MT: Suzuki SX4 v. Chevy Sonic v. Hyundai Accent v. Yaris v. Kia Rio v. Fit v. Mazda 2

[Wimbledon]

7th Place: 2012 Kia Rio


6th Place: 2011 Suzuki SX4


5th Place: 2012 Mazda2


4th Place: 2012 Honda Fit


3rd Place: 2012 Toyota Yaris


2nd Place: 2012 Chevy Sonic


1st Place: 2012 Hyundai Accent


FULL COMPARISON TEST

How does the Rio place last and the Accent place first? They are the same car, but the Rio has slightly sportier dynamics and more feature content for the money. They also claim the Rio has the "cheapest interior by a mile". I know this not to be true. It makes no sense.

To sum up, another comparison test by MT that questions their legitimacy IMO.

[Vman455]

Not to mention, where's the Fiesta?

[Wimbledon]

(02-21-2012 03:16 PM)Vman455 Wrote:  Not to mention, where's the Fiesta?

According to the article , Ford did not have a Fiesta available. I find this hard to believe and speculate that Ford did not want the Fiesta to compete in this test. That's a shame, because Fiesta would have been at least mid-pack IMO.

[S30Z]

The Sonic is a cutie! Sonic... then Fit for me.

[vwestlife]

It sure looks like they were giving favor to whichever manufacturer(s) treated them the nicest and gave them the best-equipped car to test. I mean, as soon as they were handed the keys to a base-model, el-strippo Kia Rio, was there really any doubt among the MT staff that it would've been given the least favorable review!?

And Lord only knows what they had to do with the Mazda2 to average only 27 MPG with it. Math error when filling up? Bouncing off the rev limiter all day long? I've never gotten any worse than 29 MPG with mine, and even in city driving I rarely get less than 32 MPG. (My overall average in 20,000 miles has been 34.1 MPG.)

[Vman455]

(02-21-2012 03:28 PM)Wimbledon Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:16 PM)Vman455 Wrote:  Not to mention, where's the Fiesta?

According to the article , Ford did not have a Fiesta available. I find this hard to believe and speculate that Ford did not want the Fiesta to compete in this test. That's a shame, because Fiesta would have been at least mid-pack IMO.

I'm illiterate, didncha know?

[ej25Ti]

suzuki is slackin on that sx4 update!

[vwestlife]

Apparently Motor Trend can't decide whether they really like the Mazda2 or not. In last month's issue, they published this "long-term test verdict" flowing with praise:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oney...g_verdict/

[bmw_phil]

I was talking to my dad today about some of these cars... I think he'll be buying one of these for my sister within the next couple of months.

I don't know much about them, but starting to look through the specs I was surprised to see that the Mazda only has a 100hp engine? I would guess the poor fuel economy was due to the fact that they are pushing it pretty hard to keep up with the other cars in that test that all have a good amount of extra power.

I think the contenders on my dad's list at this point are the Fiesta, Mazda 2, Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper. I have a feeling the MINI will win out on this one, but we'll see.

[Wimbledon]

(02-27-2012 02:22 PM)bmw_phil Wrote:  I was talking to my dad today about some of these cars... I think he'll be buying one of these for my sister within the next couple of months.

I don't know much about them, but starting to look through the specs I was surprised to see that the Mazda only has a 100hp engine? I would guess the poor fuel economy was due to the fact that they are pushing it pretty hard to keep up with the other cars in that test that all have a good amount of extra power.

I think the contenders on my dad's list at this point are the Fiesta, Mazda 2, Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper. I have a feeling the MINI will win out on this one, but we'll see.

MINI is more expensive, but it would be one of my top picks too if money was not an issue. Most buyers in this class are highly price-sensitive though.

My choice would probably be:

1) Fiat 500
2) MINI Cooper
3) Kia Rio, unless it drives as terribly as they say...

Or I might just save for a VW Golf if I was in that position...