Topic: Mega Comparison Test: 2013-2014 Compact Cars

[Autos_Editor]

Autos.ca wades into the enormous pond of compact cars to determine which is the best combination of style, practicality, comfort, capability and value.

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[Boff]

Did you guys publish a scoresheet or did I miss it? Looks to me like price might have been weighted too heavily in your rubric, especially because you seemingly made no effort to match the cars on options and equipment. People would cross-shop a $22k Sentra with a $22K Focus (they exist!), not a $30K Focus.

[Snowman]

We never get to see how the cars were scored or rated in each category form Autos or AJAC. Must be some propitiatory system that the "readers" would not understand   

[JacobBlack]

Did you guys publish a scoresheet or did I miss it? Looks to me like price might have been weighted too heavily in your rubric, especially because you seemingly made no effort to match the cars on options and equipment. People would cross-shop a $22k Sentra with a $22K Focus (they exist!), not a $30K Focus.

Manufacturers decide what to submit, we asked for compacts under 30k,thats what each make submitted. There are only so many trims on fleet at any time.

[Black Hatch]

We never get to see how the cars were scored or rated in each category form Autos or AJAC. Must be some propitiatory system that the "readers" would not understand 

Yup they must have a conspiracy of rating Mazda first.
First the compact CUV and now the compact cars, what's next mid-size too?

Anyways surprised at how well the Corolla did. Although I didn't think it would be last, surprised it surpassed... okay on second thought Corolla might be a good second choice for me too.

[Noto]

I haven't read it yet, but it must be almost Christmas - I LOVE THESE COMPAROS!!!  Thank you Autos.ca staff!

I'll re-post my thoughts (because you all care) after I read.

[Snowman]

We never get to see how the cars were scored or rated in each category form Autos or AJAC. Must be some propitiatory system that the "readers" would not understand 

Yup they must have a conspiracy of rating Mazda first.
First the compact CUV and now the compact cars, what's next mid-size too?

Anyways surprised at how well the Corolla did. Although I didn't think it would be last, surprised it surpassed... okay on second thought Corolla might be a good second choice for me too.

Good for Mazda but that is not the issue I have. Considering this was an in-house test the data is available to publish in a simple score sheet with several categories. I fail to understand why this can't be done. Jacob even avoided the question when asked by Boff.

[hemusbull]

Why looks to me the principle here is newer car on the market is higher in rating? Sorry Civic... 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I hated the Mazda joystick thing. It took much more focus than a touchscreen. The screen itself looked like an afterthought tacked on top of the dash. It could only have looked less integrated if it was attached with suction cups to the windshield.

I agree with the comment that price was too heavily weighted.

[prufrock]

The text for the 4th place Civic states it came in third. 

[EastToronto]

Thank you, love these comparisons.

Can you clarify on the Focus?

"However, the Focus had a tight back seat, though not as bad as the Dart, and despite being a hatchback scored worst for Cargo Space even if it scored well in Flexibility. That trunk is narrow and not very deep."

The spec sheet at the end has the Focus with way more cargo space than all the other cars (674L vs ~400 for most others). Typo or am I missing something here?

[OliverD]

I thought the Dart was the largest car in its class. Odd that it would have a small back seat.

[jyarkony]

Thank you, love these comparisons.

Can you clarify on the Focus?

"However, the Focus had a tight back seat, though not as bad as the Dart, and despite being a hatchback scored worst for Cargo Space even if it scored well in Flexibility. That trunk is narrow and not very deep."

The spec sheet at the end has the Focus with way more cargo space than all the other cars (674L vs ~400 for most others). Typo or am I missing something here?

