first to say that the Mini is more practical than it looks. But having two doors, along with its wierd interior styling, make me by instinct judge it as impractical.......and overall not appealing to me.
I have never driven a Mini, but everything I read should put it at the top of the fun factor. The issue that should take it down a few notches is that as far as I know it requires Premium fuel which makes the cost/mpg ratio a bit lower than the others that require regular.