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Sub-$20K car recommendations?

C

CptObvious

Platinum Member
I'm looking for a new or recent everyday 4-door sedan. Primary concerns are reliability, gas mileage, safety and smooth handling (my wife gets headaches if a car is too jerky). Been looking at the usual suspects, Civics and Corollas, but the 2012 reviews seem meh about them. The Hyundai Elantra seems to get good reviews but hard to find in stock (we need a car in the next couple weeks). Also briefly looked at the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.

If we can't find anything then I'm thinking to pony more for an Accord or Sonata, but we make 250+ mile trips regularly so I'd prefer the more fuel-efficient cars. Thanks
 
CptObvious said:
I'm looking for a new or recent everyday 4-door sedan. Primary concerns are reliability, gas mileage, safety and smooth handling (my wife gets headaches if a car is too jerky). Been looking at the usual suspects, Civics and Corollas, but the 2012 reviews seem meh about them. The Hyundai Elantra seems to get good reviews but hard to find in stock (we need a car in the next couple weeks). Also briefly looked at the Ford Focus and Mazda 3.

If we can't find anything then I'm thinking to pony more for an Accord or Sonata, but we make 250+ mile trips regularly so I'd prefer the more fuel-efficient cars. Thanks
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Sub $20k range (new), I'd look at the following:
-New Civic
-Elantra,
-Ford Focus
-Ford Fiesta
-Honda CRZ (as long as 2 seats isnt an issue)
 
If you look at Mazda 3's wait for the 2012's to come out with the new 2L engines. They should give 40mpg on the highway. The 2.5L is pretty peppy but you're looking at around 30-33 highway. Just got back from an 800 mile trip and got 32.

Otherwise:
Mazda 2
Ford fiesta
Ford Focus
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Sonata (maybe) not sure on 20k price point
Chevy Cruze
Kia Forte
Kia Soul

and a few more options I can't think of right now.
 
A Sonata GLS will be right at the $20k point, a little over 21 with auto trans and the one options package (power seat, alloy wheels, nicer interior materials here and there, forget what else). Highway mpg is something like 35 or 36, so you're not giving up a whole lot there.
 
Do you know how to drive MT?
If so, this is for you:

Sports sedan below $20k

The S trim level with MT starts at $19k, minus a $1k rebate. The SE trim level has AT, starts at $22k minus the $1k rebate. It has memory seats.
 
Good call on the Kizashi, Suzuki's terrible reputation is still lingering (for the longest time their cars were just rebadged old korean daewoo models that were pure garbage). Kizashi is actually made in Japan by people that know what they're doing. Ironically, Korean cars are much better than just a few years ago as well. The Forte is miles ahead of the Rio/Spectra that preceded it.

At the price point, I'd seriously consider midsize stuff like Kizashi/Altima/Fusion/Sonata if you can find a deal on one. Fuel economy will be very similar, especially on the highway, but it will have better safety, more practicality, and a better ride in terms of comfort/noise.

Sadly the used market is terrible right now, as the ordinary advice would be to look at something 1-2 years old with very low miles and an extended warranty. Right now that's not advisable though, used prices are insane and the financing is worse.

I'd consider calling around the dealers, tell them straight up you want a midsize car with an i4 and moderate options for $20k, and that you don't want them to waste their time. When one calls you back or says yes, we have that, check it out.
 
If you can pony up a bit more, I would definately go with a 2011+ Sonata considering your needs. It is a very roomy 4 door sedan with decently powered 4 banger (198-200hp) with good initial reliability ratings and some good base options (bluetooth, etc).

22/35 mpg.
 
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Arkaign said:
Good call on the Kizashi, Suzuki's terrible reputation is still lingering (for the longest time their cars were just rebadged old korean daewoo models that were pure garbage). Kizashi is actually made in Japan by people that know what they're doing.
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Oh, I know it quite well 😉

My daily driver is a 2010 Kizashi 6sp MT, and my previous ride was a 2004 Forenza (GMDAT J200 Lacetti, Optra, etc) The Forenza was purely appliance on wheels, but I must admit it NEVER failed me, and at its 135k miles when sold, it was in amazing shape. But then I took care of the car extremely well. Driving the car was "ok, I need to drive, so I'll drive" On the other hand, driving the Kizashi makes me want to drive it.

Hey Arkaign, have you test driven a Kizashi yet? What you have read on the web about the fantastic handling is spot on.

