2014 Best Buys: Compact Cars

Let’s face it, we’d all like to be able to drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but people have to buy cars according to their means, and the people of Quebec seem to have the means to buy compact cars. More than a third of all compacts sold in Canada are sold in the province. Even though they aren’t as popular in the rest of Canada or the United States, they still generate good sales numbers overall.

Automakers have gotten the message loud and clear, as you can see from the impressive selection of vehicles. The Dodge Dart, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and the very popular Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic are just the tip of the iceberg. As if that wasn’t enough, some models come in different versions (sedan or hatchback) or with different drivetrains, like the diesel-powered Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta. One even features all-wheel drive (the Subaru Impreza)!

Thanks to more affordable pricing, a choice of engines, its more generous passenger compartment and how much fun it is to drive, the Volkswagen Jetta takes top honours, followed closely by that most German of all Japanese cars, the Mazda3. It offers a lot of fun for the price and people like its modern style. In third place, there’s the venerable Honda Civic. You may not like its look, but you have to admit that the Civic’s combination of comfort, fuel economy, reliability and driving pleasure is tough to beat.

Among the bestselling models in the compact car category are the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. The Dodge Dart, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Sentra and Volkswagen Beetle are nothing to sneeze at either.