Wanted: fuel efficient, normal looking sedan, reliable, semi-luxury

[dullard]

I have a 2002 Civic LX. It does the job and can keep going. But, I've owned it for nearly 10 years and I'm thinking of moving on. I really like the Civic (fuel sipping, reliable) but would like a bit more luxury features. What are good replacements?

My ideal car would be a Civic + a few luxury features. Instead, luxury usually means useless-to-me horsepower, premium fuel, and bad fuel economy. Since I drive 20,000+ miles per year and want this for 10 years, I want decent fuel economy.

Most of all I'd like to add heated leather seats, dual climate controls, and if possible cooled or ventilated seats. Is that available in any reliable normal looking sedan without paying an arm and a leg?

The Civic EX-L seems decent, but doesn't really add much over what I already have. The prius 4 has good specs, but looks terrible. The Acura TL or Infinity G25x AWD are my dream cars, but the MPG doesn't cut it. The Lexus HS Hybrid seems right, but now you are approaching $40k hardly worth paying double over the Civic EX-L.

Am I missing a few models to consider?

 

[HendrixFan]

Camry Hybrid?

 

[Zen0]

The Lexus ct hybrid is a good looking hatch, priced right, and tight and economical. It's no worse looking than the Lexus HS anyway, since that is such an ugly sedan.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Fusion Hybrid? Good mileage and should be a bit more luxury than a Civic.

ZV

 

[Vic Vega]

I rented a Fusion SEL I4 last year. Nice car, very "normal" looking, not flashy. The car has all the features you are looking for and gets reasonably good milage - the hybrid does even better. If I needed a newer car I would be looking at a Fusion hard.

 

[T2urtle]

Tsx could get a little more MPG compared to the TL. Offer u dual climate and heated seats. Not sure on cooled seats.

Heated seats is easy to find. Dual climate in most cases is pointless, not one those hot items that make or break a car. Cooled seats are still somewhat rare. Only seen them in Benz and m45 myself, I'm sure there are more cars with them

Sent from my Nexus One

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Focus titanium?

 

[Howard]

What region do you live in?

 

[halik]

Used TSX? Little more upscale than a fusion.

 

[chin311]

Yeah I was going to say tsx a well. Maybe a 2.5 upscale model altima?
W

 

[SearchMaster]

Yeah I was going to say tsx a well. Maybe a 2.5 upscale model altima?
W

That's a pretty good suggestion IMO. My dad and my neighbor both have Altima SLs, 30+ MPG real world and everything else you listed except cooled seats. cars.overstock.com lists it at just over $22k (MSRP $27K), which is about what my neighbor paid. You could add the tech package, bluetooth, etc. and still come in at $25K-$26K.

 

[BUTCH1]

Tsx could get a little more MPG compared to the TL. Offer u dual climate and heated seats. Not sure on cooled seats.

Heated seats is easy to find. Dual climate in most cases is pointless, not one those hot items that make or break a car. Cooled seats are still somewhat rare. Only seen them in Benz and m45 myself, I'm sure there are more cars with them

Sent from my Nexus One

I've never understood how dual climate could work that well anyway, if both windows are up the temp is gonna eventually equalize anyway, why not just close the vent that's blowing on you?. Heated seats are nice, my current car has 'em. OP, another feature my car has (05 GM) and more are coming equipped with is factory remote start, so nice to get into a cat that's not boiling hot or waiting for the heater to warm up..

 

[dullard]

Thanks for suggestions so far.

Camry Hybrid?

Certainly a contender, I looked at one on the lot yesterday. Just not much excitement and barely decent mileage. If the 2012 model has improvements I might consider it. Although the Accord EX-L is about the same but $3000 cheaper.

The Lexus ct hybrid is a good looking hatch, priced right, and tight and economical. It's no worse looking than the Lexus HS anyway, since that is such an ugly sedan.

That would be exactly what I want, but I couldn't stand spending 5000 hours in such an ugly vehicle.

Fusion Hybrid? Good mileage and should be a bit more luxury than a Civic.

I haven't looked at domestics yet. It took too long just looking at the Japanese ones. Thanks, I'll look into that one.

Tsx could get a little more MPG compared to the TL. Offer u dual climate and heated seats. Not sure on cooled seats.

Heated seats is easy to find. Dual climate in most cases is pointless, not one those hot items that make or break a car. Cooled seats are still somewhat rare.

