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New Hatchback car decisions, help!
The Raging Platypus
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey ya'all! I've been driving around my Scion xA for awhile now, and while I absolutely adore the gas mileage and easy handling, I'm starting to feel like it's time to upgrade to something a little more powerful. The horsepower on the xA is rather puny, so it's tough to get any sort of real acceleration on the highway, especially in defensive driving situations. Lucky for me, the resale value on this baby rounds out to around 8-9k, so that'll go a long way towards any down payment I put on a new car.
I still love the utility of a hatchback, so I've been delving into what's available out in the market. I'm not really looking to spend more than 22k on new wheels, but I'd like more punch on the highway, plus more room in the trunk.
So far, I'm favoring the Mazda 3, but the Hyundai Elantra Touring also looks appealing from a pricing standpoint. I'd really like to know about any of your experiences with either of these cars, or even other hatchback models out there - I'm not in any dire need to switch vehicles, so I'm very open to ideas.
It also looks like there's more room to negotiate for new 2011 models since the 2012 ones are coming out, but I'm not seeing much of a price difference on truecar.com, so I'm not sure how much wiggle room I really have here.
I still love the utility of a hatchback, so I've been delving into what's available out in the market. I'm not really looking to spend more than 22k on new wheels, but I'd like more punch on the highway, plus more room in the trunk.
So far, I'm favoring the Mazda 3, but the Hyundai Elantra Touring also looks appealing from a pricing standpoint. I'd really like to know about any of your experiences with either of these cars, or even other hatchback models out there - I'm not in any dire need to switch vehicles, so I'm very open to ideas.
It also looks like there's more room to negotiate for new 2011 models since the 2012 ones are coming out, but I'm not seeing much of a price difference on truecar.com, so I'm not sure how much wiggle room I really have here.
The Raging Platypus on
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:edit: I should say, I drove the hatch version of the Mazda 3 as a rental when my GTI was in the shop after some jackass hit me in a parking lot (two weeks after I purchased it...), and I didn't like the 3 at all. It just felt cheaply made, the finish inside, the engine noise, even shifting gears was sluggish. This was 3 years ago, though, so maybe it's been improved.
I test drove basically every hatchback that was within my price range and wasn't a volkswagon or American, so basically my list was:
Scion xB
Prius (just to compare)
Honda Fit
Kia Soul
Nissan Versa
Subaru Impreza
Hyundai Elantra Touring
I was going to test drive a Toyota but I don't like what Toyota's been doing with their pedals lately. They seem to be too "squishy," as in I feel like when I drive them I need to depress the pedal pretty far before I get any "go," at which point it drives kind of softly. So I was off the Matrix.
Here's my impressions:
Scion xB -- too big for the engine that's in there, and the size makes it drive more like a minivan. Still "toyota-y" so it felt overpriced for what was there.
Prius -- too expensive, "toyota-y," and surprisingly didn't have much storage space despite being a hatchback. The back seat felt cramped.
Honda Fit -- A great car with good handling and the seat configuration is awesome. Comfortable to drive. Does not accelerate well going on the expressway, though, in my opinion, which is surprising considering that it's a small car. I haven't driven a 4-cylinder that had a problem with acceleration in forever.
Kia Soul -- Felt good, drove well, good storage space and a more upright seating configuration without being too tall. The driver's seat felt a little cramped due to that upright positioning, but I'd imagine you can get used to it. The dealer gave me a big discount in order to sell the car, so the Kia Soul ended up being by far the cheapest car in comparison. Inside felt a little cheap due to very basic plastic.
Nissan Versa -- The hatchback model is great because there's a baseline of features includes, so you start off with a good car (unlike the normal Versa). Great pickup, lots of good options, very comfortable to drive. Some models include a continuous transmission so you don't "change gears," which makes driving the thing very, very smooth -- although a little weird the first time you notice.
Subaru Impreza -- Peppy, good driving feel, and pretty spacious. The front seat feels somewhat cramped due to how Subaru positions all their stuff. Has AWD, some fun features, but you definitely pay for AWD since the car is more expensive (and has less space compared to most of the other hatchbacks).
