Despite the crossover craze, there is still a certain segment of buyers who prefer to drive cars. Compact cars offer the benefits of good fuel economy and easy maneuverability in urban environments. The other thing that compact cars have going for them is affordability. You can usually pick up a brand-new compact car for around $20,000. When you look at the used market, the cars become even more affordable. For example, a 2019 used Honda Fit will generally run under $20,000.
2019 Honda Fit
The used Honda Fit is one of the best buys on the compact car market. It has an amazing amount of space inside the cabin and cargo area, plus a smooth ride, sharp handling, and excellent fuel economy. The Honda Fit is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 130 horsepower when combined with a manual transmission, or 128 when combined with the CVT. Base models of the used Honda Fit are equipped with most modern niceties, including AC, cruise control, and power windows and locks.
2019 Toyota Prius C
There’s no doubt that the main selling point for the Toyota Prius C is its fuel economy. It’s one of the more expensive compact cars on the market, but you’ll save money with fewer stops at the gas station. The Prius C gets a combined 46 MPG thanks to a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. The Prius C isn’t particularly quick or exciting to drive, but it does boast a lot of cargo room and comfortably spacious front seats.
2019 Ford Fiesta
Unlike the Prius C, the Ford Fiesta is pretty fun to drive with sharp and nimble handling that scoots it easily through city streets. The Fiesta makes about 160 horsepower with the ST hatchback model, which is plenty for its light frame. Other Fiesta models are a little bit less exciting with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines making only 120 horsepower. Nevertheless, these models do get pretty good fuel economy at up to 31 MPG. The Fiesta offers roomy front seats, but its rear seating area is quite a bit smaller than the used Honda Fit.
2019 Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper is probably the most recognizable compact car on the market with its retro styling and large round lights. The Cooper is a bit more expensive than some other rivals, but it’s a bit more powerful as well. There are two main engine options with the 1.5-liter making 134 horsepower and the 2.0-liter making 189 horsepower. You can choose from either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
2019 Hyundai Accent
The Accent is definitely one of the most affordable compact cars with a price of around $15,000 for a 2019 model. This little four-door offers 130 horsepower and decent fuel economy of up to 32 MPG combined. Unlike its rivals in this list, the Accent only comes in a sedan layout, which makes its cargo capacity quite a bit smaller than the hatchbacks above.
If you need a fuel-efficient commuter car with plenty of room and good road manners, our choice would be the used Honda Fit. The Fit outdoes its rivals in most areas and it can usually be found for a reasonable price.
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