For the OP, if you NEED a big car, the Kizashi is not for you. But if you want something that will keep putting a smile in your face everytime you drive it, test drive one. In fact, I suggest test driving them all. Focus / Elantra / Cruze / Sonata / Fusion / Optima / Altima and the Kizashi. Make sure to use all the controls and touch all the surfaces, and get them up to highway speeds. All of them are very good cars, the ~$20k range is loaded right now with good options.
 
Thanks for all the good suggestions. Right now I'm leaning towards the Sonata because I'm having trouble finding an Elantra GLS in stock for when I need it. I also found a nice price on the 2011 Altima but I read a couple negative reviews about the mileage.
 
Don't get the Cruze. It's just a spiffed up Cobalt/Cavalier. We have them at work and they're near universally hated by staff and customers.

My top pick would be the new Elantra, followed by the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. The Ford Fiesta is also a good choice if you're not fussy about performance. The Elantras are phenominal though. A huge improvement from the past. I'd even look at the Kia Soul and Forte too.
 
mmntech said:
Don't get the Cruze. It's just a spiffed up Cobalt/Cavalier. .....
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No it is NOT

My wife has a 2007 Cobalt. It is not a bad car or a great car. It is meh.

The only thing the 2 cars have in common is market segment. The Cruze is a replacement not a refresh of the Cobalt. The Cruze uses a completely different powertrain, and the interior is 3-4x better than anything ever offered in a Cobalt.

I can appreciate the fact you don't like the Cruze, but it is simply wrong to say it is a "spiffed up Cobalt."
 
CptObvious said:
Thanks for all the good suggestions. Right now I'm leaning towards the Sonata because I'm having trouble finding an Elantra GLS in stock for when I need it. I also found a nice price on the 2011 Altima but I read a couple negative reviews about the mileage.
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fueleconomy.gov rates it 23/32 for the 4 cylinder and those are fair figures. Worse than the sonata and I'd rather have a Sonata than a 4 cylinder Altima, but it should also be much cheaper than the Sonata (if not, don't bother). Altima is a very solid choice, too, and consumer reports sure loves them.
 
Don't get the Cruze. It's just a spiffed up Cobalt/Cavalier. We have them at work and they're near universally hated by staff and customers.
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How did you come to the conclusion that the Cruze is a spiffed up Cobalt? They are completely unrelated as far as I know.

Cobalt is Delta and Cruze is the completely different Delta 2.
 
Doppel said:
fueleconomy.gov rates it 23/32 for the 4 cylinder and those are fair figures. Worse than the sonata and I'd rather have a Sonata than a 4 cylinder Altima, but it should also be much cheaper than the Sonata (if not, don't bother). Altima is a very solid choice, too, and consumer reports sure loves them.
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Fwiw, I know a couple of people with the i4 Altimas with automatics, and they've been very reliable cars, the owners seem pretty happy. Far from exciting, but they're often a good buy around here, the dealers seem to give them away several times a year. I wish that was true for the coupe though, it seems a decent little car but holy crap is the coupe overpriced at the dealer lots.

I'd rather have the Sonata myself, but the Altima is worth looking at if your local dealer is giving them away. I've seen them go out the door reasonably equipped (MP3 CD, AC, Auto, Power windows/locks/brakes) for $14k-$15k, and once for $12k old new-stock closeout.
 
LTC8K6 said:
How did you come to the conclusion that the Cruze is a spiffed up Cobalt? They are completely unrelated as far as I know.

Cobalt is Delta and Cruze is the completely different Delta 2.
Click to expand...

Yeah Cruze actually is a joint venture with the Koreans, and in the past this might have been a bad thing, but the new stuff has been pretty darned good of late, and the Cruze is no exception. I'm not crazy about the 1.4T, and lack of an overall performance option so far, but I think it's a good product and a dramatic improvement over the non-SS Cobalts. The SS Cobalt is still kind of a pile, but at least it's shockingly fast for a FF compact.
 
I kinda like the Toyota Camry. At least go drive one - I thought it was great. Reliable, great on gas, safe, and smooth.

I remember the 2011 year-end models (when 2012 came out) were going for 19k out the door for a V6 with options. My dad bought one. So if that's a gauge, get a year end model!
 
slugg said:
I kinda like the Toyota Camry. At least go drive one - I thought it was great. Reliable, great on gas, safe, and smooth.

I remember the 2011 year-end models (when 2012 came out) were going for 19k out the door for a V6 with options. My dad bought one. So if that's a gauge, get a year end model!
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:hmm:

:awe:
 
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