Anything else I should look at besides a Focus hatch or 3 Skyactiv?

[Jumpem]

Flavor of the month is currently four door wagons/hatchbacks that are reasonably priced and get good fuel economy. The backseat needs to accomodate two forward facing car seats. Our double stroller barely fits across the back of our Outback, so I'm not sure the back of a Focus or 3 will be big enough.

I'm tempted to wait for the Ford C-MAX hybrid arriving next Fall. It looks a bit bigger, and is expected to get 40+ mpg city.

 

[MiataNC]

I don't think you will gain anything by going to a Focus/3 if your Outback is not big enough.

You may be better off with a minivan or CUV:
Chevy Equinox
Mazda 5, CX-7 or CX-9
Kia Sportage or Sorento
Hyundai Tuscon or Sante Fe
Subaru Tribeca
Ford Edge

Maybe look at a Toyota Venza or Dodge Magnum if you want a larger 4-door with a hatch.

You won't find a vehicle with the space you want that pushes 40MPG

 

[CrackRabbit]

Wait a few months for the Mazda CX-5. It is what you are looking for.

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2013/road-test.html

 

[Jumpem]

I don't think you will gain anything by going to a Focus/3 if your Outback is not big enough.

You may be better off with a minivan or CUV:
Chevy Equinox
Mazda 5, CX-7 or CX-9
Kia Sportage or Sorento
Hyundai Tuscon or Sante Fe
Subaru Tribeca
Ford Edge

Maybe look at a Toyota Venza or Dodge Magnum if you want a larger 4-door with a hatch.

You won't find a vehicle with the space you want that pushes 40MPG

The Outback is big enough. I keep thinking it would be nice to lease something for $250-$300. If I stayed with the crossover theme, I would look at the Mazda CX-5, Subaru XV Crosstrek, or even another Outback. I could have a lower payment and save on gas if I went with something FWD.

 

[Jumpem]

Wait a few months for the Mazda CX-5. It is what you are looking for.

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2013/road-test.html

That was my plan, until I started thinking about getting something a little cheaper and more fuel efficient.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I, too, wanted to mention about Mazda CX-5, and I noticed that you were interested in it lately. I would rather buy a car that is very close to competitors in terms of mileage, while having a very nice uniqueness in its design and a sporty suspension from factory.
I was also thinking(planning) about going way down, and getting a Kia Rio 5 door hatchback(manual, which is Base model). I do not really NEED the extra power or size or comfort or fun factory, but it sure would be nice to have...

 

[CupCak3]

Did you look at the new Imprezza hatch? I was very impressed with it at the auto show this year; great efficiency numbers.

 

[Sid59]

Another bump for CX-5.

Side note, i really hope Mazda stands by their statement of turbo diesel offerings in their cars for US.

2.2 turbo diesel - 173 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque or something less for the US market.

 

[disappoint]

Flavor of the month is currently four door wagons/hatchbacks that are reasonably priced and get good fuel economy. The backseat needs to accomodate two forward facing car seats. Our double stroller barely fits across the back of our Outback, so I'm not sure the back of a Focus or 3 will be big enough.

I'm tempted to wait for the Ford C-MAX hybrid arriving next Fall. It looks a bit bigger, and is expected to get 40+ mpg city.

Are those CGI? They don't look real.

 

[ballmode]

Diesel VW hatch?

 

[ballmode]

Base mini cooper too

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Impreza Hatch -

Kia Soul

Nissan Versa, new for 2013 hatch should be out in a few months

Hyundai Elantra Hatch, new for 2013 5-door should be out this summer. Already out in Europe.

Toyota Matrix

 

[HypX]

Toyota Prius V

Jetta Sportwagen (TDI now, or wait for upcoming 1.8T engine)

Mini Countryman

 

[Doppel]

Prius V

 

[vi edit]

If your Outback isn't big enough there aren't many...if any options that are going to get you 40MPG. And they definitely aren't going to be as cheap as a Focus or Mazda 3. Prius V is the only real choice here, but I haven't seen one in person so I don't know what the usable space really is like.

If Mazda ever brings Skyactiv to the Mazda5 they'll have a smash hit...a fun handling little minivan with 40MPG? Sign me up!

 

[NAC]

I recently bought a Mazda 5 and have been very happy. We wanted a third row for taxing around my daugthers' friends. Depending on how old your kids are and how long you expect to keep the car - you might want a third row too. Fun to drive, manual transmission, and reliable were other requirements I had - and the 5 meets all of them.