TSX isn't much better on fuel than the TL, sadly. Maybe the 2012 model will squeek out a bit more fuel economy. Otherwise, I'll reject it. Also Consumer Reports gives it only average reliability (Acura skimped a bit too much to get that price point).

I'm almost always intensely hot and ready to sweat. My wife is 90 lbs and freezing with sweaters and blankets on. She keeps turning the heater on full blast on hot summer days. That is why heated seats (for her) + dual zone (even if barely effective) are features that I'd really like. Cooled would be fantastic, but even ventillation would help.

Focus titanium?

Never heard of it. I'll look.

What region do you live in?

Nebraska. Snow driving is a big consideration. Thus, lowered cars like the AWD TL or the Civic HF are out as would be RWD vehicles.

That's a pretty good suggestion IMO. My dad and my neighbor both have Altima SLs, 30+ MPG real world and everything else you listed except cooled seats. cars.overstock.com lists it at just over $22k (MSRP $27K), which is about what my neighbor paid. You could add the tech package, bluetooth, etc. and still come in at $25K-$26K.

Doh, I left off Nissan in my Japanese searches. Just too many to look at.

 

[marvdmartian]

Check out the Hyundai Elantra Limited.

26/40/33 (city/highway/combined) EPA estimates, and the "Limited" (high end) model starts at ~$20K.

With a 10 year powertrain warranty, how could you go wrong??

 

[dullard]

Check out the Hyundai Elantra Limited.

26/40/33 (city/highway/combined) EPA estimates, and the "Limited" (high end) model starts at ~$20K.

With a 10 year powertrain warranty, how could you go wrong??

Hyundai is getting better on reliability. I might consider them if I were buying in 3 years. That $21k price isn't bad.

I'm being picky here, but there aren't any real side windows. It looks like a "hope no one is there, pray, and try merging" vehicle. Of course, you can say the same thing about the new Civic redesign.

The 100,000 mile warranty is nice. But, you can still go wrong. That only takes me 5 years (3 years if I change jobs) until I exceed that mileage and the warranty is void. Plus a car does you no good while it is in the shop, even if the repairs are free. Warranties are nice to haves, but I'd rather have a car I can really count on. Hyundai is almost there, but not quite.

 

[Jumpem]

Nebraska. Snow driving is a big consideration. Thus, lowered cars like the AWD TL or the Civic HF are out as would be RWD vehicles.

Legacy 2.5i Limited. AWD + 31mpg.

 

[desy]

Hyundai is more than there frankly esp the Elantra and Sonata
VW is also supposed to have turned the corner

 

[SparkyJJO]

Hyundai is more than there frankly esp the Elantra and Sonata
VW is also supposed to have turned the corner

I guess? Guy at the office has a new Sonata, and the interior, while decent and certainly better than a civic, feels like the cheap off-brand of something better to me.

 

[dullard]

Hyundai is more than there frankly esp the Elantra and Sonata
VW is also supposed to have turned the corner

The elantra does get better than average reliability ratings but, it isn't highly reliable yet. They'll be there soon. I say that mostly since the 2011 is a redesign and they tend to have more flaws in the redesigns. It'll take a bit of time to work those flaws out. I'd feel more comfortable in the 2010 model than the 2011 model for that reason.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

If ~28MPG highway/~22 city can do you, an 05~09 Legacy GT might be great for you. HUGE bang for the buck

 

[Howard]

You're gonna want a heated steering wheel then.

 

[TraumaRN]

As someone who owes a Fusion Hybrid I would definitely look at it. I average 39MPG in the winter and about 46MPG Spring/Summer/Fall

Otherwise Focus Titanium hatchback.

Here is what my car looks like in case you are curious:

 

[brblx]

god i hate the trend of optioning an entry-level 4cyl car into a 30k 'luxury sedan.'

i would not believe people were paying 28-30k for focuses if i wasn't seeing it every day.

 

[Imported]

Somewhat in a similar boat.. I'm holding out for the A3 TDI sedan.

 

[Doppel]

god i hate the trend of optioning an entry-level 4cyl car into a 30k 'luxury sedan.'

i would not believe people were paying 28-30k for focuses if i wasn't seeing it every day.

Agreed, the only way I can bear it, the only thing that makes me feel at all in control and not dying is to cut myself deeply on my thigh every time I read it. $27k for a compact car with 160HP, you must be sh*ting me. I Just found a place advertisign a $26k focus and it doesn't even have leather. The hell kind of person would buy that.