Scott Burgess: Auto Review

A new social compact: Honda Civic best all-around choice in '09 lineup

There's no doubting the variety that comes with compact cars. Some, such as the Volvo C30 and Audi A3, are more luxurious, while others, like the Mini Cooper, have cult-like followings. All of them, however, share a few common attributes.

In auto parlance, they are known as C-Segment vehicles, something that falls between the B and D segments. The EPA defines them as vehicles with interior volumes measuring between 100 and 109.9 cubic feet, but most people wouldn't know a cubic foot from a 12-by-12-by-12-inch hole in the ground.

Here's a different definition. They are the five-passenger cars with little wheels and little engines, typically a four-cylinder that can stretch a gallon of gas for more than 30 miles. But for many years, they were the poor man's midsize sedan and buzzed around cities as second-class citizens.

It's amazing what $4-a-gallon gas and ever increasing corporate average fuel economy standards can do. Small cars are starting to get some credit for being more than the utilitarian answer to automotive independence -- the U.S. is rewriting the social compact.

They're comfortable, convenient and won't cost an arm and leg -- and in today's topsy-turvy financial world, being in the black is the new black.

Every year, another carmaker ups the ante in compacts: Ford Motor Co. debuts Sync, its voice-activated infotainment system, in the 2008 Ford Focus, and Honda Motor Co. raises Ford Bluetooth connectivity with Bluetooth and a navigation system. Cheap and cheerful has transformed into hip and economical.

For 2009, the choices are even better. So if you're looking to create your own personal stimulus package to the U.S. economy -- one that actually makes sense -- for less than $20,000 and want to be an all-around stylish daily driver, here are our choices from the five top-selling compact sedans.

Civic struts the best looks

Even though designers have fewer than 180 inches to work with on these cars' overall design, the variety of appearances is astonishing. However, only one car has the silhouette of a winner: The Honda Civic. Its lean and wedge shape defines the Civic and helps it stand out. The look has also held up well since the new model was introduced.

The other models look too similar -- especially the sedans. They are more simple than stylish. None has the look of the low-volume Mitsubishi Lancer or Saturn Astra, cars I like. Of the top five sellers, the only other compact with an exterior worth examining is the Mazda3 hatchback.

The remaining draw little emotion from me. The Ford Focus keeps its ridiculous plastic side vents. The Toyota Corolla, while more stylish than its previous generation, still feels like a washing machine. And the Chevrolet Cobalt, which will be replaced next year with the much more muscular Chevy Cruze, should have been replaced with the Cruze three years ago.

Winner: Honda Civic

Mazda3 spells fun performance

Looks are not everything, especially to the compact customers, who want some performance to go along with fuel economy.

The most fun vehicle is the Mazda3, and the good news is that later this year, Mazda plans to introduce a new Mazda3 -- meaning there will be deals galore on the 2009 model. Its 2-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine is not the most powerful, but it offers plenty of zip.

On the highway, the Toyota Corolla seemed the quietest and the Ford Focus matched Toyota on ride comfort.

The Cobalt, with its 155-horsepower engine, offers the most power, but did not match the Mazda3's handling.

Additionally, most of these cars come with four-speed automatic transmissions, except the Honda Civic, which uses a five-speed automatic. This gives them sharp shift changes, especially on heavy acceleration. The additional gear in the Civic smooths out that ride and is noticeable on the highway, where the engine doesn't whine as much at high speeds. One way around this, and a way to save $1,000, is to consider buying a standard transmission. It will make all of these vehicles more fun on the road. The Mazda3 comes with a manual shifter as part of the four-speed, which adds a little more to the driving experience.

While sporty, the Mazda3 gets the worst gas mileage, hitting only 30 miles per gallon on the highway and 22 in the city. The Corolla captures top honors at 27/35, while the Civic, Cobalt and Focus all have very respectable mileage numbers. Chevy also offers an XFE model that hits 37 mpg on the highway.

Then again, mileage isn't everything.

Winner: Mazda3

Ford focuses on interior quality

Perhaps some of the joy of driving the Cobalt was sapped out of me because of its awful interior. It's not bad, it's embarrassing. The little switches and knobs, the hard plastic dash and coarse touch points make the inside of a Cobalt feel cheaper than anything found on a Wal-Mart clearance shelf.

The Civic offers a different perspective with its digital speedometer and high hooded instrument panel. It feels the most sophisticated out of the bunch. The made-over Corolla is more refined than it used to be, but it still feels as if profits come before quality materials. The Mazda3 falls somewhere in between the Civic and Corolla. Every button is at your fingertips, but they click a little too loud and feel like they might break

And all of the base model compacts come stripped down, losing features such as power locks, cruise control and upgraded stereos. However, the higher-end models will come with everything from navigation systems with back-up cameras to remote key entry. If you're used to a higher-level vehicle, make sure to inspect it carefully to make sure it comes with the features you've grown accustomed to.

The Focus, which was redesigned for the 2008 model year, offers the best combination of comfort and quality. Simple and clean construction help the interior sparkle. Even the cloth-covered bucket seats feel good, and Ford offers its hands-free Sync system as a $395 option on the lower trim levels. It's worth every penny.

Winner: Ford Focus

And the winner is ...

Really, picking the best compact is a tricky proposition.

Personally, I prefer hatchback compacts over sedan because of their versatility. Sedans are so last millennium, though Ford does not offer a hatchback Focus, and the only American four-door hatchback compact you can buy today is the Pontiac Vibe, an excellent car, and the Dodge Caliber, not so excellent. It seems silly to overlook younger consumers, those people every carmaker says it wants to attract, who love hatchbacks.

And there are still other compacts that didn't make the comparison list that I also think are worthy competitors. The Lancer, the Volkswagen Rabbit, Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Elantra have fine qualities and might warrant a test-drive. Suzuki offers the SX-4 with all wheel drive in compact or crossover form for less than $20,000.

While I tend to weigh performance a little heavier than some, I think selecting a vehicle is about compromise.

You have to pick the car that best fits all of your needs and the one that holds its looks, performance and abilities through the years.

That's why I'm picking the 2009 Honda Civic as the best compact for 2009. Its low-slung body, smooth ride and comfortable interior provide the complete package for someone who wants to think big and buy small.

And if you want to really stimulate the economy, buy the other ones, too.

Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com.