Each company has their own way of measuring cargo space, so despite that number, the Focus is clearly smaller and less useful in real world functionalty, as evidenced by this photo:

http://www.autos.ca/galleries/2013/index.php?level=picture&id=15870

Compare that with our leaders:

http://www.autos.ca/galleries/2013/index.php?level=picture&id=15919
http://www.autos.ca/galleries/2013/index.php?level=picture&id=15950
http://www.autos.ca/galleries/2013/index.php?level=picture&id=15983

[Black Hatch]

So Jacob, was the heated steering wheel weighted out of 5 or 10? 

[safristi]

My "CAR" wasn't in the MIX so I'm fine with the results.... ..tho' i tho't the Veyron was the best subcompact with the small interior and a bit SPENDY......................

[DriverJeff]

The text for the 4th place Civic states it came in third. 

Doh!  Who's the jackass that wrote that part!?  Editors shall fix… 

[EastToronto]

Each company has their own way of measuring cargo space, so despite that number, the Focus is clearly smaller and less useful in real world functionalty, as evidenced by this photo:

Ah thanks for clarifying.

Based on this writeup I think I'm actually drawn to the "bad" cars. The Mazda is hard to argue with obviously but the Ford looks tasty. Best interior, best handling, best quality, and from the spec sheet it's on the higher end of HP and the lower end of weight. Whereas the Sentra (which aesthetically looks very nice to my eye) has worst transmission, worst engine, worst interior, but it's cheap and has a big trunk. Just a matter of priorities I guess.

I really want to like the Dart but this is the umpteenth bad review I've read here and elsewhere.

Re: pricing I'm sure I wouldn't get a Ford with self-parking and leather and all those other frills (most people don't buy the titanium/LTZ/top trim do they?) so I don't think the price premium is that significant.

[jyarkony]

The text for the 4th place Civic states it came in third. 

Doh!  Who's the jackass that wrote that part!?  Editors shall fix…

Yeah, slacker editors, too!

and thanks Prufrock... as the man said, "there will be time yet... for a hundred visions and revisions before the taking of the toast and tea..."

[Noto]

So after finally reading it...
I'm left a little unsure about the Civic.  It does seem dated, and this will be the third year in a row that it's received some fairly major 'refreshes'.  Value, yeah for sure it's there...but it just doesn't scream to me like it used to.

I'm finding that the pricing weight is very important, and I thank you guys/dolls for considering it.  Let's be honest here...I have $ and am considering an econobox or a WRX.  I'd be willing to spend, but for a commuter, I'm not sure I am.  So would I spend $30k on a Focus, Forte, or Jetta?  No chance.

I want to love the Impreza, but as you point out, it just loses in value.  I would buy the Impreza for the same reason I'd get a Golf/Jetta - Impreza for AWD, Golf/Jetta for TDI.  Is it worth spending $25k+ on one feature that we love?  I'm thinking not.  If anything, the AWD wins more for me since I live in Canada.

The Corolla really is surprising me, too.  I'm not a huge fan of the interior, but otherwise it does everything so well.  It'd hard to pass up, especially at its price point.

I still respect the Mazda 3, but would never buy one (the flat-bottomed seats, styling (one of the worst IMO, and will not hold up well to time), and the cheap paint quality/question of rust issues).

For me, this comparo was pretty spot-on.  If we could do a perfect Trim/Value world, then yeah the results would be different.

I'd have trouble debating between <$25k cars, including:
-Impreza (solely for its AWD)
-Corolla (least offensive, love the LED headlights, good use of space)
-Focus (questionable reliable/powertrain manners)
-Jetta (very questionable Mexican reliability, lowest value)
-Forte (lots of toys, but a little pricey for a fairly new entrant)
-3 (hate them seats, but gotta love the usability and powertrains)

I think I would rate them in that order, too.

[redman]

I get most of the ratings but fail to see why the Chevrolet Cruze diesel placed 9th.
Ok rear space but others also failed and styling is leaps better than it's predecessors and better than many of the competitors here IMO, especially rear lighting.
Seems a bit harsh for a car stated as best torque rating and best highway drive. The real world Fuel economy has already proven to beat the posted EPA ratings also.