It is rated at 28mpg highway. Compared to getting 40mpg, I'll spend $375 more for 10k miles if gas is $3.50.

I'll put in another mention that if the Outback trunk is tight - neither the Mazda3 or Focus would suffice. The 5 has a much longer cargo area, but I don't think it is much wider in order to nicely fit a stroller.

But don't buy a car to fit the stroller. A car costs tens of thousands, and a stroller costs hundreds - if you have a long stroller that is hard to fit in the car - shop around for a different stroller that folds to a more compact shape. My regular Graco double stroller fit perfectly in the VW Golf we had a while back.

 

[vi edit]

But don't buy a car to fit the stroller. A car costs tens of thousands, and a stroller costs hundreds - if you have a long stroller that is hard to fit in the car - shop around for a different stroller that folds to a more compact shape. My regular Graco double stroller fit perfectly in the VW Golf we had a while back.

That was kind of my thought too...using a sledgehammer to kill a fly on that. Why not buy a better sized stroller? If the kids are in forward facing seats it's not like you are using the locking infant carriers in them any more.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

The Prius V is quite a bit larger in the cargo area and has additional legroom and a reclining seat back. They basically took a Prius hatch and made it a wagon so the rear of the car does not slope. You can fit much taller items in the back now.

If you remove the flat floor cover you can get additional cargo space by using the cargo tray below instead of the flat floor cover.

Very roomy commuter.

 

[Ferzerp]

If you're looking at the focus, you may as well consider the cruze hatchback too.

edit: appears it's UK only? oh well.

 

[Jumpem]

Did you look at the new Imprezza hatch? I was very impressed with it at the auto show this year; great efficiency numbers.

I was excited for it at first. It's rated 27/36, but on the Impreza forum people are getting mid to upper twenties for the most part. Not as good I was hoping for. I would rather have something that sits a bit higher with AWD. I'm thinking about the XV Crosstrek in the summer. Same as the Impreza, for the most part, just sits higher.

 

[Jumpem]

Another bump for CX-5.

Side note, i really hope Mazda stands by their statement of turbo diesel offerings in their cars for US.

2.2 turbo diesel - 173 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque or something less for the US market.

The diesel is coming, but not until early 2013. It won't be available at launch.

 

[Jumpem]

Are those CGI? They don't look real.

I believe they are real. More here: http://www.ford.com/cars/cmax/2013/.

 

[Jumpem]

But don't buy a car to fit the stroller. A car costs tens of thousands, and a stroller costs hundreds - if you have a long stroller that is hard to fit in the car - shop around for a different stroller that folds to a more compact shape. My regular Graco double stroller fit perfectly in the VW Golf we had a while back.

That was kind of my thought too...using a sledgehammer to kill a fly on that. Why not buy a better sized stroller? If the kids are in forward facing seats it's not like you are using the locking infant carriers in them any more.

The same thing had crossed my mind. The double stroller was made to support a baby carrier, so it is bulkier than it could be. I could look for another that folds smaller.

 

[NutBucket]

I recently bought a Mazda 5 and have been very happy. We wanted a third row for taxing around my daugthers' friends. Depending on how old your kids are and how long you expect to keep the car - you might want a third row too. Fun to drive, manual transmission, and reliable were other requirements I had - and the 5 meets all of them.

It is rated at 28mpg highway. Compared to getting 40mpg, I'll spend $375 more for 10k miles if gas is $3.50.

I'll put in another mention that if the Outback trunk is tight - neither the Mazda3 or Focus would suffice. The 5 has a much longer cargo area, but I don't think it is much wider in order to nicely fit a stroller.

But don't buy a car to fit the stroller. A car costs tens of thousands, and a stroller costs hundreds - if you have a long stroller that is hard to fit in the car - shop around for a different stroller that folds to a more compact shape. My regular Graco double stroller fit perfectly in the VW Golf we had a while back.

I agree with this guy. The backseat of a Skyactiv3 or Focus is perhaps marginally large enough for forward facing kid seats IMHO. I've been in the back of both and its pretty tight and I'm thin. And the hatch space is TINY compared to even a previous gen Outback.

 

[Jumpem]

I agree with this guy. The backseat of a Skyactiv3 or Focus is perhaps marginally large enough for forward facing kid seats IMHO. I've been in the back of both and its pretty tight and I'm thin. And the hatch space is TINY compared to even a previous gen Outback.

I have not looked at them in person yet.