Value
In a price-conscious segment like this,
value is a major consideration. That's especially true in this test, where all
the competitors were heavily equipped with pricey options such as navigation
systems, leather seats, keyless entry, and more.
None was more heavily loaded than the
Mazda3, which rang in just above the Dart at $26,420. Being the oldest model in
the test and lacking a back-up camera hurt its value argument, though we
enthusiasts found quite a lot of value in its handling and performance.
It
was feature-rich with its big display screens, automatic headlights and wipers,
heated steering wheel, and more
The Dart also became something of a tough
sell at $26,415. It was feature-rich with its big display screens, automatic
headlights and wipers, heated steering wheel, and more. The problem is, the
Forte offers all that and more for $805 less. With by far the worst observed
fuel economy, the Dart’s value appeal dropped precipitously in the eyes of the
judges.
That Forte, though, blew us away. Power
front seats that are both heated and cooled, heated rear seats, power-folding side
mirrors, a heated steering wheel, multiple steering modes, and more, all for a
mid-pack price of $25,610. Add to that the second-best fuel economy in the test
and far and away the best warranty, and the Kia makes a serious value
proposition.
Honda
Civic was very nearly the least expensive car here at $24,555, and it got high
marks for its quality interior materials
Honda’s Civic was a tougher case to make.
It offered many of the features the others did, but the clunky navigation
system and mid-pack observed fuel economy hurt it.
On the other hand, it was very nearly the
least expensive car here at $24,555, and it got high marks for its quality
interior materials.
The Sentra fell into the same trap as the
Civic, offering the lowest as-tested price by just over $100 at $23,715. While
that appealed to our wallets, the second-worst observed fuel economy and the
poor handling made us reconsider how our hypothetical money was being spent.
Cost of Ownership
In order to give you a better picture of what your new car purchase might cost in the
long run, we’ve asked Intelli-Choice, our partner in the Motor Trend Automotive
Group, to provide five-year cost of ownership data for our consumer-focused Big
Tests. Intelli-Choice is a recognized leader in providing data on average
depreciation, fuel cost, fees, insurance, financing, maintenance and repairs,
and more for every car on the market. And if you’re not ready to buy one of the
cars in this comparison today, Intelli-Choice also provides data on used and
Certified Pre-Owned cars, so you can buy a used model in a few years’ time with
confidence.
Because these five vehicles are in the same
class, there are many categories in which the competitors are closely matched,
such as taxes and fees. Where they begin to separate are in categories such as
insurance, depreciation, fuel, and maintenance and repairs. The Sentra, for
example, is the most expensive to insure but has the lowest projected fuel
cost. The Mazda3 has the highest projected repair cost, while the Dart suffered
the largest projected depreciation. The Forte is expected to have the lowest
maintenance and repair costs, thanks to its generous warranty, but its
projected fuel cost and depreciation are high. It should be noted the all-new
Forte’s projections are based on the last-generation 2013 model’s data. The
Civic, with its low price and lowest depreciation, comes out on top with the
lowest cost of ownership five years down the road.
Conclusion
Some comparison tests are blowouts, and
those are easy to judge. Then there are tests like this, where the field is
closely matched in nearly every category. Each car had strengths and weaknesses
and none completely ran away with the award. There wasn’t a “perfect” car in
the bunch, but several that would be very good choices depending on your
priorities.
Each
car had strengths and weaknesses and none completely ran away with the award
If, for example, you’re an enthusiast like
us, you’ll be happiest with the sporty Mazda. It would also appeal to those who
value fuel economy above all else. If safety and operating costs are
priorities, you’ll be comforted by the Honda’s crash test scores and low cost
of ownership. Those who love features will be happy with the Dart and Forte,
and price-conscious buyers will find the Sentra’s low as-tested price
appealing.
After weighing the contenders in each
category against what would best serve the average compact car buyer, we picked
the 2014 Kia Forte as the best all-around car here and the winner of this test.
Its combination of performance, fuel efficiency, reasonable pricing, and
endless feature list had our judges agreeing it’s the car we’d recommend to our
friends and family.
