Originally Posted by app_engine
Honda Civic Sedan LX, for very obvious reasons :
-nice fuel economy (paid only $14,500 for this fantastic new car, unlike the highly priced hybrids, but it continues to give 30+ mpg under any driving conditions - heat / ac / city / stop-n-go etc. It only gets better in the longer expressway drives, often getting 37-38 mpg)
-solid reliability, NEVER refused to take me from point A to point B in the last 5 yrs and 94K miles & no deterioration at all in exterior / interior (i.e. in the mid-west with a few really bad winters / snow / salt etc)
-though called 'compact', decent leg room for the back seat
-trunk size comparable to any mid size car like its famed brother, Accord
(I agree it's more fun to drive the Mazda MPV minivan for the solid feeling, more room for the crowd, V6 zoom etc but the fuel economy is 20 mpg and for that single reason it does not get my vote)