Battle of the Econoboxes

[burntrice087]

which of these expensive(in my opinion) economy cars are the "best" in handling...acceleration and price and where using the least expensive models with all power options(windows ,steering,locks ect)




1)Chevrolet Aveo
2)Kia Rio
3)Honda Civic DX
4)Toyota Echo
5)Hyundai Accent
6)Volkswagen Jetta

[NISSANSPDR]

If we are not including the Jetta VR6 or 1.8T...then I gotta still give it to the Jetta...

[WickedNYCowboy]

I will have to give it to the Jetta. Provided it is the only here in the states that can be had with a diesel. From what I hear the 1.8TDI with the 5 Speeds get in neighborhood of 40MPG

[ricesucks]

Uh...Wheres teh corrola? I voted civic because it is the only car out of those I might be caught dead in...

[Jimster]

:huh: Over here the Civic and Bora (Jetta) are a class above the Rio, Accent, Daewoo Kalos (Aveo) and Yaris (Echo).


That siad, a Jetta or a Civic, because they're superior products to the rest.

[MexSiR]

What Jimster said.

A civic EX smokes a Jetta GL though...

[publicenemy137]

Originally Posted by Jimster

:huh: Over here the Civic and Bora (Jetta) are a class above the Rio, Accent, Daewoo Kalos (Aveo) and Yaris (Echo).


That siad, a Jetta or a Civic, because they're superior products to the rest.

jettas and civics are econobox's, but the daewoos, yaris, and aveos are meant to be the even more economical econoboxes being in the sub-10k price range. They are pretty much the no frills at all cars. Civics and jettas are like 40-80% (depending on options and trim) more in pricing

[drunken monkey]

if you guys ever get the chance i highly recommend having a quick blast in a yaris t-sport.....

[clawhammer]

Ford Focus should be on the list. It can be turned into a decent car, plus it is supposed to last a bit.

[SuperHighOutput]

Replace Echo with Corolla, remove the Aveo, and replace Jetta with Golf, then add the Focus. Then I'd say the Focus or Civic. The Jetta is considerably more expensive than the other cars are.

[drunken monkey]

the yaris drives better than the corolla.
admittedly, the corolla is a much more practical car being much bigger and all that.....

also just want to say that i've seen an indicated 117mph in a 1.0litre yaris (that's 67 bhp), with two passengers and about half a tank of petrol.
this was done on the slight downhill part of the M11 before it joins the M25.
on a flat road, the same yaris indicates 109-111 mph flat out.

i've only ever driven the T-sport (1.5 litre) a few times and even then it was only for short journeys but it was soo much fun.
it leans like crazy but that's part of the charm.

[Jimster]

Yaris T Sports certainly are fun, the Yaris really was just crying out for more power, the only thing left now is a proper interior

[SnoopisTDI]

It's hard to compare the cars because they're not really in the same class. I would choose the Jetta, becuase I think it's the best of the cars listed. Probably the most features(4hweel disc abs, full-size spare, dual front, side, and curtain(front and rear)air bags, heated seats, etc), best mileage, decent handling.

But if you really are just looking for economy, even with the 50mpg of the TDI(which is 1.9L ), the Jetta costs WAY more than the Kia. You'll never make up the cost difference on that. The Jetta would have to last twice as long as the Kia, and you would have to do all your own maintenance(not that this is a big deal- VW's are simple). And maybe the Jetta would last that long, but that is speculation.

As some others have said, I would definitely put the Focus on that list. I had one for a month this summer, and besides getting bad mileage and being a little sluggish in the mountains(auto), I thought it was great. It was about as comfortable as my Golf and had better handling. Combine that with the lower cost, and change it to a 5spd instead of the auto, and you've got a real winner.