Hyundai Elantra Touring -- My car, so I'm biased. Drives normally, I find the acceleration to be fine (and I drive in NJ/NYC), TONS of space and good sight lines, a very smooth ride compared to many of the lighter hatchbacks. Gas mileage averages out to under 30mpg, though.
Cars that I haven't driven that could be up for consideration:
Hyundai Accent 2011 -- This redesign makes the 3-door Accent a 5-door, which makes it look like a Fiesta/Fit/Versa. Friend bought this, loves it, gets 40mpg. Not as much storage space as the Touring and the price isn't significantly less if you're price sensitive, but a good alternative.
Scion xD -- Add this to the Fiesta/Fit/Versa/Accent body type. Haven't driven it, seen them around, has had some staying power and popularity. Good price, will drive like a Toyota, will feel "basic" inside and features will appeal to "young people"?
Ford Fiesta -- Same body type again, but some people love them and others hate them. The only American hatchback worth considering.
Volkswagon Golf/GTI-- Again, some people love VW and others hate them. I hate them because I've known lots of people who own them and end up hating them.
Mazda 3 -- If they made the Mazda Protege 5 still, I'd seriously consider that. I think the Mazda 3 is too small for the price, and the Mazda 5 is like a small minivan. All Mazda is too expensive for me, though. Maybe you should consider used Audis and BMWs if you're considering a Mazda.
Tiny cars that are technically hatchbacks:
Toyota Yaris
Fiat whatever it's called
Smart fortwo
Minicooper
Scion iQ
Suzuki apparently makes some cars but I have no idea where to buy them.
The GTI is by comparison very subdued aesthetically. I love how unassuming it is. The interior can't even be compared with the Speed 3. It is much more polished on the inside and everything flows together nicely. The steering wheel on the GTI is fantastic. If you don't like the characteristic plaid design you could always upgrade to the Autobahn package and get leather. I love driving my car. Go out and test drive a GTI and a Speed 3 and see which one you like.
Fiat 500 and I adore that car so much, worth taking for a test drive if you get the chance. Though if you were to put it next to a VW Golf I'd take the Golf everytime....because well the 500 is a fiat.
http://www.cars.com/fiat/500/2012/
also this is helpful:
http://www.cars.com/go/compare/modelCompare.jsp?myids=12714,13019
While I love the little thing, If the OP is complaining about power in his xA, the 500 is going to disappoint him just as much.
I'd also like to throw the new Focus Hatchback in the mix. It's a pretty awesome package if you can find one.
I'm seeing a lot of suggestions for the VW GTI. While it's definitely a great car, I would really prefer a 4 door hatchback as opposed to the 2-door models (i.e. pets and family to transport around in the near future), and unfortunately, the 4 door version puts it way out of my price range. A shame though - that's a nicely engineered car, but like Eggy Toast mentioned, I know too many people who ended up having love/hate relationships with these models.
Raif - Heh, worry not, I never even considered the Mazda 3 Speed. There was a time in my life where I would have gushed over having that much front torque to play with, but nowadays, the only time I've ever wished for that much pop is when I'm dealing with idiot BMW drivers.
Eggy - Yeah, I'm actually a bit perturbed about the price point for the Mazda 3 sports. I'm having a hard time trying to decide between the sheer enjoyment of driving a Mazda 3 and the roomier (and less expensive) practicality of a Hyundai Elantra Touring. Thanks for the tip on the Versa - I'll have to check it out.
Wmelon - I've always been so incredibly biased against American carmakers that I never thought once to give the Ford models a shot. I did have a chance to drive the Focus a few months back as a rental, and was pleasantly surprised. Very smooth ride, good power, low cabin noise, solid suspension. I never realized the Focus came in a hatchback model, so I'll have to put that one on the list too.
Yeah the 2012's come in a 5 door hatch. It's a pretty nice car for the price point. Unfortunately you can only get a manual transmission in the lowest trim package, which rules out the navigation and a few other options. But there's not too terribly much to miss.
