Available As: Midsize coupe and sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $

Pros: Interior space and comfort, ride, handling, acceleration (V6), fuel economy, most safety ratings.

Cons: Price, trunk space.

Overall: It's not cheap, but with its combination of space, comfort, and driving enjoyment, it's not overpriced.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended: YES

The Accord was redesigned and enlarged for 2008 to give it even more mainstream appeal. Despite its ubiquity in the market, the previous version was criticized for its relatively firm ride, relatively small back seat, and relatively loud tires, when compared to its Toyota Camry rival. But while the Accord has softened a bit, it continues to offer competitive handling and more driving enjoyment than most other family sedans, all while improving its ride, refinement, and interior space. Fuel economy has also improved, as has V6 acceleration. The trunk remains somewhat small, the rear seat still folds only in one piece, and the discounts that graced the last year of the previous Accord have evaporated. But the latest Accord is a top-notch family sedan, and worth a look even at its lofty price.

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Available As: Compact coupe and sedan, sporty coupe and sedan under $25,000, hybrid.

Base Price Range (MSRP): $14,810-$22,600

Pros: Safety ratings (sedan), fuel economy, interior space (sedan), agility, acceleration (Si), ride.

Cons: Price, instrument layout.

Overall: A good but expensive all-around economy car in its base form, a sharp-edged sporty value in Si, and a reasonably-priced (for its technology) fuel-sipper in Hybrid.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

Coupe/Sedan:

Hybrid:

Si:

In its most popular forms, the Civic is a pleasant, safe, and economical compact car with a rather high price tag and a few design quirks. Though it is priced alongside "premium" compact cars like the Mazda3 and Volkswagen Jetta, it lacks premium qualities itself beyond the optional navigation system. It tries to rely on its competence at mainstream matters to justify its higher price, and a case could be made that it succeeds. It is fairly roomy, did very well in crash testing, and rides and handles well. It's not too slow, and gets commendable fuel economy. However, road noise and interior materials are far from luxurious, and a normal gauge layout is scattered around the dash in a mix of digital and analog readouts for the styling benefit of a sloping roofline and at the expense of functionality. So while the Civic has its strong points (it's one of the best-sellers in its class for a reason), it shouldn't be automatic to spend more for it without checking out the strong competition.

Among the capable, well-rounded, and well-priced economy cars on the market are the Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Corolla, all three of which are less expensive than the Civic. The Mazda3 and Volkswagen Jetta and Rabbit offer a premium feel at a premium price. The Honda Fit (below) and Toyota Yaris are relatively inexpensive and fuel-efficient, but rather slow and, in the Fit's case, hard to find. The Ford Focus is very inexpensive, roomy, and fun to drive, but not particularly fuel efficient. And the Scion tC is a decent choice if you must have a coupe.

The Si coupe and sedan are sharp handlers and strong performers, but as they make most power at high rpms, they can prove less rewarding to drive in normal conditions than some competitors. With a stiff ride and no automatic transmission, they should be reserved for those who will truly appreciate the body control. A Mazda3 (sedan or wagon) or Mini Cooper offers more and more easily-attainable fun, and, at a higher price, a Volkswagen GTI (3- or 5-door hatchback) offers a much more luxurious feel and more interior space, yet with very planted handling and strong acceleration.

The sedan-only Hybrid is about $1,000 more than a gasoline-powered Civic EX sedan (though it also loses some equipment, like a sunroof), and is rated by the EPA to get an additional 13 miles per gallon. On the flip side, it is slower, has stiffer tires that hurt ride and handling, and has less trunk space and no folding rear seat.  If you want to get your gas mileage the hybrid way, your other top choice is the Toyota Prius, which can at times run only on its electric motor to get an extra 4 mpg compared to the Civic Hybrid, is quicker and roomier, and costs less before optional equipment (though most are built loaded). For those seeking fuel savings for financial reasons, a cheaper gas-powered Toyota Yaris makes more sense.

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See the 2008 Civic LX in the IFCAR Economy Sedan Comparison Test

Available As: Small SUV

Base Price Range (MSRP): $20,600-$26,000

Pros: Fuel economy, interior comfort, ride, handling, crash test results.

Cons: No V6 option.

Overall: A pleasant vehicle for consumers who favor economy over power and refinement.  

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

The CR-V, recently redesigned for 2007, is a very pleasant, safe, and generally competent car that lacks the power, refinement, and value to be a true class leader. It rides and handles well, has a smooth and fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine, and comfortable seating for five. But it's a bit pricier than many competitors, lacks the available V6s of many other small SUVs, and doesn't squeeze in the increasingly popular third-row-seat option that many competitors now have. Also, its excessive road noise and too many hard plastics inside make it a tough sell as the premium vehicle its pricing would seem to make it. It's a very nice vehicle, but it comes up short in a few too many ways to be automatically worth its somewhat high price. Shop the competition carefully before buying.

The CR-V most closely compares to the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. All three ride and handle well and get good gas mileage, and have reasonable interior space, but the CR-V is the only of the three that lacks a larger engine option, the RAV4 has an available (tiny) third row seat, and the Forester is less expensive. However, the CR-V has more substantial seats than those two and is still a bit quieter. The larger V6-only Hyundai Santa Fe is around the same price as the CR-V, but much more luxurious. The Ford Escape and Hyundai Tuscson and Kia Sportage twins are quite a bit less expensive, but neither are as agile or (except with the Escape's expensive hybrid option) fuel-efficient, and the Escape has a cheaper-feeling interior and the others have less cargo space.

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Available As: Small SUV

Base Price Range (MSRP): $18,900-$22,695

Pros: Versatility, fuel economy, safety ratings.

Cons: Ride, only four seats, refinement, seat comfort.

Overall: Not even ideal with its quirks that weren't accidental.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended: NO

The Element is a restyled version of the previous-generation Honda CR-V, aimed at the "active lifestyle" niche of the compact SUV market and costing less than the CR-V. However, it also lacks that vehicle's creature comforts, with a stiff ride and excessive wind and road noise, harder, lower seats, and only four seat belts. Its box shape and seats that either fold easily or can be removed, its suicide doors allow for easy cargo access, and the floor and seats are designed to be washable, making it seem like an obvious function-over-style choice. But consider the Element's problems, and the fact that many competitors are also quite versatile, before automatically excusing the car's deficiencies.

The Ford Escape is a relatively basic, spacious, and inexpensive mainstream alternative to the Element, though it lacks this car's character. The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage twins are also inexpensive, and more refined and comfortable, but not as spacious. If you need actual off-road and towing ability, consider the pricier Nissan Xterra, but only then. And the Toyota RAV4 and Honda's own CR-V are much more pleasant and more spacious than the Element, but also more expensive. And for maximum practicality at a low price with few other concerns, a Dodge Caravan minivan is quite inexpensive and extremely roomy, with well over twice the Element's cargo space and seating for seven passengers instead of four, but it does not offer all-wheel-drive.

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