So, let's take a quick look at the base versions of some compacts I've driven recently. These vehicles are frequently available as hatchbacks as well as sedans, but we'll stick to the sedans because they are usually cheaper. Also, these lowest-priced models are equipped with five- or six-speed manual gearboxes. Substituting an automatic will tack roughly $1,000 on the tab.
Ford Focus S ($16,500): All-new for the 2012 model year, the Focus is a testament to the automakers' growing realization that compact, fuel-efficient cars needn't be the automotive equivalent of a root canal. The Focus I tested was stylish, nicely appointed, and athletic, and it dished out a generous serving of ride comfort and quietude.
The redesigned Focus obtains its nifty performance and fuel economy (EPA mileage ratings of 26 city and 36 highway) from a new, 2-liter engine that engenders 160 horsepower with the help of variable valve timing and direct injection. The latter, a rarity in a $16,500 car because it adds a couple hundred bucks to the engine's cost, has a lot to do with the Focus' ability to scoot and sip.
Subaru Impreza ($17,495): This guy is the only all-wheel-drive car in our roundup. (The rest are front-drivers.) As such, it represents good value. It is also roomier and a lot more stylish than the car it replaces.
Paramount among the upgrades for 2012 is the new 2-liter engine, which is smaller, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. When you couple that with the five-speed manual, you get EPAs of 26 city and 36 highway. Fit the car with the new continuously variable automatic transmission, and the mileage rises to 27 and 36, making the Impreza the most miserly all-wheel-driver in America.