I personally just switched from a Volvo S60R to a 5 door Mazda 3. The regular model has plenty of power for a daily driver and my wallet is much happier using 87 octane gas and getting 26mpg in town rather than the 93 octane and 20mpg I was getting before. I do occasionally miss the power of the Volvo, but it's not often.
OP - where do you live? If somewhere that gets snowy/nasty, get a subaru, they're rad (though quirky). As for used offerings, check out the Matrix/Vibe as well.
I put over 100k miles on my Focus from 05-10 and other than oil changes, one set of tires and one brake job I had absolutely zero issues with it. And that was living in coastal CT with the horrible terrible winter roads, it drove beautifully.
When I moved from CT to WA I bought a used 09 Impreza and am totally in love with it, had it a year with no weirdness and it's gotten me through crazy rain traffic and the one wicked ice storm we've had in the past year.
Safe too, as I was in a major accident at 90 km/h in the first one I had and I walked away without a scratch (I hit an SUV that had spun out on icy roads and came across the highway to stop suddenly by hitting a guard rail).
The biggest selling point is the AWD as you can't really get an AWD vehicle for less than an Impreza and it's a quality car, but even if the AWD doesn't matter to you, you won't be disappointed in the car.
Oh, and I'm a 350lb fat dude and I fit fine in the front seat. Most spacious car I've owned.
I've never had an accident, but my sister has had 2 accidents and totaled each car, each case due to ice. First a Ford Focus (they used to come out in hatchbacks and then took a break for a few years) and then a GTI. Now she has an Impreza and it works well for her. But she's also not the best driver, in my opinion, so the AWD works well for her driving style (jackrabbit starts & stops, slightly drifty, etc.)
For me, I've never felt that my driving would benefit from AWD (plus the hit to MPG). However, I know plenty of people who swear by it and love it, even if they live somewhere where they never drive on snow. It's definitely worth a test drive, at the very least, especially if you can get out there on a rainy day.
I'm not sure what else to say, but now I live even further north in Yellowknife. I wouldn't give up my Impreza for any other car in it's class.
Hell, the stupidest thing I've ever done was driving during another massive snow storm. The only time I've ever experienced total white out. The snow was so heavy that there was no division between land and air, just total white. I couldn't see any streetlights, just a directionless orange glow. I was driving by sheer spatial memory for much of my trip home. It was fucking stupid to go out in that and my Impreza got me home safe.
It works pretty damn well for me considering it fits 4 adult males comfortably enough for our 150km morning commute.
Oh yeah, I'm not saying that AWD is worthless, just that its worth depends on where you live and how you drive. There are more Subarus than any other car, I'm told, in Vermont and New Hampshire. My sister lives in Minnesota and they have great plowing but she definitely appreciates the AWD in her Impreza.
However, I lived in Baltimore for 9 years, which included the big snow storms in 2003, 2006(?), 2009, and 2010. The city barely plows, and in general the entire city shuts down. The only vehicles that you see out and about are those with enough vertical height to get past the snow, so basically only pickups. It sounds like Platypus lives in the same area that I do (I live in Jersey City and commute on the NJ Turnpike), and I personally don't drive through anything that warrants AWD -- at least beyond something that ESC (or whatever a manufacturer wants to call it, the Stability Control stuff) will account for anyway, like slick roads or the occasional bad spots.
If Platypus lives somewhere where he has a snowy driveway or seems to get hit with snow quickly, then yeah, he'd probably see a huge benefit to an AWD vehicle. I had a friend in Maryland who lived in Westminster, down a private road, and due to an odd quirk in meteorology, she always got about 5" more snow than anyone else and was stuck at home until she could get plowed out. She may not have benefited from AWD but certainly moreso than me, living in the city.
I just think that due to the extra cost and the drop in mileage, it's worthwhile to consider how useful AWD will be to a driver.
I do appreciate all the suggestions regarding the Impreza wagon though - it's a really nice vehicle, but I would prefer additional mileage over AWD.